Bonner County ambulance board authorizes participation in Savick purchasing cooperative

An agency official told the Bonner County Ambulance Service District board that legal counsel recommended a two-phase approach for using the Savick purchasing cooperative to simplify large purchases such as ambulances. "Participation in SAVC does not obligate the district to purchase any specific products or services," the agency official said, describing the cooperative as a way for smaller departments to access the bid pricing of larger agencies.

The agency official said the cooperative has been used by multiple Idaho agencies and provides negotiated pricing and contract access without requiring the district to run a full sealed-bid procurement. The board moved "to authorize the Bonner County Ambulance Service District to participate in the SAVOC Purchasing Cooperative Program" (motion by a committee member) and approved the motion on a roll-call vote. During public comment, resident Wayne Martin asked whether the cooperative is available to fire and law-enforcement entities; the agency official answered that the program is available to public-safety agencies, including fire and police.