The option avenue is through their State Term Schedule (STS). This option is available to all municipal entities and political subdivisions (polysubs) throughout the State. The Index Reference Number for ambulance purchases is STS-233 and our contract number is 777233A.
To buy through the program the purchaser must be registered for membership with the State of Ohio. A fee is involved to become a member. Specific questions of the State, concerning this program, can be directed to Mary Singleton at 614-466-6530. To further explain this purchasing option, the State of Ohio has developed a web site that provides the necessary information for registration. The web address is: http://www.gsd.das.state.oh.us/Coop/ods.htm.
The above web site explains in detail the benefits of purchasing through the STS program. This program dramatically simplifies the purchasing process. The benefits are many, with some of the more apparent being:
- Bypasses Costs of Competitive Bid Process
- Reduces time spent in writing detailed bid specifications
- Allows Purchaser to shop for product that meets needs and then buy product in a timely fashion
As can be seen from the above, this purchasing option provides a very simplified process to buying an ambulance. It's as simple as passing a resolution to become a member of the Coop Program, shopping for the ambulance that meets the community's needs and then issuing a purchase order for the ambulance that is desired. Just make sure that the 7 digit ID number for the Coop Program is added to the purchase order. Fax or send the purchase order to the STS vendor and the process will start to purchase a new ambulance.
Past History
Of Purchasing
Previously, that State of Ohio purchased many goods on a Contractual Basis. This applied to such products as fire trucks, defibrillator equipment, Fire Chief automobiles, dump trucks, etc. The State would develop a set of specific specifications and numerous vendors would supply quotations. Typically, the State would award the contract to one vendor. If a municipality or polysub wanted to purchase any of the above equipment, they could 'tag on' to the State Bid.
Today, the process is changing. The State of Ohio is now soliciting quotations without defining what the needs are. The purpose of this is to offer a wide selection of vendors and products.
Different vendors offer products of differing sophistication and quality. Each vendor establishes their own starting basis and lists options that are available within that particular product line. Pricing is provided for the base product and the corresponding options. If the State accepts the submitted proposal from the vendor, the product is placed on a State Term Schedule (STS). The submitted pricing must be adhered to by the vendor and in most cases there will be a cost savings over buying through the normal bid process. If options are required that are not listed on the submitted Option Listing, then a separate purchase order needs to be cut for the aggregate total. Most municipalities have a spending limit that is defined, before they need to go through the bid process. Typically these options will not exceed the spending limit.
Today, the State of Ohio is rolling over many of the existing Contracts that are in force, into an STS procurement. This again is to benefit the purchaser. In total, the STS program offers the purchaser a very simplified purchasing process and in all likelihood a cost savings. So make this a consideration for your community's next ambulance purchase.
Recommendation
As mentioned above, each vendor submits to the State of Ohio a price for a base unit and prices on optional items that can be added to the base unit. In reviewing bids that have been submitted at this point, some vendors have provided detailed specifications for what is included on the base unit and some have not.
You should DEMAND to see the specifications that detail what is included in the price of the vendor's basic product. Without specifications there is no protection as to what will be delivered to you, nor will you know if you are paying a fair price.
