City of Bridgeton receives $435K federal grant for Fire and EMS ambulance acquisition

Ambulance acquisition for City Of Bridgeton ems - the City Of Bridgeton, on behalf of the bridgeton fire/ems department, is requesting cds funding for a non-construction project, which will include the purchase of movable equipment. Requested funds will be used for the acquisition of a new ambulance (ford f-450 4X4 super duty chassis) equipped with a new stretcher mount, stretcher, stair chair, scoop, and portable suction. The City Of Bridgeton fire department’s ems division presently operates four frontline ambulances, with another three on reserve. Of these vehicles, two are over a decade old; meaning they have surpassed the recommended lifespan for safe use, even with proper maintenance. Furthermore, maintenance costs for the two oldest vehicles accounts for over half of the total expended on all seven vehicles. Both vehicles have surpassed the 150,000-mile mark, with two other vehicles expected to exceed 100,000 by the end of the year. Given the average travel distance per ems response within the service area ranges between 25 and 40 miles, about 140,000 to 219,000 miles is divided among vehicles in the fleet each year. Should any of these four vehicles be rendered unusable at any point, the department would face a significant decline in its capacity to offer shared services across the 76-square-mile area that is comprised of bridgeton and surrounding communities. The implementation of this proposed project is anticipated to positively impact all members of bridgeton’s fire/ems department as well as the people they serve by significantly increasing the fleet’s capacity for responding to emergencies in and around the City Of Bridgeton. Moreover, the members of fire/ems departments and the residents and visitors within the neighboring municipalities receiving mutual aid and shared services from the bridgeton fire department will reap similar benefits. The acquisition and upfitting of an ambulance during the project performance period will cost $435,000. Such a purchase will benefit the department by adding another ambulance to the frontline vehicles, allowing for the retirement or reservation of one of the oldest vehicles. This will not only minimize the cost of maintenance and mileage placed on the older vehicles, but the new ambulance will be covered under several warranties that the oldest vehicles are not. Once funds have been awarded, the bridgeton fire/ems department will enter into a contract with the vendor for the purchase of the new ambulance. Upon signing, the timeline for the assembly/upfitting of the ambulance - in accordance with approved project specifications - will commence. The ambulance is expected to be completed and delivered to bridgeton ems within 22 to 24 months of signing; at which point the department’s emt staff will be trained in the proper use of new equipment, and one of the department’s oldest vehicles will be retired or reserved.