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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spin Control

Condon restarts ambulance bid process

Spokane Mayor David Condon said this morning he was re-issuing a call for bids on the city's ambulance contract after no competition emerged to challenge the firm that already provides the city’s emergency transportation.

The new request for bids will strike a provision requiring an  ambulance company to operate in at least one city with a population of at least 150,000 within the United States. American Medical Response was the only company to bid.

Condon said the change came in response to criticism from Council President Ben Stuckart, who said the provision barred Falck, the world's largest emergency transport provider, from bidding. Stuckart said he would push to reject the contract until the contract was re-bid. Condon acknowledged Stuckart's concerns.

"Ultimately, the council needs to pass this," Condon said. 

Stuckart said he was pleased with the outcome.

"I'm glad they listened to my concerns," he said. "This isn't against AMR. It's for competition."

Read our earlier coverage here.



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