5 GFD ambulances waiting to go to bid

Procurement of five new ambulances is waiting to go out to bid, even as the Guam Fire Department works to respond to emergency calls with just four of its 15 ambulances currently operational.

Meanwhile, GFD oversight chairman Sen. Will Parkinson told the Pacific Daily News that the fire department has $885,000 in federal American Rescue Plan money to purchase ambulances, but the documents are still under review at the General Services Agency after being submitted in July.

The PDN reported earlier that GFD has just four ambulances running, down from the five reported in July and seven reported back in February.

Parkinson said "administrative bottlenecks" are holding up the purchase, and he is considering legislation to give GFD emergency procurement authority to deal with the issue.

"We are working with the Guam Fire Department to obtain the required information to move the procurement process forward," acting chief procurement officer Andriana Quitugua said via email, when asked about the status of the bid for the vehicles.

Adelup spokesperson Krystal Paco-San Agustin said the $885,000 in ARP for the ambulances was uploaded in an account back in May or June.

She said the funds are not in danger of expiring by a Sept. 30 deadline for ARP money, as the funds have already been obligated.

But Parkinson said recent discussions with GFD indicate it could take a year for the ambulances to arrive, even after a bid is processed.

Besides the pending review, GFD has also exhausted its budget for parts and repairs as of the Aug. 29 close of GovGuam's procurement cycle, Parkinson said.

The department was doing all it could to keep up with maintenance, he added.

Besides the four operational ambulances, GFD's 11 other ambulances are all in the shop or waiting on parts, fire department spokesperson Lt. Nick Garrido said last week. Garrido said there are issues in procuring replacement parts for the ambulances.

"The delays and red tape are costing us valuable time — time we do not have when it comes to saving lives. Even when we have the money, it's the procurement process that holds up progress," Parkinson said.

Besides changing local procurement law, Parkinson said his staff have been working with GFD to use alternative procurement avenues, like going through the federal General Services Agency to purchase equipment.

Dr. Vince Akimoto said the situation with GFD's ambulance is not acceptable.

GovGuam was "drowning in money" but had "nothing but excuses" for the months-long failing, Akimoto said.

"Tonight, those excuses can't get you anywhere near an ambulance," he said.

Akimoto in July reported a delayed response to a patient that was having a heart attack, which he attributed to GFD's ambulance shortage.

The shortage reflected a broader breakdown in health services for the island, he said.

"Guam has gotten worse for all high-risk (pregnancies) due to delays in emergency ambulance response. Guam has become riskier for stroke and cardiac arrest victims since island-wide emergency transport has been critically compromised," Akimoto said.

GFD's Garrido earlier said the number of ambulances should not be concerning to the public, as GFD continues to respond to calls using fire engines, rescue units, and can call on federal responders when needed.

Parkinson said GFD was working as hard as it could, but something had to be done about the "broken" procurement system.