Covington County E-911 voted to solicit bids for two territories for an exclusive service contract for ambulance services in the county.

The first territory would cover Opp and Florala and everything south and east of Hwy. 55 and County Road 4.

The second territory would cover Andalusia and everything north and west of Hwy. 55 and County Road 4.

Last week, the city of Florala agreed to supply a bay for an advanced life support ambulance, utilities and $1,000 per month to help a company offset costs.

Plans are have packets ready by Friday and to let the bid process begin on Nov. 1. Deadline to submit bids will be Dec. 1, and a decision will be made by Dec. 15.

If the board accepts a bid, the new ambulance contracts will go into effect Jan. 1, 2016.

E-911 attorney Mark Ryan said that ambulance services who wish to bid for the contracts must be licensed with the state of Alabama and be in good standing; be able to provide ALS and BLS units; document personnel and their certifications; and provide an ALS ambulance 24/7 in Florala.

“This is important so that Florala doesn’t continue to be under served,” he said.

Additionally, those who submit bids will have to submit proof of insurance and a $5,000 performance bond; submit a list of vehicles and any additional equipment it plans to purchase and how it will acquire it.

Additionally, the ambulance service must submit how much it is willing to pay E-911 for the exclusive service contract.

Ryan said there will be room for modification to the contract after the bids are awarded but not before.

Opp Fire Chief Cory Spurlin, who also serves on the board, said during the meeting he was having second thoughts on the combining the service.

“First, I want to provide the best for Florala,” he said. “I’m concerned if we ask Florala to be conjoined in with Opp, what’s to say, Red Level or Gantt won’t ask Andalusia to put an ambulance there?” he said. “I just don’t want to move too quickly.”

Ryan explained that the need in Florala stems from the loss of the hospital, and also said that it may be productive for E-911 to see what ambulance services are willing to do.

“We can’t sit down and have a one-on-one with them,” he said.

Ryan said they couldn’t solicit opinions from ambulance services because the law is very stringent on disqualifying bidders who take part in preparing the specs on a bid.