Health ministry launches procedure for purchase of Emergency medical helicopters

The Health Ministry launched a negotiation procedure without prior announcement for the purchase of emergency medical helicopters, the ministry's press office said on Monday. The decision for direct negotiations with the company which took part in an earlier procedure was made on Friday.

The proposal came from Deputy Health Minister Toma Tomov, who is the Health Ministry representative authorized to conduct procedures under the Public Procurement Act.

The decision takes account of the possibility that the only bidder that submitted an offer in the previous procedure, Leonardo S.p.A., may run again in the short timeframe allowed by the negotiation procedure after improving its offer and accepting the contracting party's conditions and time schedule for implementing the deal.

The negotiation procedure without prior announcement for the purchase of air ambulance helicopters fitted with emergency medical service equipment will ensure a fast procedure and timely delivery of the first of six helicopters planned for 2023.

The negotiations are expected to take a few days. The aim is to judge whether the only company which participated in the interrupted procedure will be able to supply six medical helicopters.

Considering that the previous procedure was discontinued and the funding available for the current procedure is limited, it is possible to provide national co-financing if necessary, the press release said.