PANAMA’S Social Security Service, (CSS)  is planning to lease  97  urgently needed ambulances for $24 million.

According to a statement calling for tenders, it will lease 56 ambulances for basic transportation, seven 4x4s and 34 vehicles with advanced life support.

The rental of these vehicles, with the right to purchase at the end of the contract, would be for a period of 48 months.

The winning bidder would be required to perform preventive and corrective maintenance of the equipment, and to replace any vehicles that were seriously damaged.

Companies interested in participating in the tender must provide a bond set at $2.4 million reports La Prensa.

The bidding deadline is April 1.

Social Security currently has 90 ambulances, but more than half are obsolete. Last June, the agency reported that only 29 ambulances were in working order, while 11 were undergoing repairs and 50 were in the process of being eliminated.