Three dealers bid to provide patrol cars

The Daily Inter Lake

An out-of-state car dealer was the apparent low bidder on a proposal to supply 11 new patrol cars to the Flathead County Sheriff's Office.

An out-of-state car dealer was the apparent low bidder on a proposal to supply 11 new patrol cars to the Flathead County Sheriff's Office.

Three dealerships offered to supply the vehicles. Their bid packages were opened Monday by the county commissioners.

Thomas Dodge of Orlando Park, Ill., offered to sell 11 2004 Dodge Intrepids to the department for a total of $184,517, or an average of $16,774 per vehicle.

Two local dealers offered newer-model vehicles from different manufacturers.

Eisinger Motors of Kalispell submitted a bid of $18,270 per vehicle for 11 2005 Chevrolet Impalas and DePratu Ford of Whitefish bid $22,185 per car for 11 2005 Ford Crown Victorias.

The commissioners took the bids under advisement. It's not known when or if they will award a contract.

This is the second time dealers have submitted proposals.

The previous bids were set aside in September because Thomas Dodge hadn't provided all the required paperwork.

At that time, the company was offering to supply the vehicles for $14,700 each. The local bids ranged from $18,311 to $23,154.