Chickasaw County advances ambulance RFP, sets March 16 due date and asks attorney to refine trade-in language

Chickasaw County supervisors on Feb. 17 moved to proceed with a competitive request for proposals to replace an ambulance and set a March 16 due date for sealed bids, with the county attorney authorized to add language clarifying trade‑in and equipment transfer terms.

County staff presented a 76‑page RFP that keeps the ambulance module specifications similar to the county’s current units and allows suppliers to bid on the module while the county may separately procure a chassis to use state bid pricing. Joel, the staff member who presented the RFP, told the board that the “lead time on ambulances is about two years,” urging the county to start the procurement process soon to meet service needs.

Supervisors discussed whether the RFP should include the chassis price and how to treat vendor trade‑in values. Joel said vendors typically provide a trade‑in figure that remains valid until the unit leaves, and advised adding explicit cover‑letter language about trade‑in value, mileage allowances and which equipment will transfer between units. "We want to make sure the trade‑in value is clear and stays consistent despite mileage changes," Joel said during the presentation.

Board members pressed staff on operational details — including whether the new unit should be two‑wheel or four‑wheel drive, provisions for warranty service at local dealerships and how to handle the Striker Powerload and Power Pro XT patient‑handling systems. Joel noted the county intends to retain and reuse the existing Powerload and related equipment where feasible, and the RFP requires compatibility: contractors must upfit modules to accept the customer‑supplied power‑load system.

Financing and timing were a major focus. Joel recommended giving vendors additional time for responses and suggested advertising the RFP through the county website and social media. The board agreed to move the RFP due date from March 9 to March 16 and authorized staff and the county attorney to add one or two sentences to the cover letter clarifying trade‑in and equipment transfer terms.

Supervisors also discussed funding options. Joel said the county currently has about $50,000 available in equipment funds and estimated a 25% down payment could be roughly $70,000 depending on final price, but added the county may need a budget amendment or city cost‑sharing to cover subsequent payments. Joel said fundraisers and donated funds may cover part of the cost; "My goal is to pay for it with donated funds," he said.

Next steps: staff will revise the cover letter and RFP language with input from the county attorney, post the RFP on the county website and social media, and accept sealed bids by 9:00 a.m. on March 16 as directed by the board.