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Dade County to begin contract talks with Pucket EMS after steep bid increases
Summary
After reviewing four bids for county ambulance service, Dade County commissioners instructed staff to open contract negotiations with Pucket EMS under an Option B model that uses county ambulances and some shared equipment. Commissioners cited large proposed price increases and budget impact.
Dade County commissioners on May 7, 2026, directed staff to begin contract negotiations with Pucket EMS for the county's emergency medical services zone after reviewing four responses to the county's RFP.
Staff presented four bidders and three service options: Option A for a provider-supplied ambulance and equipment, Option B to continue using county-owned ambulances and equipment with the vendor providing personnel and consumables, and Option C as a hybrid. The proposals ranged widely in price under Option B (the county's primary focus). The transcript lists the bids as follows: ProHealth $21,756 (option figures presented in the packet), Common Spirit Health (CHI/Common Spirit) listed in the transcript as "1,47,578" (format unclear), AMR $756,337, and Pucket EMS $595,000 per year. Commissioners noted the current contract runs about $400,000 per year.
A commissioner said Common Spirit's figure represented roughly a 261% increase over the current contract and said such a jump would be difficult to absorb in the county budget. Alex Casease, the county's 911 director, and Chief Kyle Gross of Dade County EMS briefed the board on operations, clarifying that Option B would use the county's existing ambulances (the county has four, with two newer units purchased with CARES/ARPA funds) while vendors would supply staff, fuel and maintenance reimbursements under certain proposals.
Joe, a vice president representing Common Spirit/CHI, introduced himself to the board and said he would help oversee the region if Common Spirit were selected. Commissioners raised questions about local operational oversight and whether large firms would maintain a full-time local operations manager; staff said most providers would oversee the county from a regional office (Chattanooga) and not always station a full-time operations manager in Dade County.
After discussion comparing cost, service reliability and local backup relationships (Pucket was noted to provide mutual aid to neighboring Murray/Flat Rock areas), the board concurred to select Pucket EMS as the recommended vendor for further contract negotiations under Option B at the $595,000 annual price listed in the packet and to return to the commission for final contract approval. Staff said the negotiation phase would include the county attorney and further sit-downs with the chosen provider. The board noted there remains time to restart the RFP process if negotiations fail; the county cited a target completion before the contract renewal window in early 2027.
The board did not record a roll-call vote in the transcript; commissioners indicated verbal concurrence. The next step is for staff to negotiate contractual terms with Pucket EMS and present a final contract for the board's approval.
