San_Joaquin_County_Freeway_Service_Patrol.pdf

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION

2027-RFQ-001

SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY FREEWAY SERVICE PATROL

RELEASE DATE: July 23, 2026

DEADLINE FOR QUESTIONS: August 7, 2026

RESPONSE DEADLINE: August 20, 2026, 4:00 pm

RESPONSES MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY TO:

https://secure.procurenow.com/portal/sjcog https://secure.procurenow.com/portal/%7bproject.government.code%7d

San Joaquin Council of Governments

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION

San Joaquin County Freeway Service Patrol

I. Introduction II. Services To Be Provided

III. Submission IV. Bid Protest V. Vendor Submission

Attachments:

A - 2026 FSP Checklist - Attachments A-I

Request For Qualification 2027-RFQ-001 Title: San Joaquin County Freeway Service Patrol

1. Introduction

1.1. Summary

The Freeway Service Patrol is a free, publicly funded program that provides roadside assistance for disabled vehicles on select congested freeways to reduce traffic congestion. The San Joaquin

Council of Governments (SJCOG) manages the Freeway Service Patrol (FSP) program of roving tow trucks operating on certain major San Joaquin County highways to alleviate congestion caused by disabled vehicles.

The service aids motorists for common issues such as flat tires, running out of gas, addressing minor mechanical issues and towing to a designated safe location. Dedicated, on-site, or nearby towing services reduce the time required to remove vehicles involved in a traffic incident (breakdown or crash) from the roadway. FSP is designed to reduce congestion by rapidly removing disabled vehicles and vehicles involved in minor accidents from the roadway.

The San Joaquin Council of Governments manages the program in coordination with Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol (CHP). SJCOG is responsible for contracting with tow service providers for the successful implementation of the program. SJCOG is also responsible for generating local matching funds, preparing annual program budgets, and coordinating service expansions and changes with partner agencies. Caltrans is responsible for the administration of funding, statewide planning, and program coordination. CHP is generally responsible for individual tow operator training and supervision of the day-to-day FSP field operations.

Additionally, the CHP is responsible for dispatching FSP vehicles. The goals of the FSP program are:

• Congestion Relief. Through a system of roving patrols, the FSP Program reduces congestion by detecting, attending to, and clearing freeway incidents as quickly and safely.

• Safety. To improve the safety of the freeways by reducing the amount of time that motorists and vehicles spend on the side of the road, reducing opportunities for secondary incidents.

• Air Quality. By mitigating freeway incidents, reducing the time required to reestablish free flowing roadway conditions, thereby improving air quality through a reduction in fuel consumption.

• Partnership. To be a model of governmental partnership by drawing upon the strengths of Caltrans, CHP, and the Local Agencies to provide a cost-effective FSP program that benefits the public.

• Motorist Assistance. To provide motorist assistance, free to people who are stranded in dangerous situations on busy freeways.

1.2. Background

SJCOG is the planning, financing and coordinating agency for the San Joaquin region overseeing transportation, housing and habitat conservation. SJCOG is a joint-powers authority with a board of directors comprised of elected representatives from Escalon, Lathrop, Lodi, Manteca, Mountain House, Ripon, San Joaquin County, Stockton, and Tracy. SJCOG’s broad range of responsibilities include managing the Measure K transportation sales tax program, collecting county demographic and economic data, airport land use planning, and regional air quality.

SJCOG partners with a network of local government, private organizations and community groups to deliver a variety of local, state and federal programs that support the streets, roads, highways, public transit, and other transportation resources that help our residents get where they need to be. It is also responsible for assigning each city and the county its fair share of affordable housing.

1.3. Timeline

Date Issued July 23, 2026

Question Submission Deadline August 7, 2026, 5:00pm

Proposal Submission Deadline August 20, 2026, 4:00pm

Proposal Evaluations & Interviews August 24 – August 28, 2026

Recommendation to SJCOG Board September 24, 2026

2. Services To Be Provided

2.1. Purpose:

Through this Request for Qualifications (RFQ), SJCOG intends to solicit Statement of Qualifications from interested towing service providers for San Joaquin FSP services. The purpose of the RFQ is to establish a shortlist of qualified service providers. The final list of providers will be used to direct subsequent Request for Bids (RFBs) for FSP contracts.

Companies that do not submit a response to this RFQ or are not selected for the qualified shortlist, will not be eligible and invited to participate in the RFB process.

The FSP program consists of towing companies offering commute-time service, some weekend, and mid-day service to assist disabled motorists on select state highways in San Joaquin County. FSP tow operators do this by changing flat tires, providing a gallon of fuel, taping hoses, and other minor repairs. If a vehicle cannot be mobilized within 10 minutes, FSP will tow the vehicle to a California Highway Patrol designated drop location off the freeway. There may be some instances where FSP operators may be requested to lend assistance to peace officers. FSP operators are required to follow the instructions of the peace officer while at the scene of any incident.

Contractor(s) selected as the Freeway Service Patrol provider will assist motorists free of charge with minor repairs and remove disabled vehicles and those involved in minor accidents.

• Contractor will be compensated on a per-hour basis by SJCOG for providing the services based on the schedule identified below.

• Contractor will continuously patrol routes during the hours specified and may be dispatched to motorists in need of assistance by CHP, Caltrans, or SJCOG, or offer aid after observing a stranded motorist.

• For each route, contractor must have a backup truck comparable to the one it is replacing available when one of the primary trucks is not available. Contractor must have a back-up driver available when a regular driver is sick or absent. FSP operators are not allowed to tow as independent contractors from incidents that occur during the FSP shift. If called as a rotation tow after a FSP shift, another driver must be dispatched to respond to the incident.

• FSP operators are also not allowed to accept gratuities, perform secondary towing services, recommend secondary tows, or recommend repair/body shop businesses.

2.2. Performance Period

The period of performance shall be from January 4, 2027, through June 30, 2031 (four and a half years). SJCOG and contractor may execute up to two, three-year extensions of the agreement period based on available funding and satisfactory performance of the agreement services. All routes are subject to funding availability and meeting state cost effectiveness threshold requirements. Should any route need to be modified or eliminated, SJCOG will provide contractor 30-day notice. If contract extensions are granted, a commercial vehicle inspection will be required prior to renewal. Failure to maintain vehicles and equipment in operable condition is a reason for terminating the contract for cause.

2.3. Contract Requirements

The following requirements establish the ability of a company to satisfactorily perform the required work. Factors include: experience in performing work of a similar nature;

demonstrated competence in the services to be provided; strength and stability of the company; staffing capability; workload; record of meeting schedules on similar projects; “clean” record with CHP; and supportive client references.

A. Business License: Companies must have a valid business license.

B. Minimum Level of Experience: Companies must have either:

1. Three (3) years of satisfactory experience with a FSP program within California or on

Rotation Tow with the CHP, or

2. Three (3) years of satisfactory experience with an auto club, a local law enforcement agency, or other organization, which included towing on or off a highway or freeway.

C. Designated Field Manager: Companies must have a Designated Field Manager for the

FSP program with at least two (2) years of experience in the towing industry or similar field. The Designated Field Manager must have the authority to make decisions on behalf of the company and must be available by telephone, text message, or email during FSP operating hours and respond to any communication from SJCOG and/or CHP within one (1) hour when a response is requested. If the Designated Field Manager is also an FSP driver, the manager must delegate their responsibilities to an office staff member while the Designated Field Manager is on shift.

D. Response Capability – Office and Staging Location: To ensure timely roadside response and proper staging and maintenance of FSP vehicles and equipment, each company must demonstrate the ability to operate from a staffed office and to stage its primary and back-up FSP vehicles at a secure location from which a vehicle can reach the start of the applicable beat(s) within thirty (30) minutes' driving time under normal conditions at the posted speed limit before the AM shift. Companies must either:

a. Maintain a local office within 30 minutes driving time (at the speed limit) prior to the AM shift of the applicable beat(s). The office will be deemed the permanent location from where the FSP tow business will be conducted and where all FSP vehicles will be staged and maintained, or

b. Deem an office outside the 30 minutes' driving time as a “Main” office and have an identified proposed staging/parking/satellite location that is within 30 minutes driving time (at the speed limit) prior to the AM shift of the applicable beat(s). The remote location does not need to be staffed; however, it shall be a secure location with adequate storage space for FSP trucks and minor FSP equipment (e.g. forms, brochures, records, flares, sand). Drivers operating from the staging/parking/satellite location must have the ability to communicate with the main office location at all times. The local or “Main” office must be staffed during the hours of 8 a.m. through 5 p.m., Monday through Friday with either the Designated Field Manager or Office Staff member specified in this RFQ response. The local or “Main” office shall provide a telephone, a computer or similar device with the ability to access the internet for email and online vehicle monitoring, and a document scanner or similar equipment that can convert documents into portable document format (PDF). Companies may list more than one (1) remote location, however any locations other than those included in this

RFQ response will not be accepted after this RFQ submission deadline. All locations must pass a site inspection and uphold all staff, office equipment and supply requirements throughout the contract period. A company that does not yet control a compliant staging location at the time of submission may qualify by identifying its proposed location and its plan and timeline to secure it, provided the location is secured and passes site inspection before commencement of services.

E. Financial Stability and Responsibility: Companies desiring to contract with SJCOG must be financially sound, having sufficient funds or business credit to obtain and maintain all required equipment, maintain payments on all FSP related purchases or leases, and support the payroll of FSP tow drivers. Companies must submit evidence of financial stability and responsibility through all the following items:

1. Dunn & Bradstreet Report or credit report by a recognized credit reporting service, issued after January 1, 2026.

2. Federal Income Tax Returns from the two (2) most recent available years and/or audited Profit and Loss Statements for the two (2) most recent available years/fiscal years.

3. A recent letter from the company’s bank stating the length of the company/bank relationship, the company’s current standing with the bank, and the average monthly balance of the company’s account for the last available consecutive 12-month period and the company’s access to credit.

4. A recent letter from a bank, dealer, lease company, finance company, or other financial institution confirming that the company has the pre-approval, credit or financial ability to purchase vehicles necessary for FSP operation.

5. All financial information from this section shall be treated as confidential and withheld from public disclosure to the extent permitted by law, and SJCOG will notify the submitting company before any disclosure of such information.

F. Management Ability: Companies desiring to contract with SJCOG must be professionally managed. The company must have in place and maintain throughout the contract period an accounting system that accurately reports FSP related costs and income, including verifiable source documents all FSP costs, including tow operator timesheets.

Companies must also have in place procedures for maintaining the company’s quality and performance standards. Companies need to provide details and explain the following:

1. Accounting records and bookkeeping system

2. Standards of performance, safety and appearance

3. Communication, monitoring, and supervision of vehicles and operators in the field

G. Special Provisions: FSP is subject to certain provisions in the law that may affect each participating company differently. An adequate understanding of these provisions is required because of their potential impact on a company’s normal operation.

Companies are to briefly describe their understanding about the following items, indicate if their operation is or will be impacted and, if so, how compliance with the provisions are or will be implemented:

1. Hours of Service and Logbook Requirements (Title 13, California Code of Regulations, Sections 1212, 1212.5, and 1213)

2. Medical Certificate (California Vehicle Code, Section 12804.9)

H. Limitation on Adverse Actions Related to Contract Performance or Management:

Companies may not have been subject to an adverse action related to contract performance or contract management with SJCOG, CHP, Caltrans, or other FSP programs in California within the last two (2) years. Adverse actions include the company’s termination of a towing contract; SJCOG’s termination of a contract with the company for cause; documented unresponsiveness in dealing with identified problems and issues related to contract management or contract performance; or documented failure or inability to work effectively and cooperatively under contract with staff of

CHP, Caltrans, SJCOG or other FSP programs within California. This requirement is designed to protect SJCOG’s ability to provide Freeway Service Patrol to the motoring public in an efficient, effective, and orderly manner.

3. Submission

3.1. General Conditions

Each company shall be solely responsible for examining, with appropriate diligence, the RFQ documents, including any addenda issued during the qualification period, and to inform itself with respect to any and all conditions which may in any way affect the performance of the work in the event the company is selected. Failure of the company to do so shall be at its sole risk and no relief for error or omission will be given.

Information provided within the submitted RFQ documents will be corroborated with information gathered from references, site visits, and/or interviews.

Materials submitted by respondents are subject to public inspection under the California Public

Records Act (Government Code § 7920.000 et seq.), with the exception of the financial documents detailed in Section II.E.5.

3.2. Submittal Process & Requirements

Submit Electronic Responses via SJCOG's e-Procurement Portal. Submit your response in the

Vendor Submission.

Statements of Qualifications may be received up to but not later than Thursday, August 20, 2026 at 4:00 pm via the SJCOG e-Procurement Portal. SJCOG e-Procurement Portal Clock is the official clock for the determination of all deadline dates and times. Without exception, responses will not be accepted after the submission deadline regardless of any technical difficulties such as poor internet connections or incomplete submissions. SJCOG strongly recommends completing your response well ahead of the deadline.

3.3. Qualification Package Submission

Responses to this RFQ must be submitted in accordance with the instructions stated herein. All required documents must be complete for the proposal to be considered.

Qualification submissions must meet the following:

• All official forms must be completed.

• All required forms, documents/information must be included with the original submission.

• All forms, documents and information must be combined into one (1) PDF file.

No hard copy submissions of any kind will be accepted.

3.4. Notice of Addenda & Requests for Clarifications

All amendments, addendums, or modifications that may be issued by SJCOG will be posted in the OpenGov Portal . It is the responsibility of the company to check the website for addenda and any additional clarification(s) related to this RFQ and comply with new or revised requirements that may be stated therein. Proposers are encouraged to subscribe to SJCOG

OpenGov Portal notifications.

Inquiries relating to this RFQ shall be electronically submitted no later than Friday, August 7, 2026 5:00 pm via OpenGov Portal.

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3.5. RFQ Review & Selection Process

SJCOG staff will conduct a review of each RFQ submission received in accordance with the requirements of this RFQ to determine the companies that meet the minimum requirements of the RFQ.

RFQ’s meeting minimum requirements will be submitted to a review committee composed of the FSP Program Manager, FSP Administrative Technician, and FSP field supervising CHP officer(s).

The committee will contact references, conduct site visits, and interviews in an effort to corroborate, verify, or augment submitted information. The committee may further request additional information and/or perform background checks.

At the completion of the review and evaluation process, the committee will submit the list of companies meeting all the requirements of the RFQ to the SJCOG Executive Director for final review and approval.

Not all companies who submit Qualifications will be deemed qualified. This RFQ further does not promise that any company will be able to meet all the qualifications or that any company(s) will be invited to participate in future RFBs.

3.6. Result of Request for Qualifications

The resulting product of this RFQ will be a list of pre-qualified tow providers that are eligible to provide cost proposals (“bids”) to the SJCOG in response to any Requests for Bids (RFBs). Only those companies that successfully participate in this RFQ process, meet all the requirements contained herein, and are approved by the SJCOG Executive Director will be invited to participate in subsequent RFBs soliciting low bids for FSP services. SJCOG FSP will only contract with high-quality companies with a demonstrated record and reputation for outstanding service and reliability.

3.7. Disputes

A company may object to a provision of the RFQ on the grounds that it is arbitrary, biased, or unduly restrictive. Companies may also object to the selection or non-selection of a particular company to the list of qualified companies on the grounds that SJCOG procedures, the provisions of the RFQ or applicable provisions of federal, state or local law have been violated or inaccurately or inappropriately applied. Disputes may be filed by submitting to the FSP

Program Manager a written explanation of the basis for the protest:

• For objections to the RFQ provisions: no later than fifteen (15) working days prior to the date Qualifications are due.

• For objections to the Review Committee’s recommendation on the Qualifications of a particular company to the list of qualified companies: no later than three (3) working days after the date companies are notified of the Review Committee’s recommendation. This does not preclude companies from addressing the SJCOG Board directly regarding the staff recommendation.

• For objections to the SJCOG Executive Director’s final action establishing a list of qualified companies based on the RFQ: no later than three (3) working days after the

SJCOG Board’s formal action.

Protests must clearly and specifically describe the basis for the protest in sufficient detail for the FSP Program Manager to recommend a resolution to the SJCOG Executive Director. The

SJCOG Executive Director will respond to the protest in writing. Protests submitted under this

Section are the exclusive administrative remedy for the matters described and must be exhausted before any judicial action. A protest not submitted within the applicable deadline is waived. Where a protest concerns non-selection based on information about a company's responsibility or performance, SJCOG will provide the company written notice of the specific information relied upon and a reasonable opportunity to respond in writing before a final determination; no evidentiary hearing is required. The Executive Director (or a designee who did not serve on the review committee) will issue a written decision within ten (10) working days of receiving a timely protest, and that decision constitutes SJCOG's final action.

3.8. Modification or Withdrawal of Qualification Package

Prior to the deadline date and time for submittal, a qualification package may be modified or withdrawn by a company by means of a written request signed by the company or its properly authorized representative and submitted to RFP@sjcog.org.

3.9. Confidentiality

Unless otherwise stated, all submittals will be subject to public disclosure as required by the

California Public Records Act. All submittals will remain confidential to the public until after

SJCOG Board approval.

3.10. SJCOG Rights

SJCOG may investigate the qualifications of any company under consideration, require confirmation of information furnished by a company, and require additional evidence of qualifications to perform the work described in the RFQ.

SJCOG reserves the right to:

• Reject any or all of the proposals if it deems such action is in the public interest.

• Issue subsequent Requests for Qualifications.

• Cancel the entire Request for Qualifications.

mailto:RFP@sjcog.org

• Remedy technical errors in the Request for Qualifications process.

• Appoint an evaluation committee to review the proposals.

• Seek the assistance of outside technical experts in proposal evaluation.

• Approve or disapprove the use of particular subconsultants.

• Establish a short list of proposers eligible for interviews after review of written proposals.

• Waive informalities and irregularities in proposals and the bid process.

This RFQ establishes a list of pre-qualified providers only and does not result in award of any contract. SJCOG reserves all contract-award rights, including any reservation regarding price and responsibility, for the subsequent Request for Bids process, which will be conducted as a competitive low-bid solicitation with award to the lowest responsible bidder.

3.11. Solicitation Disclaimer

All Statements of Qualifications become the property of SJCOG upon submission. Cost of preparing, submitting, and presenting a Statement of Qualifications is at the sole expense of the offeror. SJCOG has the right to reject any or all of the Statements of Qualifications received as a result of this request. Solicitation of statements in no way obligates SJCOG to contract with any firm or individual. The decision to contract is at the discretion of SJCOG.

4. Bid Protest

4.1. Standing for Protest

A. Only a proposer who has actually submitted a responsive proposal is eligible to submit a protest. Subcontractors are not eligible to submit protests. A proposer may not rely on the protest submitted by another proposer but must timely pursue its own protest.

B. The protesting proposer must submit a non-refundable fee in the amount of five hundred dollars ($500.00). This fee must be submitted to SJCOG no later than the respective protest deadline defined below.

4.2. Grounds for Protest

Protests shall be based only upon the following grounds:

A. SJCOG failed to follow the procedures and adhere to the requirements set forth in the

Request for Proposal/Qualifications or Addendum thereto.

B. The Protestor alleges misconduct by SJCOG officials or evaluation team members.

4.3. Time for Filing a Protest

A. Any protest must be in writing and received by SJCOG at 555 East Weber Avenue, Stockton, CA 95202 before 5:00 p.m. no later than two (2) business days following the date the SJCOG Board awards the Contract.

B. For purposes of this Protest Procedure, a “business day” means a day that SJCOG is open for normal business, and excludes weekends and holidays observed by SJCOG.

4.4. Required Form of Protest

A. The protest must contain a complete statement of the basis for the protest and all supporting documentation. Material submitted after the applicable protest deadline will not be considered. The protest must refer to the specific grounds of protest set forth above upon which the protest is based and include the form of relief requested. The protest must include the name, address, email address, and telephone number of the person representing the protesting proposer if different from the protesting proposer.

B. Public Records. All materials submitted relative to this RFP/RFQ will be kept confidential until such time as an award of Contract is made. At such time, all materials submitted must be made available to the public. All information contained in the proposal may be subject to the California Public Records Act (Government Code sections 6250 et seq.), and the information’s use and disclosure are governed by this Act. Any information deemed confidential or proprietary should be clearly identified by the proposer as such.

Such information may then be protected and treated with confidentiality to the extent permitted by state law.

4.5. Protest Resolution Process

A. The Executive Director will designate staff to investigate disputed factual allegations, if any, contained in the timely filed protest.

B. The designated staff will prepare a Proposed Decision with assistance from SJCOG

General Counsel as soon as possible. The Proposed Decision should contain a summary of the protest, an evaluation of the protest, and a recommendation as to whether the protest should be allowed or denied. The Proposed Decision will only address the issues raised in the protest. The Proposed Decision shall be submitted to the Executive

Director for approval.

C. If the Proposed Decision is approved by the Executive Director, the Proposed Decision is then transmitted to the SJCOG Board Members.

D. If a Member of the Board does not request full Board consideration of the protest within five (5) calendar days of receiving the Proposed Decision, the Proposed Decision becomes the Final Decision of SJCOG and is mailed to the protestor and the proposer to whom award was authorized.

4.6. Exclusive Remedy

The procedure and time limits set forth in this Section are mandatory and are the proposer’s sole and exclusive remedy in the event of protest. A proposer’s failure to comply with these procedures will constitute a waiver of any right to further pursue a protest, including filing a

Government Code Claim or initiation of legal proceedings.

4.7. Right to Reject all Proposals

The proposer’s filing of a protest shall not preclude SJCOG from rejecting all proposals and re-advertising a Request for Proposals. Rejecting all proposals shall render a protest moot and terminate all protest proceedings.

4.8. Right to an Award

The SJCOG Board of Directors reserves the right to award the Contract to the proposer it has determined to be the responsive responsible proposer, and to issue a notice to proceed with the services notwithstanding any pending or continuing challenge to its determination.

4.9. Effect on Contracts

The failure of an SJCOG employee or department to comply with the provisions stated in this

Protest Procedure shall in no way affect the validity of any contract entered into by SJCOG.

5. Vendor Submission

5.1. Confirm*

Did you read through and confirm that you meet all of the requirements stated in this RFQ?

☐ Yes

☐ No

*Response required

5.2. Upload file documents in this section*

*Response required

5.3. Confidential

This section is ONLY if:

If you believe that you have a legally justifiable basis under the California Public Records Act

(Government Section 6250 et seq.) for protecting the confidentiality of any information contained within your proposal, you must identify any information, together with the legal basis of your claim in your proposal, and present such information separately.