IFB 10204537 Technical and Confined Space Rescue Services

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has issued Invitation for Bid (IFB) #10204537 for Technical and Confined Space Rescue Services across its San Joaquin and Southern Field Divisions, covering counties including Kern, Kings, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside. The procurement seeks a contractor to provide comprehensive rescue services, including qualified personnel, equipment, transportation, and all necessary resources to perform technical and confined space rescue operations on an as-needed basis. Contractors must maintain critical certifications, specifically the California State Fire Marshal Confined Space Rescue Technician certification and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification. The contract will have a three-year term beginning April 15, 2025, with service delivery structured around two-person teams (1 Team Lead, 1 Field Technician) and three-person teams (1 Team Lead, 2 Field Technicians). Key procurement dates include technical question submissions by November 14, 2024 at 2:00 PM, with answers provided by November 22, 2024, and bid submissions due by December 10, 2024 at 2:00 PM, with a bid opening scheduled for December 12, 2024 at 10:00 AM in Bakersfield.

The solicitation includes specific Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) participation requirements, with a DVBE incentive calculation ranging from 3-5%. The current incumbent contractor is Rural Metro Fire Department Inc. DBA Capstone Fire & Safety Management. Pricing is structured with hourly rates across straight time, overtime, and double time categories, with a minimum guarantee of four hours per rescue team per service day. The bid requires all-inclusive rates covering labor, materials, licenses, permits, transportation, per diem, equipment, and travel time, with no separate billing permitted. While no specific budget range is disclosed, historical service usage indicates approximately one-third of services from the Southern Field Division and two-thirds from the San Joaquin Field Division. Bidders must submit comprehensive rates for both field divisions, with zero dollar amounts indicating services performed at no cost to the state. The state reserves the right to award based on the lowest responsible bidder and to check and recalculate bid totals.