Marine Towing and Storage Services

The City of St. Petersburg, Florida is procuring Marine Towing and Storage Services through an Invitation for Bid (IFB-25-011) for its Police Department's Marine unit, located in Pinellas County. The procurement seeks a comprehensive marine towing and impoundment contractor responsible for towing and storing vessels that are illegally docked, derelict, or pose public safety risks. Key deliverables include 24/7 towing services, maintaining an impound facility within St. Petersburg with capacity to store at least five vessels, and possessing a U.S. Coast Guard license for commercial marine assistance. Vendor qualifications include a minimum of five years marine towing experience, employees with specific Coast Guard licenses, and comprehensive insurance coverage including pollution liability, marine liability, and commercial general liability. The solicitation requires a detailed cost proposal with rates for various towing scenarios, including different pricing for weekday, weekend, and holiday services. Bid questions are due by December 12, 2024, with final bids due on January 2, 2025, at 3:00 pm. The City will award the contract to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder, focusing on vendors capable of providing safe and efficient marine towing and storage services.

The procurement does not explicitly indicate set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The current documentation references Maverick Marine Services as a potential incumbent or current service provider, though this is not definitively confirmed as the exclusive current contractor. The contract will have an initial three-year term with one optional two-year renewal period, suggesting potential long-term stability for the selected vendor. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated, the pricing structure includes hourly rates for towing services ranging from $250-$300 per hour and additional specialized recovery services priced per vessel foot length. The contractor will be responsible for collecting and remitting all fees from vessel owners/operators to the City within 10 days of collection. The agreement allows for potential price adjustments based on labor cost changes, limited to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Cost Index, which can be requested no more than once every 12 months.