Non-exclusive police towing franchises

The City of Pasadena is seeking non-exclusive police towing franchises through a Request for Applications (RFA) targeting qualified towing service providers for the Pasadena Police Department and Department of Transportation. The procurement aims to secure vendors capable of providing comprehensive impound, towing, street sweep, and storage services for vehicles weighing up to 100,000 pounds, including towing from City-owned parking structures. Franchisees must maintain storage lots within 4 miles of Pasadena city limits, with a minimum aggregate area of 20,000 square feet, and meet stringent operational requirements such as 20-minute maximum response times, proper equipment maintenance, detailed reporting, and compliance with equal employment opportunity and environmental regulations. The application deadline was January 20, 2023, at 4:00 PM, with submissions required in one original and two hard copies to Lieutenant Anthony Russo at 207 N. Garfield Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101. Evaluation criteria will focus on compliance with municipal code and franchise agreement terms, with the potential for multiple franchises to be granted. The franchise term is one year with potential renewal options for up to four additional one-year terms, creating a maximum potential franchise period of five years.

The RFA does not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations, suggesting the opportunity is open to various qualified towing service providers. Each selected franchisee will be required to pay a franchise fee of $22,500, payable quarterly, with towing and storage rates established by the City Council (currently $151 per impound and $42 per day for storage). The contract includes provisions for after-hours vehicle releases and credit card payment options. While no incumbent vendors are explicitly identified, the document indicates the City of Pasadena is seeking multiple service providers to create a non-exclusive franchise model. The procurement covers a diverse urban area of approximately 22.5 square miles with 141,510 residents, suggesting a potentially significant operational opportunity for towing service providers. The City appears prepared to establish a comprehensive towing infrastructure that can accommodate the diverse needs of its municipal police and transportation departments, with a focus on flexible, responsive service delivery.