Request for Proposal - Marine Safety Feasibility Study

The Santa Monica Fire Department has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a comprehensive Marine Safety Feasibility Study, seeking a qualified firm to analyze the potential establishment of a new lifeguard services program. The study will cover the department's transition from its current contract with Los Angeles County Fire Department, which currently provides 24/7/365 Basic Life Support lifeguard services along 3.5 miles of coastline. The RFP requires the selected firm to develop detailed documentation including staffing models, crowd estimates, revenue opportunity analysis, comprehensive cost analyses, best practices documentation, facility and equipment assessments, and recommendations for community engagement programs. Proposals are due by September 15, 2025 at 3:00 pm, with the contract anticipated to span two years. The evaluation will be conducted using a points-based system across four key criteria: value/breadth of services (25 points), experience/technical competence (30 points), cost (20 points), and quality of work product (25 points). Firms must demonstrate extensive knowledge of delivering lifeguard services in an urban municipal environment and provide comprehensive analysis of establishing a marine division within the Santa Monica Fire Department.

The RFP does not explicitly mention specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The current lifeguard services are provided through a contract with Los Angeles County Fire Department, which will be replaced by the potential new marine division. While a specific budget range is not detailed in the provided documents, the comprehensive nature of the feasibility study suggests a significant investment in understanding the operational, financial, and community aspects of establishing a municipal lifeguard program. The City reserves the right to select the most advantageous proposal, understanding that the highest-scoring or lowest-cost proposal may not necessarily be selected. The study will include critical components such as developing a Junior Lifeguard Program implementation plan and exploring potential revenue streams through advertising and service optimization. Interested firms will need to provide robust documentation demonstrating their capability to conduct a thorough and strategic assessment of marine safety services for the Santa Monica coastal environment.