Towing and Recovery Services

The Orange County Transportation Authority is requesting proposals for towing and recovery services under RFP 250257, with proposals due May 20, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. and a pre-proposal conference scheduled for May 6, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. (in-person at 550 South Main Street, Orange, California, Conference Room 09, or via Microsoft Teams). Written questions are due by 5:00 p.m. on May 8, 2026.

The scope requires 24/7/365 emergency and standard towing and recovery services for all OCTA revenue vehicles (transit and paratransit buses including 40-foot and 60-foot articulated vehicles), non-revenue fleet (service vans, pickup trucks, sedans, SUVs), equipment (boom lifts and similar items), and abandoned or unauthorized vehicles on OCTA-owned or controlled properties throughout Orange County and surrounding counties. Emergency response time is one hour and thirty minutes. Services include roadside assistance such as jump starts, tire changes, and lock-out assistance. Contractors must hold valid California Class A or appropriate Commercial Driver's License, Medical Examiner's Certificate, and Motor Carrier Permit. All equipment must comply with California Vehicle Code and Department of Transportation regulations. The contractor assumes full liability for vehicle damage resulting from improper towing procedures, securement, or transport, and bears costs for spills and regulatory fines. Performance standards require 95% quarterly compliance with response-time requirements and 100% documentation accuracy using OCTA Tow Request Form OP-MNT-024. Storage facilities must be secure, fenced, and monitored with OCTA access during normal business hours. Prevailing wage requirements apply.

The estimated contract value is $435,000 over three years (August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2029), allocated at $145,000 annually. Contractors will be compensated on a time-and-expense basis at firm-fixed hourly rates that remain fixed across the three-year term with no price increases permitted; all rates must include labor, equipment, fuel, overhead, and profit. Pricing must remain firm for 120 days from submission. The contractor must guarantee prices equal to or less than those quoted to any other local, state, or federal government entity for equal or lesser scope services.

Required insurance includes Commercial General Liability ($2,000,000 per occurrence / $4,000,000 aggregate), Automobile Liability ($2,000,000 combined single limit), Pollution Liability ($2,000,000 per occurrence / $4,000,000 aggregate), Garagekeepers Liability ($2,000,000 per occurrence), Workers' Compensation with waiver of subrogation, and Employers' Liability ($1,000,000).

Proposals will be evaluated on qualifications of the firm (30%), staffing and project organization (20%), work plan (25%), and cost (25%), each scored on a 0–5 scale. The Authority reserves the right to conduct interviews and request Best and Final Offers. Interviews with selected proposers are anticipated for June 10, 2026. All proposals must be submitted electronically through the Authority's OpenGov Procurement portal; hard copy submissions will not be accepted. Offerors must acknowledge receipt of all addenda, disclose any lobbying services, identify subcontractors, provide three client references, and submit Status of Past and Present Contracts forms documenting any litigation or claims from the past five years. Addendum #2 Revision was posted May 18, 2026.

Health, Safety, and Environmental specifications (Exhibit D, Level 2 Standard) establish comprehensive compliance with California Code of Regulations Title 8, injury and illness prevention programs, substance abuse prevention programs, hazard communication programs with Safety Data Sheets, and storm water pollution prevention plans where applicable. Contractors must designate an HSE Representative within ten business days of award; this individual must hold current Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) certification and possess five years of demonstrated construction experience. Site safety orientations, written Job Hazard Analyses, and incident reporting and investigation protocols with immediate verbal notification and written reports within 24 hours are required. The Authority reserves the right to terminate for repeated unsafe acts or serious safety violations.

No set-aside, preference program, or incumbent contractor is specified. The funding source is local Measure M. Award is contingent upon adequate funding, and successful proposers may be required to file Statements of Economic Interests (Form 700) under California's Political Reform Act.