Towing Services

Sarasota County is requesting bids for comprehensive towing services covering County Fleet, Emergency Services, and Sarasota County Transit (Breeze) vehicles and equipment throughout the County under an Invitation for Bids, with proposals due November 18, 2026. No set-asides or preferences apply due to grant funding requirements.

The scope spans 24/7 dispatch and emergency towing for approximately 1,286 assets: 277 passenger vehicles, 584 light/medium duty trucks, 2 golf carts, 115 off-road utility vehicles, 51 heavy-duty trucks, 170 fire and rescue vehicles, 43 earth-moving equipment units, and 44 transit buses. Services include standard towing, winch-out operations for off-road recovery, out-of-county transportation, passenger transportation for operators, impound and storage, and accident cleanup. The contractor must meet response times of 45 minutes for Emergency Services and Breeze transit assets and 60 minutes for all other County assets; failure to meet these timeframes results in 50% charge deductions. Pricing must include all mobilization fees, mileage charges, labor, and travel time within hourly rates, with invoicing required within two weeks of service completion. Asset drop-off procedures govern delivery to five designated County facilities during and after business hours.

Minimum qualifications require seven years of documented experience with 24-hour dispatch, emergency towing, vehicle towing up to 1.5-ton trucks, and heavy equipment towing, with at least two references (at least one governmental entity). All employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States, possess required towing licenses, wear company identification and uniforms, and communicate effectively in English. Insurance requirements include Workers' Compensation per Florida Statutes Chapter 440 with $500,000 Employers Liability limits; Commercial General Liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate with Sarasota County as additional insured; Business Automobile Liability of $1,000,000 combined single limit; and Garagekeeper's Legal Liability of $500,000 per occurrence with on-hook liability endorsement.

The initial contract term is three years. The County reserves the right to award to the responsive and responsible bidder submitting the lowest total bid price. The County may perform random safety spot checks on contractor vehicles and equipment.