Title
Sheriff’s Office recommending that the Board consider the following:
1) Waive formal bid requirements in accordance with Purchasing Ordinance 3.12.160 Exemptions from Competitive Process, Sections B and C; and
2) Authorize the Purchasing Agent to issue a Purchase Order in the estimated amount of $425,000 to SAFE Boats International, LLC for purchase of a boat for the purpose of providing boating safety and law enforcement patrol on the County’s waterways:
FUNDING: General Fund.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
This is a budgeted item on the Sheriff's Office's FIXED ASSET LIST FOR FY 2018-19.
The current Almar vessel used to Patrol the Lake Tahoe is at its end of life. This type of boat has an useful life of 15 years, and it is now over 22 years old. The California Department of General Services has conducted a site visit, and recommended that we do not invest additional funding in the vessel. In addition, the Almar vessel is not ideally suited for the role it serves as a law enforcement and rescue vessel on Lake Tahoe. The Sheriff’s Office performs numerous rescues of persons in the water, on the shore, and recovery of damage or disabled vessels. The high gunwale in the Almar vessel makes it difficult to raft with other boats or pull persons or equipment from the water. It also makes it nearly impossible to board when the vessel is beached.
The SAFE boat is fully equipped to handle the waters on Lake Tahoe with its foam collar and drop bow features. Other comparable boats lack these key design features that are essential for law enforcement and rescue activities conducted by the Sheriff Marine Unit. The foam-filled collar pads the boat from other vessels and eases pulling people or materials out of the water. Most other similar boats have an air-filled collar which can be punctured and have fluctuating inflation pressure during temperature changes. The SAFE boat is also the only vessel with a drop bow feature which allows the front of the vessel to open when beaching and greatly eases personnel boarding and de-boarding the craft, maximizing safety and efficiency. The deck design of the SAFE boat is also optimized for use in diving operations, a requirement due to the frequent dive team call outs on Lake Tahoe.
The Procurement and Contracts Department concurs that it is appropriate to waive the formal bid requirement for this purchase per Purchasing Ordinance 3.12.160 B and C. Purchasing Ordinance 3.12.160 B exempts purchases from competitive bidding where "the unique nature of the property or service required precludes competitive bidding." This SAFE boat can only be purchased from SAFE Boats International, LLC, and is unique in that it is the only watercraft that uses foam for stability, has mechanical and chemical attachment systems; full buoyancy flotation collars which enable the boat to remain afloat with no additional flotation in the event of a catastrophic hull breach; its collar size and dimensions provide an unparalleled level of stabilization when the watercraft executes a tight turn or when heavily loaded. The vessel also provides a full sided hull, unlike many other manufacturers. Additionally, for safety, the SAFE Boat has an upgraded hydraulically actuated drop bow rather than the standard metal bow which no other distributor provides. Purchasing Ordinance 3.12.160 C, exempts purchases where "competitive bidding would produce no economic benefit to the county." This vessel is not available for purchase through any dealer network and/or distributor, and can only be purchased factory direct through SAFE Boats International, LLC. Furthermore, Procurement and Contracts references the GSA contract in Purchase Requisition #366, which shows we are getting the best available price for this vessel.
The Sheriff's Office has done its due diligence in researching the types and pricing of vessels on the market, and found that several other agencies are also recommending the SAFE boat as best meeting our unique needs. Therefore, our recommendation is that the Board authorize this purchase by waiving the formal bid requirement, and authorizing issuance of a Purchase Order to SAFE Boats International LLC in the estimated amount of $425,000.
ALTERNATIVES
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Procurement and Contracts will be authorized to issue a Purchase Order to the vendor.
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item is included in the Sheriff’s FY 2018-19 budget.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Public Safety
CONTACT
Undersheriff, Randy Peshon