REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Fred A. Wilson, City Manager
PREPARED BY: David A. Segura, Fire Chief
Subject:
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Approve a sole source agreement for the purchase and refurbishment of a lifeguard rescue boat with Willard Marine, Inc.
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Statement of Issue:
Approval of a sole source agreement with Willard Marine, Inc. is requested for the purchase and refurbishment of City of Huntington Beach lifeguard rescue boats. Willard Marine, Inc. is the only provider of Crystaliner boats, which are utilized by the Marine Safety Division. The FY 2018/19 budget includes funding for the refurbishment of one boat.
Financial Impact:
In the FY 2018/19 Budget, $174,800 is appropriated in account 32440207.85300 for the refurbishment of one lifeguard rescue boat. The total cost for Willard Marine, Inc. to complete this work will be $173,485 and therefore, no additional appropriation is needed.
Although approving the sole source agreement with Willard Marine would not have a fiscal impact, it would allow for the expenditure for the refurbishment of the rescue boat.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
Approve the sole source agreement with Willard Marine, Inc.
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Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve the sole source agreement or refurbishment and instruct staff on how to proceed.
Analysis:
The proposed vendor, Willard Marine, Inc., was chosen because it is the only manufacturer of Crystaliner boats in the United States. They are also the only company with the required expertise to refurbish surf line rescue vessels, including in-house engineering, original molds, tooling, and other specialized equipment to perform this kind of boat overhaul. This type of lifeguard rescue boat has been used for over 40 years in Huntington Beach with a proven track record for successful surf line rescue operations.
Willard Marine, Inc. is an international manufacturer of rescue and military vessels, located in Orange County. In addition to the City of Huntington Beach, Crystaliner Rescue Boats are used by a number of southern California marine safety agencies, including Redondo Beach Harbor Patrol, Long Beach, Seal Beach, California State Parks, Newport Beach, Orange County Harbor Patrol, San Clemente, and Oceanside. The price of the proposed refurbishment is consistent with what is charged to other agencies for the same work and is similar to pricing quoted to the City in FY 2017/18. The refurbishment cost of $173,485 includes repair or replacement of the hull, deck, engines, transmissions, drive shafts, through hull fittings, struts, propellers, sensors, electrical systems, wiring, breaker panel, navigation systems, control systems and stringer inspections.
The replacement or refurbishment of old, deteriorating boats is critical to providing marine safety services on City beaches. This rescue boat was originally warrantied for 15 years of surf line operations, but has been in operation for twice that time. It is frequently in need of repairs, and parts are often difficult to obtain in a timely manner, compromising Marine Safety rescue operations. Operating in a corrosive marine environment for this long period of time has resulted in the need to replace a majority of the components of this watercraft.
The life expectancy of the refurbished boat is 15 years and the purchase is in line with Marine Safety’s long-term planning for replacing lifeguard rescue boats.
The approved sole source justification is shown as Attachment 1 and includes the estimate from Willard Marine, Inc. and a letter documenting that they are the only provider of this type of boat.
Environmental Status:
None.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Enhance and maintain public safety.
Attachment(s):
1. Sole Source Justification