July 19, 2022
Police Department
DATE: July 19, 2022
TO: Mayor Butt and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Louie Tirona, Acting Chief of Police
Subject:
Contract with Bay Area Marine Services (BAMS)
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Proposed contract will not exceed $50,000 over three years which equates to approximately $16,667 per fiscal year from account string 01191021-400201.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
n/a
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The Richmond Police Department’s Marine Unit consists
of three vessels that all have unique maintenance and
repair issues. The Department is seeking a contract with Bay Area Marine Services (BAMS) for repairs and
maintenance.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE a three-year contract with Bay Area Marine
Services, in a total amount not to exceed $50,000, for
repairs and maintenance to Richmond Police
Department’s marine vessels, with a term beginning
August 1, 2022 and ending July 31, 2025 – Police
Department (Louie Tirona 621-1802).
AGENDA
REPORT
July 19, 2022
DISCUSSION:
A city surrounded by water will have several police incidences that will involve water search and rescue, or patrol along the many wharves (including those of the Chevron Refinery) that jut out into the Bay from the Richmond shoreline. Having a fully ready and well-maintained police fleet will give the Richmond Police Department (RPD) ample time to start search and rescue efforts or deter criminal attacks on the water. The Bay’s water is not 100 percent fresh water, but a mixture of salt water and fresh water, a term described as brackish. Salt water is very corrosive and can eat away at anything that touches it for long lengths of time, including items above the water line that are hit with water-spray from wind whipping waves against the side of the vessel or dock. In order to successfully maintain the fleet, regular maintenance and yearly overhauls are recommended by the boat manufacturers, which can include, but is not limited to replacing zincs and anodes, removal of algae growth and barnacles, re-painting, electrical servicing, fuel system flushing, haul-out services, etc.
Our Marine Unit consists of three vessels that all have unique maintenance and repair issues. The Moose Boat, Liberty 37, purchased with grant funding, is a jet driven catamaran that uses two turbo diesel motors that require maintenance done by a certified diesel mechanic. The second vessel, Rescue 28, is a medium sized inflatable vessel with outboard motor that will need standard maintenance and repairs for continued use, and the third vessel, Rescue 23, the smallest of the fleet, has not been operational due to punctured inflatables. The repair work for the vessel will require special expertise in inflatable removal and installation, along with servicing and tune-up due to the motor sitting for so long. The smallest inflatable is unique because it can be easily transported by trailer and put into the water nearest the crime scene.
The Richmond Police Department has been able to maintain the fleet to serve its emergency response duties, but the marine unit is in need to have a maintenance plan and vendor in place to address the urgent repairs and maintenance before there are any catastrophic failures. Finding a certified mechanic has presented challenges since each boat has a different maintenance schedule, and because there are very few marinas/mechanics that can work on the diesel jet boat. Many of the service scheduling delays stem from a lack of marinas able to service the fleet.
RPD’s vessel manager solicited various quotes based on information learned at a conference. The three responding vendors were Bay Area Marine Services (BAMS), Peninsula Diesel, and Svendsen’s Bay Marine. BAMS (who also services San Francisco Police Department’s vessels) submitted the lowest bid for services and is able to service all three vessels.
It cannot be reiterated enough that the Police Department’s marine fleet serves a vital role to the Richmond shoreline and Chevron Refinery. The longer the boats sit and wait for repairs, the more repairs that will be needed. An extensive search was done throughout the Bay Area, and many marinas were contacted; however due to the uniqueness of our fleet, many marinas either turned down the opportunity to bid, or
July 19, 2022
were located in land locked repair facilities, which are not suitable for the 37’ Moose Boat since no trailer is available. RPD staff is recommending a $50,000, three-year contract, with Bay Area Marine Services for these reasons.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 - Original Contract
Attachment 2 - Quotes