October 15, 2024
Fire Department
DATE: October 22, 2024
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Aaron Osorio, Fire Chief
Den Mark Marcelo, Administrative Services Coordinator
Subject:
Richmond fire boat “Victory” Repair Services and
Maintenance
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The proposed three-year contract should not exceed $300,000. Funding for Fiscal Year 2024-25 is included in the Fire Department budget. The department will budget
accordingly for the subsequent fiscal years. Account
Strings: 01204022-400501.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The Richmond Fire Department fire boat “Victory” is an
essential asset of the Department’s ability to effectively respond to water-based emergencies and to protect Port
of Richmond infrastructure. Fire boat “Victory” is currently out of service and is need of urgent repairs.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE a sole-source contract with Bay Marine
Boatworks dba Svendsen’s Bay Marine in an amount not
to exceed $300,000, for a three-year term effective
October 23, 2024, through October 22, 2027, with a two
one-year extension option not to exceed an additional
$200,000, for the extended term to provide repair and
ongoing maintenance services – Fire Department (Chief
Aaron Osorio 510-307-8021/Den Mark Marcelo 510-307-
8038).
AGENDA
REPORT
October 15, 2024
DISCUSSION:
The Richmond Fire Department's fire boat callsign "Victory" is a crucial asset playing a vital role in water-based emergency response operations, including firefighting and marine incident management. “Victory” also plays a critical role in protecting Port of Richmond infrastructure. Fire boat "Victory" is a 37-foot dual jet drive catamaran hulled vessel, built in 2013, powered by two Cummins diesel engines. The vessel is outfitted with a fire pump capable of flowing 3,000 gallons of water per minute for firefighting purposes. Additionally, the boat is equipped with technology, including Lowrance Radar, Lowrance Sonar, Global Positioning System (GPS), Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) Infrared Camera, High-Intensity Search Lights, and a Chemical, Biological, Radiological & Nuclear (CBRN) Positive Pressure Filtration System in its cabin.
Over time, due to insufficient maintenance, fire boat "Victory" has suffered wear and damage requiring immediate attention. Recent inspections by Richmond Fire Department (“Department”) personnel have identified various mechanical and structural issues that must be addressed before the boat can be returned to service. Neglecting these issues is compromising the effectiveness and safety of emergency response efforts in water-related incidents.
Given these concerns, the Department reached out to Moose Boats, LLC, the boat's manufacturer, for repair services. However, Moose Boats, LLC, was unable to undertake the project and instead recommended Bay Marine Boatworks, dba Svendsen’s Bay Marine, a local Richmond vendor authorized to service the hull, Cummins engine, and other onboard technology. The vendor has extensive experience in marine repair and maintenance and has demonstrated proficiency in handling complex systems and equipment specific to fire boats.
The department seeks City Council approval to sole-source the repair services and maintenance contract with Svendsen’s Bay Marine (Attachment 1). This sole-source contract ensures that all repair work will align with the manufacturer's strict specifications and guidelines, crucial for maintaining the vessel's integrity and safety.
Contracting the services to another vendor poses risks to work quality, potentially jeopardizing the vessel's safety.
Svendsen’s Bay Marine has outlined the services they will provide, including engine inspection, repair, and maintenance, underwater body work, fire suppression system inspection/testing, and parts replacement, all in accordance with the project manager's specifications (detailed in Attachment 1, Exhibit A-1). The estimated repair cost quoted by Svendsen’s Bay Marine is within the fire department's budget for the current fiscal year. Any subsequent work or additional costs identified post-inspection have been factored into the proposed department budget for Fiscal Year 2024-25.
Restoring fire boat "Victory" back into service is essential for maintaining the department’s water-based firefighting capabilities and the community’s safety. The
October 15, 2024
department requests that the City Council approve the repair project so that the department may authorize the vendor for the repair and services of our fire boat, ensuring the fire boat's full operational readiness.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Svendsen’s Bay Marine - Sole Source Justification Attachment 2 – Svendsen’s Bay Marine - Standard Contract