(January 6, 2026)
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Fire Department
DATE: January 6, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Aaron Osorio, Fire Chief
Rico Rincon, Deputy Fire Chief
Michael Velazquez, Battalion Chief
Subject:
Contract With Jet Dock Systems, Inc. for the Repair and Maintenance of the Fire Department’s Boat Lift
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The proposed total three-year-not-to-exceed cost of $100,000 is included within the approved Fiscal Year
2025-2026 Fire Department budget and will be budget
accordingly in subsequent fiscal years (Account String:
01204022-400501).
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The Richmond Fire Department’s floating drive-on/drive- off boat lift was installed in 2013 as part of the
department’s fire boat acquisition. Due to wear and tear from continuous use and exposure to marine conditions,
repairs are now required to maintain the structural
integrity of the boat lift.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE a sole-source contract with Jet Dock
Systems, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $100,000, for a three-year contract term effective January 1, 2026,
through January 1, 2029, with two one-year extension
options not to exceed an additional $20,000 per year –
Fire Department (Chief Aaron Osorio 510-307-
8021/Deputy Fire Chief Rico Rincon 510-307-
8041/Battalion Chief Michael Velazquez 510-620-6989).
AGENDA
REPORT
(January 6, 2026)
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DISCUSSION:
In 2013, the Richmond Fire Department (“Department”) installed a Jet Dock Systems, Inc. floating drive-on/drive-off boat lift as part of its Fire Boat “Victory” acquisition. The Jet Dock provides 270-degree walk-around access, allowing firefighters to quickly access the vessel for rapid deployment while keeping it out of the water. The boat lift now requires repairs due to normal wear from continuous use and exposure to marine conditions.
The Jet Dock Systems, Inc. boat lift installed at Marina Bay Yacht Harbor consists of modular floating platforms that allow vessels to be driven on and off the dock, enabling dry storage when the vessel is not in use. Jet Dock systems are compatible with the specifications of the department’s fire boat and can be reconfigured as vessel change.
In addition, Jet Dock systems are widely used by marine operators due to their durability, low maintenance requirements, and ability to reduce hull corrosion. The following have been key advantages of using the Jet Dock systems:
Personnel Safety: The walk-around platform reduces the risk of firefighters falling into the water with gear while boarding or exiting the vessel.
Rapid Deployment: The docking system allows firefighters to deploy the vessel quickly. The fire boat can be deployed within approximately three minutes, a necessity for an efficient and effective emergency response.
Cost Savings: The City reduces costs for repair and maintenance by storing the fire boat out of the water, reducing the vessel’s continuous exposure to marine conditions. In addition, the walk-around platform allows personnel to safely access the vessel’s hull and other components for inspection and preventative maintenance, eliminating the costs associated with towing the vessel or transporting it to a maintenance facility.
Sole Source Justification
Jet Dock Systems, Inc. is the sole manufacturer of its proprietary docking systems, and there are no equivalent or comparable products that meet the boatlift specifications installed at the Department’s dock (Attachment 1). As such, the vendor does not authorize any other company to service or repair its products. Contracting other vendors
(January 6, 2026)
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to perform maintenance or repairs on Jet Dock systems may compromise the integrity of the system and render it inoperable if the work fails. The vendor will not service, repair, or support any products that have been modified or worked on by unauthorized parties. Once a Jet Dock system has been altered by another vendor, the vendor will no longer assume responsibility for its functionality or provide any further support.
Recommendation
City staff recommend that the City Council approve a sole source contract with Jet Dock Systems, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $100,000 for a three-year term, with two one- year extension options not to exceed an additional $20,000 per year (Attachment 2).
Approval of this sole source is critical, as only the vendor is authorized to service its own systems. The alternative to this request is for the City to decommission the existing boat lift system, hire a vendor to remove it, then contract a different vendor to install a new dock, and for its ongoing maintenance. This approach would result in significantly higher costs and longer lead times compared to the proposed sole source, which allows for the continued use of the existing Jet Dock system.
SYNERGISTIC POLICIES:
The contract with Jet Dock Systems, Inc. aligns with the goals and priorities set by the City Council to improve public safety and enhance operational efficiency. Using Jet Dock systems not only allows rapid deployment to marine response but also reduces risk of personnel falling into the water when boarding or exiting the vessel. The combination of operational readiness and enhanced personnel safety supports the City’s commitment to protecting both the public and its personnel.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Sole Source Justification Form
Attachment 2 – Standard Contract