City Tow ContractTHE C
DUjIBQTE
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: City Tow Contract
DATE: September 15, 2021
Dubuque
WAWca 914
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2007-2012.2013
2017*2019
The City of Dubuque Tow Contract with Wenzel Towing expired June 30, 2021, and an
RFP submittal deadline of August 13, 2021 resulted in 3 proposals. One was dismissed
after it was turned in after the deadline. The remaining two proposals were reviewed by
City staff and included site visits.
Chief of Police Mark Dalsing, Assistant Chief Jeremy Jensen and the City of Dubuque
selection committee recommend award of the FY2022-FY2025 City of Dubuque Tow
Contract to Wenzel Towing.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
v
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Mark M. Dalsing, Chief of Police
Dubuque
THE CITY OFB
I�
DUE
m-ra � �uaII�r
200]•2012.2013
2017*2019
Masterpiece on t11e Mississippi
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
FR: Mark M. Dalsing
Chief of Police
RE: City Tow Contract
INTRODUCTION
Police Department
Dubuque Law Enforcement Center
770 Iowa Street
P.O. Box 875
Dubuque, IA 52004-0875
Office (563) 589-4410
Fax (563) 589-4497
TTY (563) 583-1711
E-mail: police@cityofdubuque.org
www.cityofclubuque.org
September 15, 2021
This memo will recommend awarding the FY2022-FY2025 City of Dubuque Tow
Contract.
BACKGROUND
The City of Dubuque Tow Contract with Wenzel Towing expired June 30, 2021 and City
staff have been working on a new contract. An RFP submittal deadline of August 13,
2021 resulted in 3 proposals. One was dismissed after it was turned in after the
deadline. The remaining two proposals were reviewed by City staff and included site
visits. Assistant Chief of Police Jeremy Jensen led the process and has submitted the
attached recommendation.
CONCLUSION
Assistant Chief of Police Jeremy Jensen and the City of Dubuque selection committee
is recommending Wenzel Towing, 3197 Hughes Ct., Dubuque, IA be awarded the
FY2022-FY2025 City of Dubuque Tow Contract, and I concur with the recommendation.
City staff will then work on the actual contract over the coming days.
ACTION REQUESTED
City Manager review and approval and forward to City Council for review and approval
of the selection committee's recommendation for Wenzel Towing, 3197 Hughes Ct.,
Dubuque, IA to be awarded the FY2022-FY2025 City of Dubuque Tow Contract.
THE CITY OF
DUB E
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
DATE: September 14, 2021
MEMORANDUM
TO: Chief of Police Mark Dalsing
FROM: Assistant Chief of Police Jeremy Jensen
RE: FY2022 — FY2025 City tow contract recommendation
Background
Requests for proposals from vendors interested in providing services for the City of
Dubuque towing contract beginning immediately (the previous contract expired June 30,
2021) and running through June 30, 2024, were solicited via the request for proposal
process. A bid submittal deadline of 2:00 p.m. on August 13, 2021 was set for
interested vendors to submit proposals. Three vendors submitted proposals, however,
one proposal was late, so proposals from Wenzel Towing and Beidler Services, both of
Dubuque, were the only two considered.
Process
A committee consisting of City staff members was assembled to review the submitted
request for proposals and recommend the awarding of the contract. The committee
members included:
• Assistant Chief of Police Jeremy Jensen
• Captain Joe Messerich, Dubuque Police Department
• Corporal Travis Kramer, Dubuque Police Department
• Travis Schrobilgen, Planning & Zoning
• Russ Stecklein, Transit
• Tom Kuhle, Operations & Maintenance
• Tony Breitbach, Finance Department
• Derek Paulson, Fire Department
The committee was tasked with evaluating the RFP's, as well as, conducting a site visit.
On August 27, 2021, committee members met to tour the Wenzel Towing facility, and
Beidler's Towing facility. Along with the facility tours, the committee members also
inspected each contractor's towing equipment and interacted with the personnel from
the businesses. Following the above inspections committee members completed an
evaluation and made a recommendation based upon the submitted proposal, site visit,
1
and each team members expertise.
Ten total categories were reviewed. The categories consisted of Contract History,
References, Past Performance, Completeness of Proposal, Amount and Type of
Equipment, Personnel, Lot Location and Facilities, Lot Capacity and Storage, Price
Quotation and Financial Stability. Wenzel's Towing has had the current contract for the
past 3 years. It should be noted that during the past contract period, Wenzel Towing
had no complaints from transit, police, public works, dispatch, or the public. I received
several complaints about Wenzel Towing from a competitor, but after review, it was
determined Wenzel's was within the scope of the contract, the contract was unclear, or
the complaint was unfounded.
A side -by -side comparison of both Wenzel Towing and Beidler Services was conducted.
Wenzel's proposal was complete and is a working operation that meets the needs of the
contract, right now. The Beidler's proposal was incomplete in outlining the requirements
of the proposal and is a concept which they will put in place "upon award of the
contract". Upon site review, Wenzel Towing has the infrastructure, facility, and
equipment, as well as sufficient resources currently in place to meet all foreseeable
towing needs. Additionally, Wenzel's has implemented a software system, Tow Book,
which allows members of the Police Department to access to all vehicles towed by
Wenzel's. This has reduced paper and time spent in travel in disposing of abandoned
vehicles. Beidler Services meets the minimum requirements of the contract in concept.
While receptive to meet the needs of the contract, they still need to rent a large vehicle
to fulfill the minimum towing requirement for commercial motor vehicles, rent indoor
space, and fence in their lot. All which they said they would do upon award of the
contract. Beidler's acknowledged that fencing the lot, may take some time due to the
current demand upon the market.
A second component that was reviewed was the cost comparison of the proposed rates.
Appendix A is the side -by -side tow cost comparisons for public tows involving standard
passenger vehicles and light trucks (Group I Class A). Group I Class C is all public
tows in which the vehicles are classified as commercial motor vehicles. Appendix B is
the side -by -side tow cost comparisons for City owned vehicles (Group II Class A & C).
It should be noted that the Public Works Department has many "odd" sized and large
vehicles. Wenzel's advised they could tow and/or haul all City owned large vehicles,
while Beidler's said they may have to outsource the tow based upon the vehicle type.
Specifically mentioned was a large asphalt machine.
Conclusion & Recommendation
Both companies are willing, and at least, on paper, are capable of fulfilling the contract.
However, Beidler Services is currently not set up to fulfill the contract. Wenzel Towing is
set up to fulfill the contract, while also going above and beyond the requirements in
infrastructure, training, facilities, and equipment. The committee unanimously and
respectfully submits our recommendation that the FY 2022— FY2025 City of Dubuque
Towing contract be awarded to Wenzel Towing, 3197 Hughes Ct., Dubuque.
FA
Appendix A
Service Type - Group 1 Class A
Wenzels Pricing
Beidler's Pricing
Standard Tow
$55.00
$55.00
Night Tow
$65.00
$65.00
Dolly Fee
$40.00
$40.00
Recovery Operations Winching (1st half hour)
$45.00
$50.00
Recovery Operations Winching (After 1st half hour)
$40.00
$45.00
Standby Time (1st half hour)
$30.00
$35.00
Standby Time (After 1st half hour)
$30.00
$30.00
Mileage Outside of City Limits
$2.75
$2.50
Show Up Fee
$26.50
$30.00
Go Jacks
$10.00
$10.00
Group I Class C
First Hour (per unit)
$125.00
$150.00
After First Hour (per unit)
$125.00
$150.00
Storage
Cars, pickups, motorcycles (outside)
$20.00
$20.00
Cars, pickups, motorcycles (inside storage -owner request)
$25.00
$25.00
Trucks, tractors, buses
$50.00
$30.00
Truck tractor trailer
$50.00
$30.00
After hours/holiday release charge (if any)
$30.00
$30.00
Green = cheaper pricing
3
Appendix B
Service Type -Group II Class A
Wenzels Pricing
Beidler's Prici
Standard Tow
$55.00
$40.00
Night Tow
$65.00
$40.00
Dolly Fee
$40.00
$30.00
Recovery Operations Winching (1st half hour)
$45.00
$50.00
Recovery Operations Winching (After 1st half hour)
$40.00
$45.00
Standby Time (1st half hour)
$30.00
$0.00
Standby Time (After 1st half hour)
$30.00
$30.00
Mileage Outside of City Limits
$2.75
$2.50
Show Up Fee
$26.50
$0.00
Go Jacks
$10.00
$10.00
Group II Class C
First Hour (per unit)
$125.00
$150.00
After First Hour (per unit)
$125.00
$150.00
Green = cheaper pricing
0