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HomeMy WebLinkAboutContract 26559 CITY SECRETARY �r CONTRACT NO. CONTRACT FOR TOW TRUCK SERVICE (STANDARD SERVICE) WHEREAS, the City of Fort Worth occasionally requires the service of tow trucks; and WHEREAS, such tow truck services are necessary to protect the safety of the citizens of the City of Fort Worth, NOW, THEREFORE, KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS: The City of Fort Worth, hereinafter referred to as "City", acting herein by and through Libby Watson, its duly authorized Assistant City Manager, and Tow Op Systems, Inc. doing business as Buddy's Towing, hereinafter referred to as "Company", acting herein by and through C. Scott Holcomb , its duly authorized president, agree as follows: 1. SERVICES City hereby contracts with Company to provide police pull towing service. As used herein, "police pull" shall mean that the Fort Worth Police Department has called Company from the rotation list to either remove a wrecked or disabled vehicle or to remove a vehicle in a safe driving condition, but the owner is not present, able or permitted to drive or to make authorizations. 2. TERM The term of this contract shall be for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of its execution, with four options to renew for terms of one year each, unless earlier terminated as hereinafter provided. Renewal shall occur upon City including in its budget for the options years sufficient funds to pay for its obligations hereunder and Company providing proof of insurance to City. 3. COMPENSATION 1. Compensation. As compensation for providing the services contemplated by this Contract, City agrees to pay Company as follows: 0MCNA FIE00RD CG rf SEE I)MPy a) Towage. A charge of sixty-five dollars ($65.00) for towing such vehicle from one point on a street to another location within the corporate limits of the city as directed by the police department at the place where the tow originated; such charge includes one hour of extra work. b) Second tow truck. In the event the police officer at the scene determines that a second tow truck is required, a charge of fifty dollars ($50.00) per hour, with a minimum charge of one hour, billed in increments of fifteen (15) minutes while at the scene of the police pull. The use of a second tow truck shall be approved by a police supervisor. Travel time is excluded. c) Extra work. An additional charge of fifty dollars ($50.00) per hour, with a minimum charge of one hour, charged in increments of fifteen (15) minutes, for removing vehicles which are off the street right-of-way, such charge to be made from the time the operator begins to remove the vehicle until it is on the traveled portion of the street. Even though the vehicle is within the street right-of-way, an additional charge may be made if the vehicle is located in some unusual condition within the right.-of-way, such as, but not limited to, a river or a creek bed or a ditch of greater depth than the ordinary bar ditch. Extra work shall only be allowed when authorized by a police officer at the scene of the pull. The charges for such extra work shall be reviewed and approved by the Auto Pound Wrecker Administrator. Extra work excludes travel time, waiting time and clean-up time. d) Use of a dolly. No additional fee shall be charged for the use of a dolly. e) Handling hazardous materials. When the cargo of any motor vehicle or trailer includes explosive, nuclear, radioactive, hazardous or corrosive materials, as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency, Texas Department of Transportation, or the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, a fee equal to one hundred-fifty (150) percent of the charges which may be assessed pursuant to subparagraph "a" above. In addition, a charge may be made for expenses incurred related to protective clothing and any other supplies or equipment used in handling such materials, such charge being equal to the actual amounts incurred plus fifteen " nt. uI8��0GG�D 2 r� %EtC f) Nothing contained herein shall be construed so as to obligate City to expend any sums of money. Further, nothing contained herein shall be construed so as to guarantee to Company that City will contact Company for any towing services contemplated by this Contract. 2. Invoicing and PaVment. Company shall Invoice City once per month. Company shall include with the invoice such documents as may be reasonably requested to provide evidence of the services provided to the City, which at a minimum shall include copies of the wrecker selection form signed by the officer at the scene of the police pull and/or personnel at the Fort Worth Auto Pound. Such invoice shall be subject to the review and approval of appropriate City personnel. City shall remit payment to Company not more than thirty (30) days following approval of invoice. 4. VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS Company shall maintain at all times the following vehicles and equipment in working condition: a) A minimum of two (2) wreckers, one of which shall be not less than 14,000 pounds gross vehicle weight and one of which shall be not less than 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, dual rear wheels, equipped with a hydraulic operated winch, winch lines, and a boom rated at not less than 8,000 pound lift capacity and a wheel lift device rated at not less than 2,500 pounds. b) At a minimum, all wreckers shall be equipped with the following equipment, which at all times shall be maintained in working order: 1) Tow bar 2) Towing lights 3) Emergency overhead warning lights (red or amber color only) 4) Safety chain 5) Fire extinguisher, A.B.C. Type 6) Wrecking bar 7) Broom "'XR, 3 (IM 8) Ax 9) Shovel 10) Reflectors or traffic cones 11) Trash container 12) Two way voice or computer communication between tow truck and Company dispatcher 13) Backing warning signal 14) Wheel chocks c) Each tow truck shall have permanently inscribed on each side of the vehicle, in letters of not less than three (3) inches in heighJ1 the name, address and telephone number of the company. Magnetic or other forms of removable signs are prohibited. d) Each tow truck and the required equipment shall be inspected by the Chief of Police or his authorized designee prior to being used for services contemplated by this contract. In addition, each tow truck and the required equipment shall be subject to intermittent inspection to assure compliance with this contract. 5. INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS Company shall maintain insurance from insurers acceptable to City of the following types and amounts: 5.1 Commercial General Liability $500,000 each occurrence $500,000 aggregate or Garage Liability $500,000 each accident, other than auto $500,000 aggregate 5.2 Automobile Liability $500,000 each accident, combined single limit This coverage shall include all vehicles owned or non-owned that are operating under Company's operating authority. Jf�p�8CM END 4 �UB ll �°til� �ll 5.3 Cargo/On-Hook $30,000 per unit Coverage shall include both the unit being towed and its contents. Units covered shall include but not be limited to motor vehicles, trailers and boats. Coverage shall be written on a direct primary basis. 5.4 GARAGEKEEPER'S LIABILITY $30,000 per unit 5.5 Worker's Com pensation/Accident Insurance Coverage shall meet the minimum requireftients of state law as con- tained in the Motor Carrier Rules and Regulations. 5.6 Current insurance certificates shall remain on file with the City during the term of this Contract. Insurance coverages may, at the sole discretion of the City, be revised upward upon thirty (30) days prior written notice to Company. Policies shall be endorsed as follows: • to provide the City with a minimum of thirty (30) days notice of cancellation, non-payment of premium, or non-renewal; • to cover the City as an additional insured on liability insurance policies, except for employer's liability; and • to include a waiver of subrogation in favor of the City. 5.7 In the event a state or federal law, rule or regulation pertaining to wrecker service companies operating within the State of Texas exceed insurance requirements specified herein, such state or federal law, rule or regulation shall prevail for the respective type of insurance coverage and/or limit thereof. 6. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF COMPANY Company, during the term of this contract, shall perform the following duties and have the following responsibilities: 'J)F'HCGVJ PEND ' �UU'�%EE GSR °Rly 5 Cuo 1�or'��la � o a) Maintain as its primary business the towing of vehicles or trailers by wreckers meeting the requirements of paragraphs 4(a) and 4(b) above. "Primary business" shall mean that Company receives more than fifty per-cent (50%) of it gross revenues from the towing of vehicles and trailers. All of company's records shall be open to reasonable inspection, both at the time of execution of this agreement and at any time during the term hereof, to verify compliance with this condition. b) Maintain a currently licensed vehicle storage facility located within the corporate limits of the City. "Vehicle storage facility" shall mean a facility operated by a person licensed under Article 6687-9a, Revised Statvtes. c) Maintain business operation twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven days per week. d) Respond to all calls contemplated by this contract within thirty (30) minutes of notification, except in extraordinary situations where delay is caused by ice, snow or other weather related conditions. In the event Company fails to respond as required, City may notify another wrecker company and Company shall not be entitled to the compensation to which it would have been entitled had it arrived timely. e) Notify the City of any change of ownership, president or chief executive officer, or change of address within five (5) business days of any such change. f) Deliver the motor vehicle being towed to the location within the corporate limits of City designated by the police officer at the scene of the pull. Delivery shall be made without delay or detour. g) Fully cooperate with any investigation conducted by the City regarding complaints against Company, whether or not such complaints arise out of services contemplated by this Contract. h) Shall not become delinquent in the payment of any taxes due to City. i) Shall not go to any accident scene unless the Company has been called to the scene by the owner or operator of a vehicle or an authorized representative of same, or by the City. ME j) Shall not solicit any wrecker business within the corporate limits of City at the scene of a wrecked or disabled vehicle, regardless of whether the solicitation is for the purpose of soliciting the business of towing, repairing, wrecking, storing, trading, or purchasing the vehicle. k) Shall only employ drivers of tow trucks authorized to operate same. 1) Provide the Police Pound personnel with an invoice at the time the vehicle is delivered to the Auto Pound together with the signed wrecker selection form to be provided. 7. TERMINATION AND SUSPENSION A. This contract may be terminated or suspended by City for any of the following causes: 1. Violation of any term and/or condition specified in this contract. 2. Failure to notify the Communications Division of the Police Department within fifteen (15) minutes from the time of notification if the Company will be unable to respond within the thirty (30) minutes allotted for a response to a call for wrecker service. 3. Permitting a tow truck to be operated by anyone while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. 4. Permitting a tow truck to be operated by anyone whose operator's license is suspended. 5. Transferring or assigning any call for service to any other company 6. Any sustained complaint of theft by personnel of Company while acting in their capacity as employees of Company, whether occurring during a police pull or otherwise. 7. Any sustained complaint of threats made by personnel of the Company while acting in their capacity as employees of Company made against third parties during a police pull or otherwise. 8. Failing to comply with all directions of police personnel at the scene of a police pull or civilian employee at the Police Pound. Company may request a police supervisor to validate any such direction given. �„• Fr SE n A- 'EC:�0PD � Uo UU��'r�liU9 VL5!/'�0 9. Five (5) passes within a thirty (30) day period. Pass in this paragraph shall mean Company failing to notify the City of its inability to respond to a request for service as required by paragraph 2 above. 10.Ten (10) passes within a thirty (30) day period. Pass in this paragraph shall mean a Company notifying the City of its inability to respond to a request for service as required by paragraph 2 above. 11.Violation of any rule or regulation contained in Exhibit "A" attached hereto. 12.Failure to comply with any state or federal law or city ordinance related to the operation of a wrecker company. 11� B. City shall notify Company in writing of its intent to terminate or suspend for cause twenty (20) days prior to such suspension or termination. Company shall have the right to request a hearing before the Chief of Police or his designee regarding the intent to terminate or suspend for cause by requesting a hearing in writing within five (5) business days after receipt of notice of intent to terminate or suspend. A hearing shall be conducted within fifteen (15) days of the request for hearing. The City, in its sole discretion, may temporarily suspend this contract during any appeals process. C. in the event this contract is suspended for cause, the suspension shall be for a period of time of not less than six (6) months nor more than twelve (12) months. D. In the event City suspends or terminates this contract for cause, and the cause for such suspension or termination is determined to be invalid, Company's sole remedy shall be reinstatement of this contract. Company expressly waives any and all rights to monetary damages, including but not limited to actual and punitive damages, court costs and attorney's fees. 8. INDEMNIFICATION With regard to any liability which might arise hereunder, City and Customer agree that they shall be solely and exclusively liable for the negligence of its own agents, servants, subcontractors and employees and that, neither party shall look G y7°GAY to the other party to save or hold it harmless fort he consequences of any negligence on the part of one of its own agent, servant, subcontractor or employee. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to be a waiver by City of any right of protection which it enjoys under applicable State or Federal law. 9. ASSIGNMENT Company shall not assign, transfer or sublet this Contract or any portion hereof to any party without the prior written consent of City which shall not be unreasonably withheld. Any such assignment, transfer or subletting of this Contract without the consent of the City shall be void and shall operate as a termination hereof. 10. ZONES AND ROTATION LIST A. City shall divide the city into four (4) zones which shall correspond to the four (4) patrol divisions. Company shall be assigned to the zone or an adjacent zone in which it maintains its principal place of business. B. City shall create a rotation list within each of the four (4) zones that will dictate the order in which wrecker companies are contacted. C. City may request Company to conduct a police pull within any zone, and Company agrees to use its best efforts to arrive at the scene of the police tow within thirty (30) minutes. 11. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR It is understood and agreed by the parties hereto that Company shall perform all work and services hereunder as an independent contractor, and not as an officer, agent, servant or employee of the City. Company shall have exclusive control of and the exclusive right to control the details of the work or service to be performed hereunder, and all persons performing same on behalf of Company, and shall be solely responsible for the acts and omissions of its officers, agents, servants, employees, contractors, subcontractors, licensees and invitees. The 9 lr C R �M�^ � � doctrine of respondent superior shall not apply as between the City and Company, its officers, agents, servants, employees, contractors and subcontractors, and nothing herein shall be construed as creating a partnership or joint venture between the parties hereto. In witness whereof, thep rtes hereto have executed this Contract on the day of .ee�r�r , 20_1�Z AT EST: CITY FFORT WORTH y: Gloria Pearso City Secretary . ibby at "q -/` -61 Assistant City Manager APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY Assistant ity Attorney Tow Op Systems, Inc, d/b/a Buddy's Towing_ ATTEST: (Company Name) By: Corporate Secretary C. Scott Holcomb, President C7 Contract Authorization Date U'L S EXHIBIT A AUTO POUND The following rules and regulations will be followed by all wrecker companies upon arrival at the auto pound. 1. The gate will not be blocked by wreckers waiting to enter or exit the pound. 2. No more than two (2) wreckers shall be authorized in the front area, for inventory purposes, at any one time. 3. No wrecker shall enter the pound with more than one (1) person/opera- tor, unless authorized by the on duty shift supervisor. This will be done on a case by case bases. 4. For safety reasons, a car carrier shall be required to off load their cargo when possible. This shall be determined by the on duty super- visor. 5. Inventories should be handled in an expeditious manner when possible. However, pound personnel are required to do a complete and precise inventory of all property and vehicles. A specific time frame would be impossible to institute. 6. Wrecker drivers shall not be allowed to drive up and down the rows, looking for vehicles to reposses for companies said wreckers represent. 7. The use of car carriers, dollies, extra time, extra equipment, etc. , shall be subject to approval by the Wrecker administrator or Pound sup- ervisor. 8. Wrecker operators/owners shall be required to follow any directions or instructions given by auto pound personnel. 9. Violations of any of the above rules shall be subject to review by the Wrecker administrator. Disciplinary action may be determined by the pound supervisor or a higher couLmand level. C0TYt$Eru j�PPMY U Oo I1lI J)U'-,Y , Tae City of Fort Worth, Texas Mayor and Council Communication DATE REFERENCE NUMBER LOG NAME PAGE 03/18/97 C-15951 12POL1 1 of 1 SUBJECT I CONTRACTS FOR TOW TRUCK SERVICES FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute contracts for towing services with those firms desiring to enter into same and meeting the contract requirements. DISCUSSION: The new ordinance regulating non-consent tows within the city limits requires companies desiring to perform non-consent tows for the Police Department to execute a contract with the City. There are three types of contracts: standard tow trucks; tilt bed/rollback tow trucks; and tandem tow trucks. The fees for services to be provided are the same as contained in the ordinance. Contracts will be executed with any firm desiring to perform police pulls that meets the contract requirements, such as towing operations being the firm's primary business, vehicle specifications, insurance, and local licensed storage facility. The estimated expenditure for towing services for the remainder of the current fiscal year (April through September) is $500,000.00 FISCAL INFORMATION/CERTIFICATION: The Director of Fiscal Services certifies that there are sufficient funds available in the current operating budget, as appropriated, in the General Fund. Ce:m OFRCIAL RECORD CITY SECRETARY FT. WORTH, TIS. Submitted for City Manager's FUND I ACCOUNT I CENTER AMOUNT CITY SECRETARY Office by: (to) APPROVED Libby Watson 8511 CITY COUNCIL Originating Department Head: MAR 1 s 1997 Wade Adkins 7623 (from) GGO1 539120 0353303 $500,000.00 For Additional Information City Secrstary of the City of Fort Worth,Texas Contact: Wade Adkins 7623 Printed on Recycled Paper