MEMORANDUM

DATE:      February 18, 2004

TO:            Mike Wildgen

                  City Manager

From:        Alan D. Landis

                  Purchasing Specialist

On Tuesday, February 17, 2004, the City of Lawrence opened proposals for the following:

#0407 – TOWING SERVICE – POLICE DEPARTMENT - #0407

VENDOR	TOTAL  BID
Hillcrest Wrecker & Garage, Inc.	$  26,455.00

The Police Department requested bids for towing service from eight vendors.  We received only the one bid from Hillcrest Wrecker, evaluated it and feel like it is a reasonable bid.  The bid by Hillcrest Wrecker was based on estimates of the total number of tows provided by the Police Department.  Towing occurs for abandoned vehicles, at accident scenes when the vehicle owner/occupant is incapacitated, for searches, pursuant to arrests and for disabled department vehicles.  The police department estimated 500 vehicle tows, 15 truck tows (over 12M tag), occasional out of town tows and minimal storage of vehicles.  Although money is budgeted to cover initial expenses, most private vehicles are reclaimed by their owners and fees collected to cover the costs involved.  The bid is for a one year contract with the option to renew for one additional year.

Recommendation:

Approve bid from Hillcrest Wrecker & Garage, Inc. for a one year contract with the option to renew for an additional year in the amount of $26,455.00 (Police/Patrol).

cc:       David Corliss                         Rehelio Samuel                  Kevin Harmon                          

Frank Reeb Diane Trybom

Bobbie Walthall Morley Bregman