This is a Request for Bid for towing services for the City of Des Moines Fleet Services Division. The selected contractor will be required to provide towing, winching, tire changing, and jumpstarting services for light and heavy vehicles on a 24/7 basis. Bidders must be regularly engaged in the towing business for at least two years and have at least two years of experience in commercial towing operations. Responses must be submitted electronically by the response deadline. Faxed, emailed, mailed, or hand-delivered responses will not be accepted. Proof of insurance is required. The contract term will be from May 1, 2026, through April 30, 2028, with two optional two-year extensions. Payment terms are net 30 days from receipt of a proper invoice. Bidders must acknowledge and agree to various terms and conditions, including no contact policy, performance requirements, towing equipment requirements, staffing and driver requirements, cleanup requirements, safety regulations, bid requirements, award criteria, payment and invoicing, and standard terms and conditions. The city reserves the right to reject any or all bids.
The response deadline for proposals is May 1, 2026, at 12:00 PM CT.
The bid notice states that payment shall be made within thirty 30 calendar days from receipt of proper invoice.
The awarded bidder expressly warrants that all goods supplied shall be merchantable and shall conform to specifications, drawings, and other descriptions and shall be free from defects in materials and workmanship.
Consideration may be given to pricing, the contractors responsiveness to the request for bid, references, customer service and experience, contractor qualifications, past experience of the city with the contractor, and the bidders ability to provide timely project start and completion.
Bidders interested in submitting a bid must be able to provide proof of being in business for a minimum of two 2 years and have at least two years of experience in commercial towing operations. In addition, the business must have an adequate number of experienced staff to perform the requirements of this contract.
If within a four 4 month period any three 3 incidents where service is not provided according to these specifications the city reserves the right to cancel this contract.
Any bidder whose bid was submitted as a sealed bid and whose bid was timely filed, and who is aggrieved by the procurement administrators determination as to which is the lowest or, in the appropriate instance, to the highest compliant, responsible bid or as to the determination to reject a bid, may appeal the procurement administrators decision by filing a written appeal. Such appeal must be received by the office of the director of finance at the address in section b. 1 above by no later than noon on the friday before the following city council meeting at which award of the bid will be considered.
