That the Mayor and City Commission adopt the Resolution.

On December 8, 2021, the Mayor and City Commission adopted Resolution 2021-31934, approving the acceptance of a donation of one (1) 2006 MetalCraft Fire Storm 36’ Fireboat from Miami-Dade County for use by the City of Miami Beach Fire Department.

The Miami Beach Fire Department’s intent was to fully refurbish the vessel for use by the Department to augment the regional waterborne response to marine Firefighting, Search and Rescue (SAR) and to provide a secondary source of water in waterfront property fires where the existing domestic supply may not be capable of sustaining the volumes of water needed for extinguishment. 

ITB No. 2022-254-ND, Refurbish of MetalCraft Fireboat (the “ITB”), was issued on February 16, 2022, with an opening date of March 3, 2022. Two addenda were issued.  The Procurement Department issued bid notices to 1,589 companies utilizing the City’s electronic bidding. Ten (10) prospective bidders accessed the advertised solicitation. The ITB sought to establish a contract, by means of sealed bids, with a qualified firm(s) to refurbish a 2006 MetalCraft Marine FireStorm 36 Fireboat to a minimum Type III classification, satisfying the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1925. There were no bids received.

The ITB specified for engineering changes to the vessel for the replacement of the current Cummins 8.3-liter engines with new 6.7-liter 480 horsepower (hp) engines.  Engineering changes to move the engines and mounts to keep the boat balanced as originally designed. These engineering changes must comply with NFPA 1925 Chapter 11 Marine Fire-Fighting Vessel Stability and Subdivision. The shifting of the engines also affects the main propulsion. NFPA 1925 Chapter 12 Main Propulsion and Auxiliary Engines. NFPA states in 12.1.3 Marine propulsion systems and auxiliary engine systems shall conform to the component manufacturer’s installation requirements and proposed operating requirements. 12.1.4 The marine propulsion system(s) duty rating shall meet the component manufacturer’s requirement for vessel use, considering factors such as time at full throttle, annual operating hours, final drive horsepower requirements, hull type, and probable time at severe load conditions.

Metal Craft Marine Incorporated (“MCM”) is the manufacturer of the MetalCraft Marine FireStorm 36 Fireboat. MCM currently builds the FireStorm 36 and has successfully refurbished vessels for multiple agencies with the same engineering specifications as per the National Fire Protection Association NFPA 1925 - Standard of Marine-Firefighting Vessels. In addition, MCM offers the standard manufacturer warranty on all new components as well as a 5-year warranty on the hull. The extended warranty will protect this major investment for the City of Miami Beach and ensure any issues are immediately corrected.

MetalCraft provided the City with a proposal for the refurbishment work needed for the vessel, for a total sum of $433,260.60 (“Initial Proposal”).  The City’s Fire Department had also secured a separate proposal from All Points Boats for the same work for a total sum of $1.4 million.  Based upon the cost difference and the fact that the refurbishment would be completed by the original manufacturer, the Administration supported the MCM proposal.  

On May 4, 2022, the Mayor and City Commission adopted Resolution 2022-32135, waiving, by 5/7th vote, the formal competitive bidding requirement, as permitted in Section 2-367(e) of the City Code, finding such waiver to be in the best interest of the City, and authorizing the Administration to negotiate and execute an agreement with MetalCraft, based upon the Initial Proposal, in the approximate amount of $ 433,260.60.

On June 24, 2022, the City and MCM executed an agreement for the refurbishment work described in the Initial Proposal, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit “A”.

Upon arrival at the MCM shop, and following a detailed examination of the of the vessel, additional damage to the haul was identified.  Based upon the additional damage and an increase in parts and labor due to inflationary pressures in the industry, the refurbishment costs for the City’s vessel had increased by $232,256.07, as more particularly delineated in the supplemental proposal, attached hereby as Exhibit “B” (“Supplemental Proposal”). As such, the total cost for the refurbishment of the City’s vessel had increased from $433,260.60 to $665,516.67.

Based upon the fact that the total cost of the refurbishment continues to be less than the original estimate from All Points Boats and the work would be completed by the original manufacturer, the Administration recommends amending the Agreement to incorporate the Supplemental Proposal into the scope of the Agreement, for a total contract amount not to exceed $665,516.67.  A draft copy of Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement, incorporating the Supplemental Proposal into the scope of the Agreement, is attached hereto as Exhibit “C”  

The execution of Amendment No. 1 would still be subject to the City Commission approving funding for this Supplemental Proposal, in the amount of $232,256.07, pursuant to an amendment to the FY 2022/2023 budget, which budget amendment is being considered simultaneously herewith as a companion City Commission agenda item.

Funding for this service was approved through the City’s budgeting process.

Amount(s)/Account(s):

011-1220-000674-19-410-506-00-00-00-                            $ 433,260.60

Funding to be approved by the City Commission in

companion budget amendment agenda item                   $ 232,256.07

The City Manager recommends that the Mayor and City Commission approve, in substantial form, Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement with Metal Craft Marine Incorporated for the refurbishment of the City’s Metalcraft Marine Firestorm 36 fireboat; said Amendment increasing the total contract amount from $433,260.60 to a total contract amount not to exceed $665,516.67, subject to funding appropriation and approval by the City Commission, pursuant to an amendment to the FY 2022/2023 budget; and further authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute the Amendment.