SHERIFF'S OFFICE OPERATIONS - Towing, Recovery, Secure Storage, and Non-Passenger Vehicle Disposal Services

The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office (“Sheriff’s Office”) is soliciting proposals from qualified contractors to provide towing, roadside assistance, vehicle recovery, secure storage, and non-passenger vehicle removal and disposal services in support of Sheriff’s Office operations. The services requested under this solicitation are intended exclusively for Sheriff’s Office and County-authorized operational needs and law enforcement activities. This solicitation is not for public rotation towing services and does not establish or authorize participation in a rotational tow program.

The selected contractor shall provide twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week service coverage within and outside of San Mateo County, as requested by the Sheriff’s Office. Services may include, but are not limited to: towing of Sheriff’s Office vehicles and other vehicles authorized by the Sheriff’s Office; emergency roadside assistance; accident and non-accident vehicle recovery; temporary and secure evidence vehicle storage; and the removal, transport, and disposal of non-passenger vehicles and related property, including recreational vehicles (RVs), trailers, boats, and abandoned or unlawfully occupied structures encountered during enforcement or abatement operations.

Contractors must maintain a properly licensed, staffed, and equipped fleet capable of responding to a wide range of operational, emergency, and enforcement-related incidents. Contractors shall demonstrate the ability to meet required response times; comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and environmental regulations; and maintain facilities suitable for secure vehicle and evidence storage. Preference may be given to contractors with demonstrated experience supporting law enforcement agencies, including experience with large-scale vehicle recovery operations, evidence preservation procedures, environmental mitigation requirements, and the removal and disposal of abandoned or unlawfully occupied vehicles and encampment-related property.

The selected contractor shall designate an Account Manager authorized to coordinate services, address operational issues, monitor performance standards, and serve as the primary liaison between the contractor and the Sheriff’s Office throughout the term of the agreement.

The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office (“Sheriff’s Office”) requires reliable towing, recovery, and vehicle management services to support ongoing law enforcement and County operational activities throughout San Mateo County. Sheriff’s Office personnel regularly require towing and roadside assistance services for Sheriff’s Office vehicles, specialized equipment, evidence-related vehicles, and other vehicles authorized for removal or transport in connection with enforcement operations, collisions, criminal investigations, or public safety incidents. These services are essential to maintain operational readiness, protecting public safety, and ensuring the timely and lawful removal, transport, and handling of vehicles associated with Sheriff’s Office activities. This solicitation is intended solely for Sheriff’s Office operational support services and is not associated with a public rotational towing program.

In addition to routine towing and recovery services, the Sheriff’s Office requires contractor support for the removal, transport, and disposal of non-passenger vehicles and related property encountered during enforcement or abatement operations. Such property may include recreational vehicles (RVs), trailers, boats, and abandoned, unlawfully occupied, or nuisance-related structures located on public or private property, where authorized by law. These situations may involve complex ownership verification requirements, environmental compliance obligations, hazardous material concerns, and coordination with other governmental agencies or property owners.

The Sheriff’s Office also requires specialized towing and storage services for vehicles seized, detained, or held as evidence in connection with criminal investigations or enforcement actions. Contractors must be capable of transporting and storing such vehicles in secure facilities that maintain evidence integrity and support documented chain-of-custody procedures in accordance with applicable legal and evidentiary standards.

Because Sheriff’s Office operations occur throughout San Mateo County’s urban, suburban, coastal, and rural areas, the selected contractor must demonstrate the capacity to provide timely, reliable, and continuous service coverage while maintaining appropriate staffing levels, operational readiness, and equipment necessary to respond to routine, emergency, and large-scale incidents.