Sheriff's office awarded bid for 31-foot patrol vessel under port security grant
Loading...
Summary
Commissioners approved awarding a port security grant-funded contract for a 31-foot patrol vessel to Inventech Marine Solutions (doing business as LifeProof boats); staff said the lowest bidder was found nonresponsive due to quality and bid-package discrepancies.
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution awarding a contract, supported by a port security grant, for a new 31-foot patrol vessel to Inventech Marine Solutions, a vendor identified in the staff packet as doing business as LifeProof boats.
Major Smith of the sheriff’s office said the vessel will be larger and more robust than the department’s earlier 26-foot craft and will perform law-enforcement functions on the Cape Fear River, including search and rescue and vessel escorts with federal partners. Major Smith explained that, although one bidder submitted a lower price, that bidder (Novelli Boat Builders) was unfamiliar to staff and the bid package contained discrepancies and quality concerns; officials said they judged the recommended vendor to better meet the required specifications for a law-enforcement vessel.
Commissioners asked where boats are currently staged and whether a river-side base of operations is possible in the future. Major Smith said county boats are currently spread around the county, with a 26-foot vessel stationed on the Intracoastal Waterway; the new vessel should be ready in about 12 to 18 months after ordering.
A motion to adopt the resolution awarding the contract was made and placed on the floor for a vote; the board approved the award by voice vote.
