Specifications include, but are not limited to: 1. SCOPE OF SERVICES The Contractor shall supply all labor, materials, and equipment required to remove any motor vehicles, so ordered towed, from the City streets to a storage place. All services are to be performed in a safe and orderly manner and shall conform to rules and regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, Massachusetts Department of Transportation and City of Cambridge (load securement & tag lights). 2. TOW TRUCKS & OPERATORS The contractor shall make available in Cambridge during declared snow emergencies and snow removal operations a minimum of 2 operators and vehicles, of which 1 of the vehicles must be flat beds. In the event that 1 flat bed vehicle is not available to the tow companies, they may hire other tow companies to tow for them. Vehicles shall not be dispatched to any other service until declared snow emergencies and snow removal operations is complete. Upon notification of an upcoming snow emergency tow operation; the tow company is required to dedicate a minimum of 2 trucks continuously to the operation until released by the Commissioner of Public Works. Failure to provide the minimum number of trucks for the required length of time shall incur liquidated damages in the amount of $250 for each truck under the minimum number required. The liquidated damage amount is not a penalty but a measure of the damages sustained by the City for the tow company failing to provide the required equipment pursuant to the scope of services. Liquidated damages will only be in effect if the tow company receives adequate notice prior to commencement of the tow operation. Adequate notice is defined as 4 (four) hours prior to commencement. During a snow emergency if a tow truck operator is attempting or in the act of shoveling out a car (meaning labor intensive work) a resident may not claim it unless they pay the full tow charge. The police officer on duty will make the decision whether the fine should be levied. Tow truck operators must make the resident aware that they can pay the fine with a credit card or cash on the spot. Vehicles towed to the respective lots must be free of snow so that the resident does not have to shovel out their car to leave the lot after paying the fine. An exemption from the 1 flat bed requirement will only be made if the tow company provides an industry accepted technique for towing 4 wheel and all wheel drive vehicles that meets or exceeds performance goals. It is at the sole discretion of the City to approve and accept any alternatives to the flat bed requirement prior to implementation of such methods. The contractor shall drop a vehicle from the tow truck if the owner/operator appears prior to the tow truck being moved with the exception of a flat bed tow. Once the four wheels of the vehicle are on the flatbed the vehicle shall not be dropped. The vehicle shall be dropped at no expense to the owner/operator. Vehicles towed for utility emergencies, e.g., a water main break and/or electrical repairs are to be billed to the appropriate City Department or utility company and not the owner.
