Water Taxi Services

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)
Water Taxi Services for the City of St. Helens
1. Introduction
The City of St. Helens, Oregon ("City") is seeking proposals from qualified and experienced
operators to provide water taxi services utilizing publicly owned waterfront access points and
related infrastructure. The selected contractor will operate, maintain, and manage water taxi
services for public and/or private use in a manner that maximizes economic and community
benefit.
2. Purpose
The purpose of this RFP is to:
* Establish reliable and safe water taxi services
* Enhance connectivity along the Columbia River, Sand Island, and surrounding areas
* Promote tourism, economic development, and community engagement
* Generate revenue and shared economic value for the City of St. Helens
3. Scope of Services
The selected contractor shall:
* Provide fully operational water taxi services for passengers
* Maintain vessel in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations
* Ensure vessel is maintained in a seaworthy condition at all times
* Comply with all applicable United States Coast Guard (USCG) documentation, inspection,
certification, and operational requirements
* Operate the following vessel: - Vessel Name: FISHEAGLE OSPREY - Official Number:
1346529 - Oregon Vessel ID: OR802XC - Dimensions: 10 feet by 40 feet quadtoon deck
configuration - Propulsion: Twin 2021 115 HP Honda outboard engines - Features: - Canvas
top - Forward motorized landing ramp to facilitate passenger loading and unloading -
Gated dock access from both port and starboard sides
* Operate on schedules and routes approved by the City
* Offer services for both public transportation and private charter opportunities
* Ensure accessibility and inclusivity where feasible
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* Provide customer service, ticketing, and operational management
* Ensure the vessel is operated at all times by a properly qualified and appropriately licensed
captain
* Provide qualified crew members as required for safe and compliant operation in
accordance with applicable laws and regulations
* Provide and be solely responsible for moorage of the vessel during operational seasons
including secure storage of the vessel on land ("on the hard") during non-operational or
off-season periods
4. Economic Benefit Requirements
Proposers must clearly outline:
* Direct and indirect economic benefits to the St. Helens community
* Job creation and local hiring strategies
* Partnerships with local businesses and tourism organizations
* Expected increase in visitor activity and local spending
5. Revenue Sharing
Proposals must include a detailed revenue-sharing model with the City, including:
* Percentage of gross or net revenues shared with the City
* Minimum annual guarantees, if applicable
* Additional financial or in-kind contributions
6. Regulatory Compliance
The contractor shall ensure full compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local maritime
laws and regulations.
A. Jones Act Compliance
Operations may be subject to the Passenger Vessel Services Act, 46 U.S.C. 55103 (commonly
referred to as the Jones Act passenger vessel provisions), which generally requires that vessels
transporting passengers between points in the United States be U.S.-built, U.S.-flagged, and U.S.-
owned, unless a valid waiver applies.
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The vessel and its operations may be subject to the Jones Act small vessel waiver program. The
contractor is solely responsible for:
* Understanding and complying with all applicable requirements of 46 U.S.C. 55103
* Obtaining and maintaining any required waivers or approvals
* Ensuring continued eligibility for lawful operation
B. Proposal Requirements
Proposers must include in their submission:
* A statement confirming whether the vessel is Jones Act compliant or operating under a
waiver
* Documentation of waiver status, if applicable
* A description of how compliance will be maintained throughout the contract term
C. Risk Allocation
The contractor assumes all risk associated with Jones Act compliance, including but not limited
to:
* Denial, expiration, or revocation of any waiver
* Changes in federal law or regulatory interpretation
In the event that the contractor is unable to legally operate due to Jones Act non-compliance or
waiver issues:
* The contractor shall be deemed in material breach of the agreement
* The City may suspend operations or terminate the agreement for cause
* The contractor shall not be entitled to compensation for lost revenues or damages
resulting from such non-compliance
7. Insurance Requirements
The selected contractor shall:
* Maintain commercial general liability insurance of no less than $5,000,000 per
occurrence
* Indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the City of St. Helens
* Name the City of St. Helens as an additional insured on all applicable policies
* Provide proof of insurance prior to contract execution
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8. Proposal Requirements
Proposals must include:
A. Company Information
* Legal name and structure
* Relevant experience in marine transportation or similar services
* References from comparable projects
B. Operational Plan
* Proposed routes and schedules
* Vessel specifications and capacity
* Staffing plan and qualifications
* Safety and compliance measures
C. Financial Proposal
* Detailed pricing structure
* Revenue projections
* Revenue-sharing proposal
D. Economic Impact Statement
* Community benefit analysis
* Local engagement strategy
E. Risk Management
* Insurance coverage details
* Safety protocols
* Contingency planning
9. Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on a best value framework, including:
* Value to the City (30%)
Revenue-sharing structure
o
Financial sustainability
o
Risk mitigation
o
* Value to the Community (30%)
Economic development impact
o
Accessibility and inclusivity
o
Community partnerships
o
Ability to utilize vessel to expand access to waterfront, Sand Island, and
o
underserved locations
* Operational Excellence (25%)
Experience and qualifications
o
Feasibility of operational plan
o
Safety and compliance record
o
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* Vessel Utilization & Service Innovation (15%)
Effective use of vessel
o
Ability to serve varied landing conditions (dock, shoreline, events)
o
Passenger experience and comfort
o
10. Minimum Vessel Performance Standards
The contractor shall operate the vessel in a manner that fully utilizes its design and capabilities,
including but not limited to:
* Boarding & Accessibility
Use of the forward motorized landing ramp for safe and efficient passenger
o
boarding
Capability to accommodate passengers with mobility limitations where feasible
o
Safe embarkation from docks, shorelines, and non-standard landing areas
o
* Passenger Safety & Capacity
Maintain safe passenger loading limits in accordance with USCG certification
o
Ensure clear ingress/egress pathways at all times
o
Maintain safety railings and secure boarding conditions
o
* Operational Flexibility
Ability to operate in shallow water and variable shoreline conditions
o
Utilize dual port and starboard access points for efficient loading/unloading
o
* Passenger Experience
Provide covered seating or standing areas for weather protection
o
Maintain clean, safe, and functional passenger spaces
o
* Maintenance & Readiness
Ensure all vessel systems, including ramp mechanisms and engines, are
o
maintained in reliable working order
Conduct regular inspections and preventative maintenance
o
Failure to meet these performance standards may be considered non-compliance and subject to
penalties as outlined in this RFP.
11. Scored Narrative Requirement - Vessel Utilization
Proposers shall include a detailed narrative describing how they will utilize the full capabilities of
the FISHEAGLE OSPREY to deliver high-value service to the City and community.
This section will be scored and must address:
* Use of Landing Ramp
How the forward motorized ramp will be used to support shoreline access, events,
o
and non-traditional landings
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* Service Area Expansion
Strategies to utilize shallow draft and flexible landing capabilities to reach
o
underserved or new destinations
* Accessibility & Inclusion
Methods to accommodate passengers with mobility limitations using vessel
o
features
* Passenger Experience
Use of canopy, seating configuration, and vessel layout to enhance comfort and
o
usability
* Operational Creativity
Innovative service offerings (e.g., tours, events, point-to-point service) leveraging
o
vessel design
* Efficiency & Throughput
How dual-side access and ramp loading will improve boarding efficiency and
o
turnaround times
12. Compliance Checklist & Numeric Scoring Sheet
The following scoring sheet will be used by evaluators. Each proposal will be scored on a 100-
point scale.
A. Mandatory Pass/Fail Requirements
Proposals MUST meet the following minimum requirements to be considered responsive:
* Vessel seaworthiness and USCG compliance
* Jones Act compliance or valid waiver
* Licensed captain and qualified crew
* Insurance requirements ($5M per occurrence)
Failure to meet any of the above will result in disqualification.
B. Numeric Scoring Matrix (100 Points Total)
Category Criteria Points
Value to the City (30 pts) Revenue sharing model 15
Financial sustainability 10
Risk mitigation 5
Value to Community (30 pts) Economic benefit 10
Accessibility & inclusion 10
Community partnerships & reach 10
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Category Criteria Points
Operational Excellence (25 pts) Experience & qualifications 10
Operational plan feasibility 10
Safety & compliance record 5
Vessel Utilization & Innovation (15 pts) Use of ramp & shoreline access 5
Multi-landing capability 5
(dock/shore/event)
Passenger experience & innovation 5
C. Detailed Compliance & Scoring Checklist
Requirement Pass/Fail Points (if applicable) Notes
USCG compliance demonstrated Pass/Fail Required
Jones Act compliance/waiver Pass/Fail Required
Licensed captain/crew Pass/Fail Required
Insurance confirmed Pass/Fail Required
Revenue sharing clearly defined 15
Economic benefit articulated 10
Ramp utilization plan 5
Shoreline/multi-landing plan 5
Accessibility approach 10
Passenger safety plan 5
Maintenance plan 5
Moorage/storage plan 5
Schedule/routes 5
Innovation/use of vessel 5
D. Evaluation Workbook (Scoring Process)
The City will utilize an evaluation workbook (spreadsheet format) to ensure consistent scoring
across all proposals. The workbook will:
* Assign individual evaluator scores for each criterion
* Automatically total category and overall scores
* Flag pass/fail disqualifications
* Provide space for evaluator comments and justification
* Generate a final ranked list of proposers based on total score
Evaluators may meet to normalize scores and document final consensus rankings.
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13. Term of Agreement
The City anticipates entering into a lease agreement or operational services agreement with the
selected contractor for a term to be negotiated, with potential renewal options based on
performance.
14. Submission Instructions
Proposals must be submitted by 3PM on June 1, 2026
Submission format:
* Electronic PDF submission
* Clearly labeled: "Water Taxi Services Proposal - City of St. Helens"
Submit to: City Administrator John Walsh (503) 366-8211 jwalsh@sthelensoregon.gov
15. Questions
All questions regarding this RFP must be submitted in writing by 5PM on May 22, 2026
Submit to: City Administrator John Walsh jwalsh@sthelensoregon.gov
17. Reservation of Rights
The City of St. Helens reserves the right to:
* Reject any or all proposals
* Waive informalities or irregularities
* Request additional information or clarifications
* Negotiate with one or more proposers
18. Equal Opportunity
The City is an equal opportunity employer and encourages participation from minority-owned,
women-owned, and disadvantaged business enterprises.
19. Attachments
* Photos of Fisheagle Osprey Vessel
* Waterfront Facility Map
* Insurance Requirements Detail (to be issued in an addendum to the RFP)
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PHOTOS OF FISHEAGLE OSPREY VESSEL
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