Sail Honeymoon Wins Re-Bid, City Contract Negotiations Begin

Two bids from competing kayak rental owners were on the city's table Tuesday morning.

The owners of Sail Honeymoon, the longtime residing Dunedin Causeway concessionaire, and Osprey Bay Outdoors, a Clearwater-based paddling outfitter that has rentals available at the Honeymoon and Caladesi island cafes, sat far apart, as panelists publicly scored their proposals.

They both wanted to be the next business to provide services on the Causeway.

But within 20 minutes of scoring and discussion over their proposals April 9, with, it was clear to all four city panelists which business scored highest.

Sail Honeymoon, with 387 cumulative points, beat Osprey Bay's 306 points.

The panelists — Vince Gizzi, city parks and recreation director; Karen Feeney, city finance director; Lael Giebel, city development services coordinator; and Felicia Leonard — independently weighed the proposals in four categories: "qualifications and experience," "proposed solution," "proposed concession fees," and "proposed capital investment."

Panelists awarded up to five extra points in each category for "current concessionaire preference."

Points were tallied, and each panelist scored Sail Honeymoon highest in each category, even before awarding preference points.

Its sail boat rental option helped the Dunedin business score higher, one panelist said.

"Kayaks are good, but I like that option," she said. 

City staff said it would move into contract negotiations with Sail Honeymoon. The proposed agreement must go to commissioners for final approval.

The city's request for proposal, or RFP, asked for businesses to bid for provide services throughout a five-year term, and a five-year renewal option.

The RFP review was open to the public. City Attorney Tom Trask attended the review.

Dunedin's license agreement with Sail Honeymoon, the iconic, decades-old causeway kayak and sail boat rental stand, expires July 31.

Bidding for the next Causeway Concession services contract was supposed to begin in January. The process stalled when some commissioners sought to create a loophole that would allow Sail Honeymoon to skip the bidding process, an exception given to no other concessionaire in the city.

On March 7, city leaders ultimately decided 3-2 that Sail Honeymoon was not exempt from the bid process.  

Previous Coverage:

• Sail Honeymoon Agreement Result of 2010 Misunderstanding
• Letter to the Editor: Give Sail Honeymoon a Longterm Contract
• Are Dunedin Officials Playing Favorites with Sail Honeymoon?
• Sail Honeymoon on Dunedin Causeway to Go Up for Bid?
• Meet the Chamber's Best: Sail Honeymoon 

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