Service Tendered for San Marcos Beach Lifeguarding
The Icod de los Vinos Town Council is putting out to tender the lifeguard service at San Marcos Beach, despite a debt of approximately €100,000 owed to the company that previously provided the service without a contract. The tender has a budget of €375,732 over two years, with the possibility of extending it for a third year.
Lifeguard Requirements
The service will be operational year-round, with distinct summer and winter seasons. The contract specifies the hiring of four lifeguards, with two on duty at any given time. One will serve as the chief or beach coordinator.
- In summer (1 July to 30 September), coverage will be from 10:00 to 20:00.
- In winter (1 October to 30 June), the hours will be from 10:00 to 17:00.
The successful bidder must have at least four lifeguards available throughout the year to accommodate rest days, holidays, and shifts.
Investment and Additional Services
The future contract holder will be required to invest €5,900 in equipment at the start of the contract. In subsequent years, a contribution of €600 per year must be made for replacing consumables, uniforms, and basic maintenance. The contract is not only focused on rescue operations but also includes support for individuals with functional diversity to assist them in entering, exiting, and accompanying users during adapted bathing.
It is important to note that the deteriorating condition of San Marcos Beach, due to sand loss, complicates access to the water. This makes the lifeguard service essential for certain bathers.
Current Status
The local government (AI-PSOE) has explained that work on this tender has been ongoing since October last year, when the process was initiated. They acknowledge the situation concerning the lifeguard service provider, who has been serving the beach for six years and is currently owed over ten invoices, according to Eladio Díaz Rodríguez, who announced that they would cease providing the service on 1 July. Their intention is to participate in the tender.
The governing body argues that “this situation is a result of the improvisation and lack of seriousness of the previous administration, which offered the service without a contract”. They further state, “We do not only have to tender new services, but we were also forced to do so for those lacking the appropriate tender in the previous term. We are tendering almost three times the number of contracts in three years compared to the previous government in four”.
Ongoing Challenges
With the lifeguard company’s demand for payment of the debt incurred by the Town Council, the situation at San Marcos Beach is compounded by its poor state of maintenance. The coastal area is fighting to reactivate the beach recovery project and address the issues of sand loss that have led to its marked deterioration.
