Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Office of Education to enter into a contract with Elevate Advocacy LLC to provide program management services in support of the Columbus Promise program.
The Columbus Promise program is a transformational college access, success, and workforce program made possible by a coalition that includes Columbus City Schools, Columbus State Community College, I Know I Can, the Columbus Foundation, the Upjohn Institute, and other partners. Announced in the fall of 2021, the first cohort enrolled in the fall of 2022 and the second cohort enrolled in the fall of 2023, currently enabling Columbus City Schools students to attend Columbus State Community College. The vision for Columbus Promise program is an array of free college-to-career pathways for Columbus' students.
This contract will engage Elevate Advocacy LLC to provide program manager support to the City of Columbus by connecting stakeholders, providing regular reports, and engaging in strategic planning for the future growth of the Columbus Promise program. Ordinance 2783-2023 authorized the first contract between the Office of Education and Elevate Advocacy for these services, and this ordinance authorizes the continuation of those services. Given the relationships that the consultant has built with key stakeholders, it is in the best interest of the City and of the Columbus Promise program to continue contracting with Elevate Advocacy for program management needs. Competitive bidding would delay progress for the Columbus Promise program and is not conducive to ongoing partnerships given the relationships that have been established. Therefore, it is requested that competitive bidding requirements be waived.
Emergency legislation is required to provide compensation for program management services in a timely manner. Elevate Advocacy’s previous contract expires on March 31, 2024, and work on the contract authorized by this ordinance will begin on April 1, 2024. Emergency legislation is also required in order to avoid delay of further progress in the management and collaboration of the Promise program.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the Job Growth subfund.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Office of Education to enter into a contract with Elevate Advocacy LLC to provide program management services in support of the Columbus Promise program; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Job Growth subfund; to authorize payment for expenses incurred prior to the creation of the purchase order; to waive the competitive bidding requirements of Columbus City Code; and to declare an emergency. ($65,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Office of Education seeks to engage a program manager to provide day-to-day support to the Columbus Promise initiative operations and strategic planning work; and
WHEREAS, the Elevate Advocacy has provided excellent ongoing program management support to the Columbus Promise program; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus Promise is a transformational college access, success, and workforce program with its second cohort of Columbus City Schools students enrolled at Columbus State Community College; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Office of Education in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into a contract with Elevate Advocacy LLC to provide program management services for the Columbus Promise program, in an amount of up to $65,000.00, and to pay for expenses incurred before the purchase order was approved and to avoid further delay in providing such program management services in the future, for the immediate preservation of the public health, property, safety, and peace; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Office of Education is hereby authorized to enter into a contract with Elevate Advocacy LLC to provide program management services in support of the Columbus Promise program, in an amount of up to $65,000.00, and to pay for expenses before the purchase order was approved which expenses are hereby determined to be incurred for a valid public purpose.
SECTION 2. That Council finds it is in the City’s best interests to waive the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes regarding competitive bidding, and the same are hereby waived.
SECTION 3. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $65,000.00 in the Job Growth subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100015, to the City Clerk per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of $65,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1 of this ordinance, is hereby authorized in the Job Growth subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100015 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.