Explanation
The December 2004 ice storm exposed vulnerability in the City's ability to maintain safe roads during severe adverse conditions. The loss of electrical power at the Transportation Division's outposts and other facilities supporting the outposts restricted the division's ability to provide cleared or passable streets to allow access by police, fire and emergency medical personnel and maintain public safety. Elimination of this deficiency requires that back-up emergency power be available at specific facilities until reliable permanent power is restored by the relevant public utility. The same vulnerability exists with respect to the public information exchange service provided to Columbus citizens by the 311 Call Center. This public information center must be available to dispense accurate and timely information to the public during periods of high anxiety.
Design firms were requested to render quotes to design back-up power systems for ten (10) different buildings now designated as part of Group A, Group B and Group C. Ordinance 1771-2005 passed by Council December 12, 2005 awarded a $49,100.00 contract to Star Consultants, Incorporated, for the Group A locations. Ordinance 1283-2005 passed by City Council July 25, 2005 awarded a $50,000.00 contract to GPD Group for the Group B locations. Ordinance 0224-2006 passed by Council February 27, 2006 awarded a $32,000.00 contract to Star Consultants, Incorporated, for the Group C locations. Further, Ordinance 1663-2006 passed by Council October 16, 2006, provides for the installation of back-up power to 1881 East Twenty-Fifth Avenue, the Transportation Division's operational control center and training facility and back-up Police Division command center, by Dynalectric Company of Ohio for $403,143.00 including inspection and permit fees.
Previous plans had the procurement of generators being undertaken by the contractor(s) responsible for installing the generators. The assembly of the generators by any manufacturer will likely take twelve weeks from the placement of an order. The Division is now pursuing their purchase without installation via this legislation to reduce the time duration of the project; these generators will then be provided to the installation contractor(s). The City is pursuing installation of these generators through the formal competitive bidding process with bids to be solicited in November.
Formal competitive bid SA002132 for generators at six (6) sites was solicited by the Purchasing Office and four (4) bids were received and opened on August 31, 2006.
The Transportation Division recommends that a contract be awarded to the lowest responsible, responsive and best bid, Affordable Choice Electric Inc., CC# 31-1461454 which expires March 28, 2008, for items 1 - 5 in the amount of $130,000.00. JD Power Systems and Ohio CAT both had individual line items that were lower in price, however, both were deemed non-responsive due to terms and conditions contrary to those of the City. No award will be made on item 6 as new EPA standards will dictate a new bid for this item.
Fiscal Impact: Funds fo rthe purchase of generators are available in the 1995, 1999, 2004 Voted Streets and Highways Fund in the facilities project. Funds were made available due to the cancellation of encumbrances from the Lane Avenue and Spring Sandusky Interchange projects which have been completed.
Emergency action is requested to expedite the purchase of the generators to provide for their receipt and installation by May 5, 2007.
Title
To authorize the Finance & Management Director to establish a contract with Affordable Choice Electric Inc. for the purchase of stand-by electrical generators for the Transportation Division; to amend the 2006 Capital Improvments Budget; to authorize the transfer of $130,000 within the 1995, 1999, 2004 Votes Streets and Highways Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $130,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed from the 1995, 1999, 2004 Voted Streets and Highways Fund and to declare an emergency. ($130,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Transportation Division is pursuing the purchase of stand-by electrical generators to provide power to its facilities in the aftermath of possible natural and/or man-made events that may serve to disrupt normal service; and
WHEREAS, the Purchasing Office has solicited and received formal competitive bids for this purpose; and
WHEREAS, a lowest responsive, responsible and best bid was submitted by Affordable Choice Electric Inc.; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance amends the 2006 Capital Improvements Budget; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Public Service Department, Transportation Division, in that it is immediately necessary to establish a contract for the purchase of generators to provide for their installation by May 5, 2007; thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Finance & Management Director be and hereby is authorized to establish a contract with Affordable Choice Electric Inc., 2935 East 14th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43219 in the amount of $130,000.00 for the purchase of stand-by electrical generators for the Transportation Division.
SECTION 2. That the 2006 Capital Improvements Budget established within ordinance 1108-2006 be and hereby is amended as follows:
Project Number / Project / Current CIB Amount / amendment amount / CIB amount as amended
590401/ Lane Avenue Widening & Improvements (Carryover ) / $100,196.00 / ($100,196.00) / 0.00 530034 / Spring Sandusky Interchange / $60,697.35 (Carryover) / ($29,804.00) (Carryover) / $30,893.35 (Carryover)
590130 / Facilities / $1,936,942.65 (Carryover) / $130,000.00 (Carryover) / $2,066,942.65 (Carryover)
SECTION 3. That the transfer of $130,000.00 within Fund 704 the voted 1995, 1999, 2004 Streets and Highways fund, Department No. 59-09, Transportation Division, be and hereby is authorized as follows:
TRANSFER FROM:
project number / project / Object Level 01/03 Codes / OCA Code / Amount
590401/ Lane Avenue Widening & Improvements / 06/6600 / 644385 / $100,196.00
530034 / Spring Sandusky Interchange / 06/6600 / 644385 / $29,804.00
Total Transfer From: $130,000.00
TRANSFER TO:
project number / project / Object Level 01/03 Codes / OCA Code / Amount
590130 / Facilities / 06/6600 / 644385 / $130,000.00
Total Transfer To: $130,000.00
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of $130,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary be and hereby is authorized from Fund 704, the 1995, 1999, 2004 Voted Streets and Highways Fund, Department No. 59-09, Transportation Division, Object Level One Code 06, Object Level Three Code 6640, OCA Code 644385 and project 590130 to pay the cost thereof.
SECTION 5. 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 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.