Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a contract modification with Hazen and Sawyer P. C. (Hazen and Sawyer) for professional engineering services for the Home Road Water Plant project, CIP #690600-100000, in an amount up to $57,500,000.00.
The Home Road Water Plant (HRWP) project (formerly known as the Fourth Water Plant project) will design and construct a new fourth water plant to meet water supply needs and increase the resiliency and reliability of the water supply system. The HRWP site will be located on City owned property in Delaware County, Concord Township, at the southeast corner of Dublin Road (S.R. 745) and Home Road (C.R. 124).
Work performed to date includes Study Services (Phase 1), Preliminary Design Services (Phase 2), Detailed Design Services (Phase 3) and Initial engineering services during construction for the Site Preparation project. The Phase 1 Study Services researched and evaluated options related to the new water plant and developed a basis of design for the recommended improvements. The project was further developed in Preliminary Design. The preliminary design process advanced the study phase by determining process components, evaluated technology alternatives and developed the design components contained in the final Preliminary Design Report. This report includes: permitting efforts, site/civil design, process design, opinion of probable construction cost, and project schedule updates. The Preliminary Design Report, prepared in this phase, serves as the foundation for developing the detailed design documents in the Detailed Design phase. Detailed Design Services (Phase 3), developed detailed design drawings for the main plant project and also provided initial engineering services during construction for the Site Preparation project.
The project will be implemented in two construction contracts associated with the Home Road Water Plant as follows:
• HRWP Site Development - This project will prepare the Home Road Water Plant site prior to construction of the Plant facilities. Site preparation work will include demolition of existing features, excavation, rock excavation, site grading, installation of some stormwater utilities, and other site preparation work. This project will construct the electrical substation that will provide power to the Home Water Plant and also procure long lead time electrical equipment.
• Home Road Water Plant - This project will construct the main plant facilities. This new fourth water plant will help meet water supply needs and increase the resiliency and reliability of the water supply system.
This ordinance will provide funding for Phase 4 services. It is the City’s intent to execute future contract modifications for Engineering Services During Construction (Phase 5) and additional Engineering Services During Construction (Phase 6).
Planning area = “99-Citywide”
TIMELINE & FUTURE MODIFICATION(S): Phase 1 - Study Phase services began first quarter 2023 and was completed third quarter 2023. Phase 2 - Preliminary Design Services (Modification No. 1) began 3rd quarter 2023. Phase 3 - Detailed Design Services (Modification No. 2) began 2nd quarter 2024 is expected to have a duration of approximately 20 months. Phase 4 & 5- Engineering Services during Construction (Modification No. 3 current and future Modification no. 4) is expected to have a duration of approximately 60-72 months. Phase 6 -Additional Engineering Services during Construction (Modification No. 5) is expected to have a duration of approximately 12 months. December 2033 is the estimated ending date of the agreement based on the total term. The actual contract end date will be when all work is complete and accepted by the City.
1.1. ESTIMATED COST OF PROJECT:
Cost summary:
Original Contract - Study Phase $ 7,470,000.00 (PO363156)
Modification No. 1 - Preliminary Design $11,838,000.00 (PO394443)
Modification No. 2 - Detailed Design & SDCs $55,617,700.00 (PO458372)
Modification No. 3 - Services during Construction $57,500,000.00 (Current)
Modification No. 4 - Services during Construction II $50,000,000.00 (estimated)
Modification No. 5 - Add’l Services during Const. $ 5,000,000.00 (estimated)
CONTRACT TOTAL $187,425,700.00 (estimated)
1.2. Reason other procurement processes are not used:
This contract was initially awarded via the City’s formal Request for Proposals (RFP) process. An additional competitive RFP was waived for this specific modification because the incumbent firm already possesses the necessary, in-depth experience with the project's complexities and scale. Possibly introducing a new vendor through a new RFP at this stage would be impractical, as the time required for a new firm to get up to speed would lead to increased project costs and delays.
1.3. How cost of modification was determined:
A cost was negotiated with the consultant based on updated rates and anticipated hours for each task remaining to be completed under the modification.
2. ECONOMIC IMPACT/ADVANTAGES; COMMUNITY OUTREACH; PROJECT DEVELOPMENT; ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS/ADVANTAGES OF PROJECT:
The City currently has three water plants that collectively provide drinking water to approximately 1.4 million customers in the City of Columbus and surrounding communities. The existing water plants include the Hap Cremean Water Plant (HCWP), the Dublin Road Water Plant (DRWP), and the Parsons Avenue Water Plant (PAWP). The HRWP will position the City to meet anticipated water system demands and will improve the reliability and resiliency of the water supply system and help support economic growth of the central Ohio area.
Final preparation of Detailed Construction Contract Documents in accordance with the Preliminary Design Report (PDR) for the Dite Preparation project occurred. Construction Contract Document will include Construction Costs Estimate, Detailed Engineering Drawings, Specifications, and Bidding Documents.
Sustainable design options shall be evaluated for integration into the project. The evaluation shall result in a set of recommended sustainable design features to carry forward from preliminary design into detailed design.
3. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE INFORMATION
Hazen and Sawyer’s contract compliance number is CC000630 and expires 2/27/2026. Hazen and Sawyer’s certification was in good standing at the time of the contract renewal.
Searches in the Excluded Party List System (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against Hazen and Sawyer
As part of their proposal, Hazen and Sawyer has proposed the following subcontractors to perform contract work:
Company Name City/State ODI Certification Status
Black & Veatch Columbus, Ohio MAJ
ARCADIS Columbus, Ohio MAJ
AECOM Columbus, Ohio MAJ
Stantec Consulting Services Inc. Columbus, Ohio MAJ
Eagon & Associates, Inc. Worthington, Ohio MAJ
Korda/Nemeth Engineering, Inc. Columbus, Ohio MAJ
Ribway Engineering Group Columbus, Ohio MBE
Smoot Construction Company Columbus, Ohio MBE
Moody Engineering Columbus, Ohio MBE
Resource International Columbus, Ohio WBE
Coldwater Consulting Columbus, Ohio WBE
Hydrous WD Columbus, Ohio MAJ
Regency Construction Services Columbus, Ohio WBE
Advanced Engineering Consultants Columbus, Ohio MBE
Dynotec Columbus, Ohio MBE
Lanham Engineering Powell, Ohio WBE
360Water Columbus, Ohio WBE
KS Associates, Inc. Elyria, Ohio MAJ
Corrision Probe, Inc. Columbus, Ohio MAJ
4. FISCAL IMPACT
This design contract modification is anticipated to be financed with a loan from the Water Supply Revolving Loan Fund (WSRLF), a program jointly administered by the Ohio EPA's Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance and the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA). City Council authorized this loan application and acceptance of funding via Ordinance 0348-2025, passed by Council on 4/28/25. This loan is expected to be approved at the OWDA April Board meeting. This ordinance is contingent upon the loan being approved by OWDA. The Department of Public Utilities will inform the Auditor's Office when this loan has been approved.
Budget authority exists in the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget. Funds will need to be appropriated in the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account Fund, Fund 6011.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a contract modification for Professional Engineering Services for the Home Road Water Plant with Hazen and Sawyer; to appropriate funds within the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account Fund; to make this ordinance contingent upon the Ohio Water Development Authority approving a loan for this project; and to authorize the expenditure of up to $57,500,000.00 from the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account Fund. ($57,500,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities is engaged in the Home Road Water Plant project; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 3316-2022 authorized awarding a contract for design of the Home Road Water Plant project to Hazen and Sawyer through the City’s Request for Proposal project; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 1692-2023 authorized contract modification #1 for design of the Home Road Water Plant project to Hazen and Sawyer through the City’s Request for Proposal project; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 1411-2024 authorized contract modification #2 for design of the Home Road Water Plant project to Hazen and Sawyer through the City’s Request for Proposal project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to modify the contract to add funding for the next phase of design, and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 0348-2025, passed by City Council on 4/28/25, authorized this modification to be funded by a loan to be obtained through the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account (WSRLA); and
WHEREAS, this ordinance is contingent upon that loan being approved; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to appropriate funds in the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account Fund, Fund 6011; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities to authorize the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to enter into a contract modification for Professional Engineering Services for the Home Road Water Plant project with Hazen and Sawyer; now therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the appropriation of $57,500,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in the Water Revolving Loan Fund, Fund 6011, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. That the Director of Public Utilities be and hereby is authorized to enter into a planned contract modification for professional engineering services for the Home Road Water Plant project, CIP #690600-100000, with Hazen and Sawyer, 150 E. Campus View Blvd., Suite 200; Columbus, Ohio 43245; in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract modification on file in the Department of Public Utilities.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $57,500,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized to pay for this contract per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. This ordinance is contingent upon the Ohio Water Development Authority's Board approving the loan for this project.
SECTION 5. Funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 6. 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 7. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer the unencumbered balance in a project account to the unallocated balance account within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administering said project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for said project.
SECTION 8. That this Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.