Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a construction contract with BLD Services, LLC, for the 2025 Annual Lining Contract Project, CIP 650404-100052, in an amount up to $11,109,848.45; and to encumber funds with the Department of Public Service for construction administration and inspection services in an amount up to $2,000.00, for a total expenditure of $11,111,848.45.
The sanitary infrastructure within Columbus includes miles of older sewer that have outlived their useful service life. These sewers are more prone to leaks and/or failures that may occur unexpectedly. The project will rehabilitate existing sanitary sewers within the City of Columbus, reducing inflow and infiltration to the City’s sanitary system and mitigating sanitary sewer overflows to basements and waterways.
This project rehabilitates sewers using cured-in-place pipe (CIPP). CIPP lining is a cost-effective, trenchless method for repairing damaged sewer or water pipes without excavation, typically lasting over 50 years. It involves inserting a resin-coated, flexible liner into the old pipe, which is then cured with heat, steam, or UV light to create a new, durable pipe inside the existing one. This method provides for fast installation, minimal property damage, improved flow, and high corrosion resistance.
This is a consent order project. The City entered into two consent orders (2002 and 2004) with the Ohio EPA to eliminate sewage backups and combined sewer overflows during wet weather. To comply with the consent orders, the City developed the Wet Weather Management Plan in 2005 which evolved into Blueprint Columbus, an integrated, greener approach utilizing sewer lining, roof drain redirection, sump pumps, and green infrastructure to handle rain water instead of relying totally on underground sewers. This plan serves as a national model, aiming to meet environmental regulations while enhancing neighborhoods and managing costs.
The Columbus Community is 99-Citywide.
TIMELINE: All work shall be completed within 730 calendar days of the Notice to Proceed. The City anticipates issuing a Notice to Proceed on or about April 2026. The contract will end when the work is completed and accepted by the City.
ESTIMATED COST OF PROJECT:
The bid amount and proposed award amount is $11,109,848.45, including a 10% construction contingency amount that will be utilized to fund needed and approved changes in the work. No contract modifications are anticipated at this time; however, construction exigency might later compel modification of this contract, if unforeseen difficulties are encountered.
Cost summary:
Original Contract $11,109,848.45
Future Anticipated Needs $ 0.00
DPS Prevailing Wage Administration $ 2,000.00
CONTRACT TOTAL $11,111,848.45
2. ECONOMIC IMPACT/ADVANTAGES; COMMUNITY OUTREACH; PROJECT DEVELOPMENT; ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS/ADVANTAGES OF PROJECT
The Division of Water Reclamation 2025 Annual Lining project includes rehabilitation of existing sewers, repairs to existing sewers, construction of new sewers, and construction of green infrastructure. The majority of the projects will reduce inflow and infiltration into the City’s sanitary sewer system, thus mitigating sanitary sewer overflows to basements and waterways. Other projects provide improvement to existing storm infrastructure to mitigate drainage/flooding issues.
3. BID INFORMATION
This project was formally advertised on the Vendor Services and Bid Express websites from October 30, 2025, through December 3, 2025. Four bids were received:
Name Bid Amount ODI Status
1. BLD Services, LLC $11,109,848.45 MAJ
2. Visu-Sewer, LLC $11,946,754.35 MAJ
3. Inliner Solutions, LLC $12,881,558.00 MAJ
4. Performance Pipelining $14,153,539.15 MAJ
The bids were deemed responsive. The BLD Services, LLC, certification was in good standing at the time of the bid award.
4. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE INFORMATION
BLD Services, LLC’s contract compliance number is CC-019505 and expires 10/8/2027.
Searches in the Excluded Party List System (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against BLD Services, LLC.
As part of their proposal, BLD Services, LLC has proposed the following subcontractors to perform contract work:
Company Name City/State ODI Certification Status
JLD Construction Columbus, OH MBE
Visu-Sewer of Ohio Reynoldsburg, OH MAJ
MCSP Cincinnati, OH MAJ
Brenneman Excavating Elida, OH MAJ
UE Services Newark, OH WBE
The certifications were all in good standing at the time the bid was awarded.
5. PRE-QUALIFICATION STATUS
BLD Services, LLC and all subcontractors have met code requirements with respect to pre-qualification, pursuant to relevant sections of Columbus City Code Chapter 329.
6. FISCAL IMPACT
This project is anticipated to be financed with a loan from the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF), 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 3119-2025, passed by Council on 12/15/2025. This loan is expected to be approved at the OWDA April 2026 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. An amendment to the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget is needed to align budget authority with the proper project. Funds must be appropriated in the WPCLF Loan Fund, Fund 6111. This is a reimbursement loan. The Department of Public Utilities must pay BLD Services, LLC and then submit the invoices paid to OWDA for reimbursement.
Funding in the amount of $2,000.00 is appropriated and available within the Sanitary Bond Fund, Fund 6109, to pay the Department of Public Service to provide prevailing wage services for this project. An amendment to the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget is necessary to align budget authority with the proper project. A transfer of cash and appropriation is needed to align cash and appropriation with the proper project.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a construction contract with BLD Services, LLC, for the 2025 Annual Lining Contract project; to authorize an amendment to the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget; to appropriate funds within the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund; to authorize a transfer of cash and appropriation between projects within the Sanitary Bond 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 $11,111,848.45 from the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund and the Sanitary Bond Fund to pay for the project. ($11,111,848.45)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities is engaged in the 2025 Annual Lining Contract project; and
WHEREAS, four bids for the 2025 Annual Lining Contract project were received and opened on December 3, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the lowest, best, most responsive and responsible bid was from BLD Services, LLC; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 3119-2025 authorized this project to be funded by a loan to be obtained through the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) Loan Account; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance is contingent upon that loan being approved; and
WHEREAS, the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget must be modified to align budget authority with the proper project; and
WHEREAS, funds must be appropriated within the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund, Fund 6111; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize a transfer of cash and appropriation between projects within the Sanitary Bond Fund, Fund 6109, to pay for payment of prevailing wage services; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize an expenditure of funds from the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund, Fund 6111, to pay for the project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to expend funds from the Sanitary Bond Fund, Fund 6109, to provide for payment of prevailing wage services associated with said project; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation to authorize the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to enter into a construction contract with BLD Services, LLC for the 2025 Annual Lining Contract project; and NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget authorized by Ordinance 1790-2025 be amended as follows to establish sufficient budget authority for this project:
Fund / Project Number / Project Name (Funding Source) / Current Authority / Revised Authority / Change
6111 / 650725-100027 / Scioto Main North Large Diameter Sewer Rehabilitation (WPCLF Loan) / $12,500,000.00 / $9,790,151.00 / ($2,709,849.00)
6111 / 650404-100052 / 2025 Annual Lining Contract (WPCLF Loan) / $8,400,000.00 / $11,109,849.00 / $2,709,849.00
6109 / 650725-100020 / Alum Creek Trunk (South) - Phase 2 (Voted Sanitary Carryover) / $48,000.00 / $46,000.00 / ($2,000.00)
6109 / 650404-100052 / 2025 Annual Lining Contract (Voted Sanitary Carryover) / $0.00 / $2,000.00 / $2,000.00
SECTION 2. That the appropriation of $11,109,848.45, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in the Sanitary Revolving Loan Fund, Fund 6111, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the transfer of $2,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between projects within the Sanitary Bond Fund, Fund 6109, per the account 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. That the Director of Public Utilities is hereby authorized to enter into a construction contract for the 2025 Annual Lining Contract project with BLD Services, LLC, 2424 Tyler Street, Kenner, LA 70062, in an amount up to $11,109,848.45; in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract on file in the Department of Public Utilities; and to obtain the necessary construction administration and inspection services for this project from the Department of Public Services in an amount up to $2,000.00.
SECTION 6. That the expenditure of $11,111,848.45, 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 7. 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 8. 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 9. 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 10. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.