Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a contract with Benevate, Inc. for the continued use of Neighborly software, including support and training services, in an amount up to $31,200.00 and to authorize the payment of expenses beginning November 1, 2022.
The Department of Development, Housing Division started using Neighborly software in 2021. Ordinance 2629-2021 authorized the Director of the Department of Development to waive Columbus City Code Chapter 329 and enter into a contract with Benevate, Inc. for the software. After a year of use, the Housing Division would like to continue using the software to enable safe and secure intake of applications, facilitate work from any location, and provide prompts to applicants to assure that a complete application is submitted.
By way of this ordinance, the Director of the Department of Development also requests to authorize the payment of expenses beginning November 1, 2022. It has also been determined that it is in the City's best interest to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Chapter 329 of Columbus City Code for this contract.
Contract compliance number is 039660 and expires 09/15/2023.
Emergency action is requested in order to permit continued access of this software without interruption.
Waiver Request: As Neighborly is the only hosted software currently available for purchase that can address all of the City of Columbus, Department of Development, Housing Division’s needs in one solution, a request to waive the provisions of Columbus City Codes Chapter 329 is being requested.
Fiscal Impact: This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $31,200.00 within the Development Department’s General Fund. This ordinance is contingent upon the passage of and transfer of funds for Ordinance No. 3403-2022.
Title
To waive the competitive bidding requirements of Columbus City Code; to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a contract with Benevate, Inc., in an amount up to $31,200.00; to authorize the payment of expenses beginning November 1, 2022, for the use of Neighborly software, support, and training services; to authorize the expenditure of $31,200.00 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($31,200.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Development, Housing Division started using Neighborly software in 2021 and has integrated it into its daily operations; and
WHEREAS, Neighborly is a cloud based software package that will enable safe and secure intake of applications, facilitate work from any location, and provide prompts to applicants to assure that a complete application is submitted; and
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Development request approval to waive the competitive bidding requirements outlined in Columbus City Code Chapter 329, to execute a contract with Benevate, Inc. and to request to authorize the reimbursement of expenses beginning November 1, 2022; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into a contract with Benevate, Inc. in order to permit continued access of this essential software without interruption; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Development is authorized to enter into a contract with Benevate, Inc., in an amount up to $31,200.00, and to authorize the payment of expenses beginning November 1, 2022, for the use of Neighborly software, support, and training services.
SECTION 2. That this Council finds it in the best interests of the City to waive competitive bidding provision of Chapter 329 of City Code to enter into this contract.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $31,200.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 1000 (General Fund), Dept Div 4410 (Housing), object class 03 (Services) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. 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 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 approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.