Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Service to enter into a professional services contract with the Franklin County Historical Society, doing business as the Center of Science and Industry (COSI), in an amount of up to $180,000.00. The purpose of this agreement is to strengthen public engagement, improve resident access to mobility information, and explore technology-driven approaches to support safe and efficient transportation services.
The intent of this partnership is to leverage COSI's role as a trusted community institution to enhance the City's transportation network through strategic public outreach and innovative planning. Consulting services will include collaborative STEAM consulting sessions to address mobility challenges, public engagement via the COSI Science Festival, and the installation of a digital museum display to provide residents with critical real-time mobility and infrastructure information.
Searches in the Excluded Party List System (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against Franklin County Historical Society, doing business as the Center of Science and Industry (COSI).
2. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE
The contract compliance number for Franklin County Historical Society, doing business as the Center of Science and Industry (COSI), is CC006091, and is expired. The renewal of the certification is in process.
3. BID WAIVER
A bid waiver is requested in accordance with Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Code to enter into a contract without formal competitive bidding. COSI is uniquely suited for this project because it is a trusted local institution with the specific network, facility space, and public outreach capabilities needed to handle this work. Furthermore, immediate authorization is necessary to line up with the planning schedule for the upcoming COSI Science Festival and to get the new transit and parking informational displays installed in the museum on time. Therefore, it is in the best interest of the City to waive the competitive bidding provisions and proceed with this contract.
4. FISCAL IMPACT
This is a budgeted expense and this ordinance authorizes the expenditure of $180,000.00 from the Mobility Enterprise Fund, Fund 6500.
5. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to allow the Department of Public Service to enter into a contract immediately. This will ensure that consulting services can begin without delay, keeping planning for upcoming infrastructure initiatives on track and aligning city efforts with the scheduled timeline for the COSI Science Festival.
Title
To authorize the Director of Department of Public Service to enter into contract with the Franklin County Historical Society, doing business as the Center of Science and Industry, for transportation and mobility consulting services for use by the Division of Mobility and Parking; to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes; to authorize the expenditure of up to $180,000.00 from the Mobility Enterprise Operating Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($180,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service has a need for Franklin County Historical Society, doing business as the Center of Science and Industry (COSI), to provide transportation and mobility consulting services including connecting residents with critical mobility resources, creating opportunities to develop community informed solutions that enhance the City’s transportation network, STEAM consulting, community engagement and outreach, and resident mobility information; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to waive the competitive bidding requirements of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Code and enter into a contract with Franklin County Historical Society, doing business as the Center of Science and Industry (COSI), for the provision of professional consulting services described above in the amount of up to $180,000.00; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $180,000.00 from the Mobility Enterprise Fund; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the passage of this legislation to allow the Department of Public Service to go into contract as soon as possible so as to prevent unnecessary delays in planning upcoming transportation and mobility services and to ensure project planning deadlines are met for the COSI Science Festival, which occurs April 25 - May 1, 2027, for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; and NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That Council finds it is in the best interest of the City of Columbus to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Columbus City Code Chapter 329 relating to formal competitive bidding requirements and hereby waives said provisions.
SECTION 2. That the Director of Public Service be and hereby is authorized to enter into a professional services contract with the Franklin County Historical Society dba Center of Science and Industry (COSI), located at 333 West Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio, 43215, for transportation and mobility consulting services in an amount up to $180,000.00.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $180,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 6500 (Mobility Enterprise Fund) from Dept-Div 5906 (Division of Mobility and Planning), in Object Class 03 (Services) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That 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 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 7. 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.