Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Service to enter into a professional services contract with ms Consultants, Inc. in the amount of up to $415,000.00 for the Intersection - Cassady Avenue and Airport Drive project.
The intent of this project is to provide the City of Columbus, Department of Public Service, additional resources that are necessary to perform various professional engineering, survey, and technical expertise for the department to implement the Intersection - Cassady Avenue and Airport Drive project, which includes installing turn lanes in the southbound and westbound directions at the intersection of Cassady Ave at Airport Drive. The intersection of Cassady Ave at Austin Manor Boulevard/Plaza Properties Boulevard will be converted from signal controlled to a single lane roundabout. A shared use path will be constructed on the west side of Cassady Ave from Demonye Road to Austin Manor Boulevard / Plaza Properties Boulevard. Improvements also include sidewalk on the east side of Cassady Ave as needed, lighting improvements, pavement resurfacing, and access management.
Ordinance 0643-2025 authorized the Director of Public Service, on behalf of the City of Columbus, to submit applications to and execute grant agreements with the United States Department of Transportation (ODOT) relative to the Highway Safety Improvement Program, accept and expend awarded grant funds, and issue refunds, if necessary, for the construction phase of the Intersection - Cassady Avenue and Airport Drive Project.
The Department of Public Service, Office of Support Services, solicited Requests for Proposals for the Intersection - Cassady Avenue and Airport Drive contract. The project was formally advertised on the Vendor Services and Bonfire web sites from April 22, 2026, to May 22, 2026. The city received six (6) responses. All proposals were deemed responsive and were fully evaluated when the Evaluation Committee met on May 28, 2026. The responding firms were:
Company Name City/State Majority/MBE/WBE/VET/EBE/LGBTBE/SRBE
Strand Associates, Inc. Columbus, OH MAJ
ms Consultants, Inc. Columbus, OH MAJ
Lochmueller Group, Inc. Indianapolis, IN MAJ
Johnson, Mirmiran, Thompson, Inc. Columbus, OH MAJ
Michael Baker International, Inc. Columbus, OH MAJ
DLZ Ohio, Inc. Columbus, OH MBE
MS Consultants, Inc. received the highest score by the evaluation committee and will be awarded the Intersection - Cassady Avenue and Airport Drive contract.
Searches in the Excluded Party List System (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against MS Consultants, Inc.
The certification of MS Consultants, Inc. was in good standing at the time the bid was awarded. All other associated subcontractor certifications were in good standing at the time the bid was awarded.
As part of their bid MS Consultants, Inc. has proposed the following 3 subcontractors to work on the project:
Company Name City/State Majority/ODI Certification
E.L. Robinson Engineering of Ohio Co. Columbus, OH MAJ
National Engineering Architectural Columbus, OH MBE
Services Incorporated
ASC Group, Inc. Columbus, OH MBE
2. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE INFORMATION
MS Consultants, Inc.’s contract compliance number is CC006998 and expires 1/15/2028.
3. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for this contract is available within Fund 7766, the Street and Highway Improvement Non-Bond Fund. An amendment to the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget to match cash is necessary to establish sufficient cash and authority with the proper project. Funds need to be appropriated.
4. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested in order to complete needed improvements at the earliest possible time and meet the requirements of the close out date for the Highway Safety Improvement Program funding award for later phases of the project to avoid penalty and to ensure the safety of the traveling public.
Title
To amend the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget; to appropriate funds within the Street and Highway Improvement Non-Bond Fund; to authorize the Director of the Department of Public Service to enter into contract with ms Consultants, Inc. for the Intersection - Cassady Avenue and Airport Drive project; to authorize the expenditure of $415,000.00 from the Street and Highway Improvement Non-Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($415,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, there is a need to enter into a professional services contract to provide for additional resources that are necessary to perform various professional engineering, survey, and technical expertise for the department to implement the Intersection - Cassady Avenue and Airport Drive project, which includes installing turn lanes in the southbound and westbound directions at the intersection of Cassady Ave at Airport Drive. The intersection of Cassady Ave at Austin Manor Boulevard/Plaza Properties Boulevard will be converted from signal controlled to a single lane roundabout. A shared use path will be constructed on the west side of Cassady Ave from Demonye Road to Austin Manor Boulevard / Plaza Properties Boulevard. Improvements also include sidewalk on the east side of Cassady Ave as needed, lighting improvements, pavement resurfacing, and access management; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service, Office of Support Services, solicited Requests for Proposals for the Intersection - Cassady Avenue and Airport Drive project; and
WHEREAS, ms Consultants, Inc. submitted the best overall proposal for this project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to enter into a contract with MS Consultants, Inc. for the provision of professional engineering consulting services described above in the amount of up to $415,000.00; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize an amendment to the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget to match cash for the purpose of providing sufficient spending authority for the aforementioned project expenditure; and
WHEREAS, funds must be appropriated within the Street and Highway Improvement Non-Bond Fund; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize an expenditure of up to $415,000.00 from the Street and Highway Improvement Non-Bond Fund; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service to enter into a contract with MS Consultants, Inc. to ensure the safety of the traveling public and to complete needed improvements at the earliest possible time and meet the requirements of the close out date for the Highway Safety Improvement Program funding for later phases of the project to avoid penalty, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; now, therefore; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the 2025 Capital Improvements Budget authorized by ordinance 1790-2025 be amended as follows to establish sufficient authority for this project:
Fund / Project / Project Name / C.I.B. / Change / C.I.B. as Amended
7766 / 538018 - 100000 / Intersection - Cassady Avenue and Airport Drive (Street & Highway Imp Carryover) / $250,380 / $165,635.00 / $416,015.00 (to match cash)
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2026, the sum of $415,000.00 is appropriated in Fund 7766 (Street and Highway Improvement Non-Bond Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P538018 - 100000 (Intersection - Cassady Avenue and Airport Drive), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $415,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7766 (Street and Highway Improvement Non-Bond Fund), in Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P538018 - 100000 (Intersection - Cassady Avenue and Airport Drive), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the Director of the Department of Public Service be and is hereby authorized to enter into a professional services contract with MS Consultants, Inc., 2221 Schrock Road, Columbus, OH 43229, for the Intersection - Cassady Avenue and Airport Drive project in the amount of up to $415,000.00.
SECTION 5. 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 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 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.