Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to modify a professional engineering services contract awarded through the City’s Request for Proposal process with CDM Smith, Inc. for the Water Reuse Project, CIP 691800-100001, in an amount up to $1,456,848.00, and to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to apply for and accept Water Pollution Control Loan Fund loans for this project.
It has been determined there is a need to further evaluate technical and management aspects as the City considers implementation of water reuse. The tasks in the modification are intended to supplement the base scope by further evaluating key technical, regulatory, operational, and stakeholder-related topics that may be needed to support implementation planning and decision-making.
The design professional shall continue to produce technical memoranda related to Non-Potable Reuse and Indirect Potable Reuse that provides the explanation necessary to understand the existing conditions, establish design criteria, identify and evaluate possible alternatives, and recommend an implementation approach.
The Columbus Community is: 99-Citywide.
TIMELINE: This modification is anticipated to be executed in the third quarter of 2026 to provide funds for approximately one year or until all funds are expended. The contract will end when the work is completed and accepted by the City.
ESTIMATED COST OF PROJECT:
The additional proposed amount is $1,456,848.00. No additional contract modifications are anticipated at this time; however, exigency might later compel modification of this contract if unforeseen difficulties are encountered.
Cost summary:
Original Contract $1,959,242.00
This Modification $1,456,848.00
Future Anticipated Needs $ 0.00
CONTRACT TOTAL $3,416,090.00
2. ECONOMIC IMPACT/ADVANTAGES; COMMUNITY OUTREACH; PROJECT DEVELOPMENT; ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS/ADVANTAGES OF PROJECT
The population of the Central Ohio area is expected to grow by more than 700,000 people within the next 25 years, which will increase demand on the City of Columbus’s potable water supply system. To help the City meet these increased potable water demands, the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) is evaluating the non-potable water reuse to supply water to existing and future industrial/commercial users, which in turn will reduce the demand on the potable water supply system. Examples of industrial/commercial users include data centers, industrial cooling, irrigation, and manufacturing. The design professional shall perform studies and produce technical memoranda related to Non-Potable Reuse that provides the explanation necessary to understand the existing conditions, establish design criteria, identify and evaluate possible alternatives, and recommend a conceptual implementation approach.
3. BID INFORMATION
This project was formally advertised on the Vendor Services and Bonfire websites and opened 4/26/24. Three proposals were received:
Name C.C. No. Exp. Date City/State Status
CDM Smith, Inc CC000180 10/7/2024 Columbus, OH MAJ
Hazen and Sawyer CC000630 2/27/2026 Columbus, OH MAJ
HDR CC008851 3/11/2026 Columbus, OH MAJ
The proposals were deemed responsive. An evaluation committee reviewed the proposals and recommended that the Water Reuse Project be awarded to CDM Smith, Inc.
CDM Smith, Inc.’s certification was in good standing at the time of the contract award.
4. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE INFORMATION
CDM Smith, Inc.’s contract compliance number is CC000180 and expires 10/2/2026.
Searches in the Excluded Party List System (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against Complete General Construction Company.
As part of their proposal, Complete General Construction Company has proposed the following subcontractors to perform contract work:
Company Name City/State ODI Certification Status
Black & Veatch Columbus, OH MAJ
Arcadis Columbus, OH MAJ
Raftelis Cincinnati, OH MAJ
The contractor and the subcontractor’s certifications were all in good standing at the time the modification was added.
5. 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 12/15/25. Ordinance 3119-2025 also authorized the Director of Public Utilities to add to or subtract from the anticipated loans listed in that ordinance. 691800-100001 was not listed in that ordinance. Even though Ordinance 3119-2025 stated projects can be added to or subtracted from the list without further City Council approval, OWDA requires an ordinance specifically listing Council’s approval for each project. This ordinance will request that approval. This loan is anticipated to be approved at the OWDA August 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 necessary to align budget authority with the proper project. While this loan will be done under the WPCLF program, it was decided the Water Supply Revolving Loan Fund (WSRLF) fund number, Fund 6011, will be used for this ordinance so the asset can be correctly tracked under the Division of Water. Funds must be appropriated in the Water Supply Revolving Loan Fund, Fund 6011. This is a reimbursement loan. The Department of Public Utilities must pay the invoices and then submit the paid invoices to OWDA for reimbursement.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to modify a professional engineering services contract with CDM Smith, Inc. for the Water Reuse Project; to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to apply for and accept a loan from the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund for the Water Reuse Project; to make this ordinance contingent upon the Ohio Water Development Authority approving a loan for this project; to authorize an amendment to the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget; to appropriate funds within the Water Supply Revolving Loan Fund; and to authorize the expenditure of up to $1,456,848.00 from the Water Supply Revolving Loan Fund to pay for the project. ($1,456,848.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities is engaged in the Water Reuse project; and
WHEREAS, a Request for Proposals (RFP) was formally advertised on the Vendor Services and Bonfire websites and opened 4/26/24; and
WHEREAS, three proposals for the Water Reuse Project were received in response to the RFP; and
WHEREAS, the evaluation committee reviewed the proposals and recommended the contract be awarded to CDM Smith, Inc; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 3119-2025 authorized projects to be funded by a loan to be obtained through the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF); and
WHEREAS, the Water Reuse Project was not specifically listed as a project to be loan funded on Ordinance 3119-2025 and this ordinance will ask for authorization to loan fund it; and
WHEREAS, a loan application has been submitted to OWDA to finance this project; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance is contingent upon that loan being approved; and
WHEREAS, the loan is anticipated to be approved by the Ohio Water Development Authority Board at their August Board meeting; 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 Supply Revolving Loan Fund, Fund 6011; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize an expenditure of funds from the Water Supply Revolving Loan Fund, Fund 6011, to pay for the project; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities to authorize the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to modify a professional services contract with CDM Smith, Inc. for the Water Reuse project; 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
6011 / 691800-100001 / Water Reuse Project (WSRLA Loan) / $0.00 / $1,456,848.00 / $1,456,848.00 (To Match Loan)
SECTION 2. That City Council authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to submit loan applications to the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund for the Water Reuse project, to accept loan funding for the project if offered, to execute those documents needed to accept the loan, and this ordinance is contingent upon that loan being approved.
SECTION 3. That the appropriation of $1,456,848.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in the Water Supply Revolving Loan Fund, Fund 6011, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the Director of Public Utilities is hereby authorized to modify a professional services contract for the Water Reuse project with CDM Smith, Inc., 445 Hutchinson Ave, Suite 820, Columbus, OH 43235, in an amount up to $1,456,848.00; in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract on file in the Department of Public Utilities.
SECTION 5. That the expenditure of $1,456,848.00 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 6. 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 7. 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 8. 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 9. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.