Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance will establish an Auditor's Certificate and authorize an expenditure for the purchase of Consulting Services for Long Distance and Telecommunications Assessment Services in an amount not to exceed $50,000.00 through the City of Columbus Purchasing Office. All responses will be obtained and contracts awarded using City Code 329, however, this legislation will set up all the required funding to enter into contract with the selected vendor.
The Consulting Services will be used to analyze the City's current long distance contract with the intent to prepare a competitive solicitation for future long distance services with the assistance of the consultant and to conduct a limited assessment of the City's current telecommunications billing to identify potential areas for cost reduction.
Solicitation Information: The Purchasing Office advertised and solicited competitive Statements of Qualifications using a Request for Statement of Qualifications (RFSQ) process in accordance with Section 329.11 and 329.13. Statements of Qualifications, (Solicitation No. SA005169), were due on November 26, 2013. Evaluation of the Statements of Qualifications shall follow the process as outlined in Section 329.13. However, this process shall not be completed prior to the final Council meeting of 2013.
Emergency Designation: Emergency legislation is required to proceed with the funding for the Consulting Services for Long Distance and Telecommunications Assessment Services immediately while the solicitation is advertised and Statements of Qualifications evaluated to continue the process without interruption, thereby ensuring that the necessary funding for this service does not lapse at the end of the fiscal year.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $50,000.00 from the General Fund with a provider of Consulting Services for Long Distance and Telecom Assessment Services. The Department of Finance and Management has budgeted these funds in the 2013 Operating Budget.
Title
To authorize and direct the Director of Finance and Management to enter into contract for the purchase of Consulting Services for Long Distance and Telecommunications Assessment Services for the Purchasing Office; to establish an Auditor's Certificate of $50,000.00 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($50,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus, through the Purchasing Office, has a need to purchase Consulting Services for Long Distance and Telecom Assessment Services; and
WHEREAS, the Purchasing Office has advertised and solicited Requests for Statements of Qualifications for these services; and
WHEREAS, the evaluation of the Statements of Qualifications shall follow the process required by Section 329.11 and 329.13 of the Columbus City Codes; and
WHEREAS, all contracts will be approved by the Director of Finance and Management; and
WHEREAS, there is a need for the Purchasing Office to encumber current year funds for this purchase, which is projected to be finalized after the final City Council meeting of 2013; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Finance and Management, Purchasing Office, in that it is immediately necessary to encumber funds to enter into contract with a provider of Long Distance and Telecom Assessment Consulting Services, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; now, therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Finance and Management is hereby authorized to enter into contract with a provider of Consulting Services for Long Distance and Telecommunications Assessment Services based on the Request for Statements of Qualifications award process as outlined in Section 329.13 currently in process.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to encumber funds in the amount of $50,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, for this expenditure as follows:
|DIV 45-01 | FUND 010 | OBJ LEVEL ONE 03 | OBJ LEVEL THREE 3336 | OCA 451104 |
SECTION 3. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 4. That this Council hereby recognizes that this ordinance does not identify specific contractors or vendors for the expenditure purposes authorized herein and hereby delegates sole and final contracting decisions relative to the determination of lowest, responsive and responsible and best bidders to the Director of Finance and Management as per the terms of Columbus City Code 329.
SECTION 5. 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.