Explanation
BACKGROUND: In 1984, the City responded to concerns raised by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regarding potential exposures to employees at the City’s trash burning power plant. The City began testing employees at the Columbus Department of Health. In particular, the Occupational Safety and Health Clinic provided medical surveillance examinations, pre-placement examinations, immunizations, health and fitness assessments, clearance for respirator wear, assessment of workers’ fitness for duty, consultation, hearing conservation training, and audiometric testing.
In 2006, the Department of Health became Columbus Public Health. The entity’s primary focus is monitoring community health status, identifying and addressing public health threats, enforcing laws that protect the public's health, and providing services to prevent and control disease. In the face of this change, and to provide focused and coordinated occupational safety and health medical services in accordance with the Public Employment Risk Reduction Program (PERRP), OSHA, and the state Bureau of Workers Compensation (BWC), the City of Columbus shifted the operations of employee occupational safety and health medical services from Columbus Public Health to the Department of Human Resources.
Currently, the Occupational Safety and Health Clinic provides surveillance exams to City employees at risk and appropriate follow up, identifies occupationally related disease or disability, assists in rehabilitation activities, determines fitness and suitability for assigned work, promotes and maintains PERRP/OSHA compliance, promotes health, wellness, and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease/injury, provides assistance in injury care activities and in rehabilitation activities, and provides educational and/or training programs promoting employee wellness and safe work practices.
The Department of Human Services went out to bid for a provider for clinic services. Bids were opened on September 1, 2011. The Proposal Evaluation Committee included 5 members. Two vendors submitted proposals and each were interviewed. Those proposals were evaluated based on the following criteria: Ability of Offeror to Perform Required Service Competently and Expeditiously (20 points possible); Past Performance of Offer (20 points possible); Environmentally Preferable Factor (15 points possible); Cost or Pricing Structure of Offeror Proposal (25 points possible). Mount Carmel Occupational Health and Wellness was selected.
This ordinance authorizes and directs the Director of Human Resources to modify and extend the current contract for occupational safety and health medical services for the City of Columbus with Mount Carmel Occupational Health and Wellness, and to authorize the expenditure of $346,734.00 to be paid out of the employee benefits fund in the Human Resources Department. The contract is for a five-year period, subject to annual appropriation; this ordinance represents the fifth and final year of the current contract. It is the Department’s intent to re-bid this contract in 2016.
Contract compliance number is 31-1439334.
FISCAL IMPACT: To modify and extend the existing contract with Mount Carmel Occupational Health and Wellness to establish the maximum obligation liability of $346,734.00 for Occupational Safety and Health medical services from March 1, 2016 through February 28, 2017. Funding for this contract is available in the 2016 Employee Benefits fund budget. This ordinance is contingent on the passage of the 2016 Other Funds operating budget, Ordinance 2888-2015.
Emergency Action: Emergency action is respectfully being requested to the provide for continuity of occupational health and wellness services provided to City of Columbus employees.
Title
To authorize the Director of Human Resources to modify and extend the existing contract with Mount Carmel Occupational Health and Wellness to provide all eligible employees occupational safety and health medical services from March 1, 2016 through February 28, 2017; to authorize the expenditure of $346,734.00 from the Employee Benefits Fund, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to pay the costs of said contract; and to declare an emergency. ($346,734.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City of Columbus to modify and extend the existing contract with Mount Carmel Occupational Health and Wellness to provide all eligible employees occupational safety and health medical services from March 1, 2016 through February 28, 2017; and
WHEREAS, the current contract is for a five year period and this modification and extension represents the fifth and last year of the current contract; and
WHEREAS, Mount Carmel Occupational Health and Wellness has indicated its intention to use MBEs and FBEs and report the dollar amounts quarterly; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of up to $346,734.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to pay contract costs for occupational safety and health medical services; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City of Columbus in that it is immediately necessary to modify the existing contract with Mount Carmel Occupational Health and Wellness for continuity of services, all for the preservation of 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 Human Resources is hereby authorized to modify and extend the existing contract with Mount Carmel Occupational Health and Wellness to provide occupational safety and health medical services and related Education and Wellness Programs to all eligible employees from March 1, 2016 through February 28, 2017.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of up to $346,734.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized in the Employee Benefits Fund 5502 in object class 03 Services, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
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 for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is 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.