Explanation
1. BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of Finance and Management to enter into a construction contract, on behalf of the Office of Construction Management, with Elford, Inc., for the Fire Station 36 project, in the amount of $21,822,500.00.
The scope of this project includes the construction of a new 4-bay Fire Station Building (30,365 s.f.) located at 5785 Central College Road, New
Albany, Ohio 43054 (City of Columbus boundaries), consisting of a first floor, partial basement, equipment platform and mezzanine, tornado shelter, along with associated sitework and infrastructure.
2. CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT AWARD: The project was let by the Office of Construction Management through Vendor Services and Bid Express. Of the 537 vendors solicited, 201 were Minority-owned, 2 were Veteran-owned, 327 were Small Business-owned, and 119 were Women-owned.
The Director of Finance and Management publicly opened two (2) bids on June 13, 2024. One (1) bidder held Minority-designated status.
1. Elford, Inc. $21,822,500.00
2. Smoot Construction Company $17,229,959.00 (MBE)
*Smoot Construction Company was disqualified for listing a licensed trade subcontractor that was not pre-qualified at the time of bid. The award to Elford, Inc. was approved by the Office of Diversity & Inclusion and the Director of Finance and Management.
Elford’s bid was deemed the lowest, best, most responsive and responsible bid in the amount of $21,822,500.00. Their DAX Vendor Account No. is 6059 (expires 12/28/25, Majority-designated).
3. SUBCONTRACTOR PARTICIPATION: The ODI-assigned goal for this project is 25%. Elford, Inc. proposed using the following subcontractors to meet 1.8% of this goal.
Company Name City/State ODI Designation
Garcia Surveyors Columbus/OH MBE
Got 2 Go Portable Sanitation Columbus/OH MBE
Elite National Building Services Columbus/OH MBE & WBE
Their Request for M/WBE Goal Waiver and Document of Good Faith Effort scored at over 80 and was approved by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
Minority vendor certification was in good standing at the time the bid was awarded.
4. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency legislation is being requested in order for underground work to be completed prior to inclement weather arriving in the winter.
5. FISCAL IMPACT: This project is being funded via the Departments of Public Safety and Finance and Management. A transfer of funds within the Safety G.O. Bonds Fund and Construction Management Capital Improvement Fund will be necessary.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Finance and Management, on behalf of the Office of Construction Management, to enter into a construction contract with Elford, Inc. for the Fire Station 36 project; to authorize transfers and expenditures of $21,822,500.00 within the Safety General Obligations Bond Fund and the Construction Management Capital Improvement Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($21,822,500.00)
Body
WHEREAS, two (2) bids for the Fire Station 36 project were received and publicly opened in the office of the Director of Finance and Management on June 13, 2024; and
WHEREAS, the bid from the lowest bidder, Smoot Construction Company, was deemed non-responsive for listing a licensed trade subcontractor that was not pre-qualified; and
WHEREAS, the lowest, best, most responsive and responsible bid was from Elford, Inc. in the amount of $21,822,500.00; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of Finance and Management to award and execute a construction contract for the Fire Station 36 project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize transfers and expenditures within the Safety G.O. Bonds Fund and the Construction Management Capital Improvement Fund; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Finance and Management, Office of Construction Management, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of Finance and Management to enter into a construction contract for the Fire Station 36 project, in an emergency manner in order for underground work to be completed prior to inclement weather arriving in the winter; for the immediate preservation of the public safety, 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 a construction contract, on behalf of the Office of Construction Management, with Elford, Inc., for the Fire Station 36 project, in an amount up to $21,822,500.00.
SECTION 2. That transfers and expenditures up to $21,822,500.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, are hereby authorized in the Safety G.O. Bonds Fund - Fund No. 7701 and Construction Management Capital Improvement Fund - Fund No. 7733, in Object Class 06 - Capital Outlay, 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 the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to transfer any unencumbered balance in the project account to the unallocated balance 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 no longer required for said project; except that no transfer shall be made from a project account by monies from more than one source.
SECTION 5. That the City Auditor is authorized to establish proper project accounting numbers as appropriate.
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 for 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.