Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Columbus Water and Power to enter into a contract through the City’s RFP process with AECOM Technical Services, Inc. for professional engineering services for Lead Service Line Replacements Program Project Management (PPM), CIP 690236-110004, in an amount up to $10,000,000.00.
The Division of Water has identified a need for Services to enhance and accelerate its Lead Service Line Replacement Program. The program targets replacement of approximately 50,000 lead and galvanized service lines by 2037 to comply with current local, state and federal requirements including the EPA’s final Lead and Copper Rule Improvement requirements.
City of Columbus Ordinance 1627-2024 was adopted on July 15th, 2024, to enact Chapter 1119 of the Columbus City Codes to establish the Lead Service Line Replacement Program; to declare lead service lines in the public water systems to be a public nuisance; and to authorize the Director of Columbus Water and Power to implement the Lead Service Line Replacement Program to replace lead and galvanized steel water lines in the City Distribution System.
Under this contract, as determined by the City, the PPM will work with the City of Columbus Water Distribution Engineering group, the Regulatory Compliance Group, and the Outreach & Engagement Team to accelerate and coordinate lead service line replacement operations.
The Columbus Community is 99 - Citywide.
TIMELINE: The Notice to Proceed is anticipated to occur in the fourth quarter of 2026. Tasks assigned during the contract will continue to be funded until they are completed and accepted by Columbus Water and Power.
ESTIMATED COST OF CONTRACT: The initial contract amount is $10,000,000.00, including a 10% contingency amount that will be utilized to fund needed and approved changes in the work. Four future contract modifications are anticipated.
Cost summary: Amount
Original Contract (Current) $10,000,000.00
Future Modification 1 $10,000,000.00
Future Modification 2 $10,000,000.00
Future Modification 3 $10,000,000.00
Future Modification 4 $10,000,000.00
CONTRACT TOTAL $50,000,000.00
2. ECONOMIC IMPACT/ADVANTAGES; COMMUNITY OUTREACH; PROJECT DEVELOPMENT; ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS/ADVANTAGES OF PROJECT
The total economic impact is expected to be $50,000,000.00 of services from the capital budget over the five-year span. This will allow the Division of Water to enhance and accelerate the Lead Service Line Replacement Program, maximizing cost savings and impacts to customers. Neighborhood Liaison(s) will be notified and kept informed throughout the process, and additional community outreach may be conducted through the Neighborhood Liaison Program. Community outreach begins well in advance of construction to attain work agreements as needed to work on private property.
3. BID INFORMATION
This project was formally advertised on the Vendor Services and Bonfire websites from April 17, 2026, through May 22, 2026. Six proposals were received:
Name C.C. No. Exp. Date City/State Status
AECOM Technical Services, Inc. CC-010897 5/26/2028 Columbus, OH MAJ
CDM Smith, Inc. CC-000180 9/8/2028 Columbus, OH MAJ
Black & Veatch Corporation CC-008038 8/11/2027 Columbus, OH MAJ
Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. CC-024514 12/11/2027 Columbus, OH MAJ
Arcadis US, Inc. CC-009409 1/21/2027 Columbus, OH MAJ
GEG / Genuine LTD. CC-032942 6/22/2022 Lewis Center, OH MAJ
All proposals were deemed responsive. The evaluation committee reviewed the proposals and recommended the contract for Lead Service Line Replacements Program Project Management be awarded to AECOM Technical Services, Inc.
4. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE INFORMATION
AECOM Technical Services, Inc.’s contract compliance number is CC-010897 and expires 5/26/2028.
Searches in the Excluded Party List System (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against AECOM Technical Services, Inc.
As part of their proposal, AECOM Technical Services, Inc. has proposed using the following sub-consultants to perform contract work:
Company Name City/State ODI Cert. Status
Stantec Consulting Services Inc. Columbus, OH MAJ
GPD Group Columbus, OH MAJ
Hazen and Sawyer Columbus, OH MAJ
Coldwater Consulting Columbus, OH WBE
MurphyEpson Columbus, OH WBE
DHDC Engineering Consultant Services, Inc. Columbus, OH MBE
The certifications of the above companies are in good standing at the time of this ordinance.
5. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for Lead Service Line Replacements Program Project Management will be obtained through a loan from the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account (WSRLA), 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 1320-2026 passed by Council on 6/1/2026. Ordinance 1320-2026 also authorized the Director of Public Utilities to add to or subtract from the anticipated loans listed in that ordinance. 690236-110004 was not listed in that ordinance. Even though Ordinance 1320-2026 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. The loan is expected to be approved at the OWDA October Board meeting. This ordinance is contingent upon the loan being approved by the OWDA Board. Columbus Water and Power will inform the Auditor’s Office when the loans are approved.
The WSRLA program is now a reimbursement program. Columbus Water and Power will need to pay AECOM Technical Services, Inc.’s invoices and then submit them to OWDA for reimbursement.
The 2025 Capital Improvement Budget will need to be amended to align budget authority with the amount of the loan. Funds will need to be appropriated and expended in the Water Supply Revolving Loan Fund, Fund 6011.
Title
To authorize the Director of Columbus Water and Power to enter into a professional engineering services contract with AECOM Technical Services, Inc. for Lead Service Line Replacements Program Project Management; to authorize the Director of Columbus Water and Power to apply for and accept a loan from the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account for Lead Service Line Replacements Program Project Management; 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 authorize the appropriation of funds within the Water Supply Revolving Loan Fund; and to authorize the expenditure of up to $10,000,000.00 from the Water Supply Revolving Loan Fund for the contract. ($10,000,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Columbus Water and Power is engaged in the Lead Service Line Replacement Program; and
WHEREAS, Columbus Water and Power has identified a need for Lead Service Line Replacements Program Project Management; and
WHEREAS, six proposals for Lead Service Line Replacements Program Project Management were received and evaluated by the evaluation committee; and
WHEREAS, the evaluation committee recommended AECOM Technical Services, Inc. be awarded the contract; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 1320-2026 authorized this project to be funded by a loan to be obtained through the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account; and
WHEREAS, Lead Service Line Replacements Program Project Management was not specifically listed as a project to be loan funded on Ordinance 1320-2026 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 2025 Capital Improvement Budget must be amended to align budget authority with the amount of the loan; 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 contracted services for the project; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation to authorize the Director of Columbus Water and Power to enter into a professional engineering services contract with AECOM Technical Services, Inc., for Lead Service Line Replacements Program Project Management; and 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 / 690236-110004 / Lead Service Line Replacements Program Project Management (Water Supply Revolving Loan Fund) / $0.00 / $10,000,000.00 / $10,000,000.00 (to match loan)
SECTION 2. That City Council authorizes the Director of Columbus Water and Power to submit loan applications to the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account for Lead Service Line Replacements Program Project Management, 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 $10,000,000.00, 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 Columbus Water and Power is hereby authorized to enter into a professional services and construction services contract for Lead Service Line Replacements Program Project Management with AECOM Technical Services, Inc., 277 W. Nationwide Blvd. Columbus, OH 43215 in an amount up to $10,000,000.00, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract on file at Columbus Water and Power.
SECTION 5. That the expenditure of $10,000,000.00, 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. 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 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.