Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Service to enter into a professional services contract with Heart & Hunter, Inc., in the amount of up to $250,000.00 for the Mobility and Parking Educational Outreach and Communications project.
The intent of this project is to provide the City of Columbus with additional resources to perform various communications, outreach, educational and related tasks for the deployment of mobility and parking programs and initiatives.
The Department of Public Service, Office of Support Services, issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Mobility and Parking Educational Outreach and Communications contract. The project was formally advertised on the Vendor Services and Bonfire web sites from May 29, 2025, to June 26, 2025. The City received six (6) responses. All proposals were deemed responsive and were fully evaluated when the Evaluation Committee met on July 7, 2025. The responding firms were:
|
Consultant/Subconsultant |
CC Number |
CC Expiration Date |
% of Work |
|
Origo Branding Company, Inc. |
CC012816 |
6/10/2027 |
67% |
|
Irvin Public Relations |
CC002045 |
9/22/2025 |
33% |
|
WeUsThem Inc. |
CC046139 |
7/28/2025 |
100% |
|
Heart and Hunter Inc. |
CC035651 |
5/30/2027 |
100% |
|
Paul Werth Associates |
CC004255 |
4/11/2026 |
100% |
|
Sky Nile Consulting, LLC |
CC042248 |
9/6/2026 |
50% |
|
4th Street Strategies |
CC052051 |
3/17/2027 |
40% |
|
Civic Uplift |
CC047953 |
1/25/2026 |
10% |
|
Canvaas Consulting |
CC031214 |
11/16/2025 |
60% |
|
iHeart Unified Partnerships |
N/A |
N/A |
40% |
Heart & Hunter, Inc., received the highest score by the evaluation committee and will be awarded the Mobility and Parking Educational Outreach and Communications contract. The resulting contract will have an initial term of up to three (3) years and an initial contract value not to exceed $250,000, although a contract modification may be necessary in the future to achieve all of the intended outcomes of that project.
Searches in the Excluded Party List System (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against Heart and Hunter, Inc.
2. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE
Heart & Hunter, Inc.’s contract compliance number is CC035651 and expires May 30, 2027.
3. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for this contract is available within Fund 6500, the Mobility Operating Fund.
4. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested due to the expiration of the current contract, and to complete the project in a timely manner and ensure all citizens have access to relevant mobility and parking information, thus ensuring the safety and well-being of the traveling public.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Service to enter into a multi-year professional services contract with Heart & Hunter, Inc., for the Mobility and Parking Educational Outreach and Communications project; to authorize the expenditure of up to $250,000.00 from the Mobility Operating Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($250,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, there is a need to enter into a professional services contract to provide for a comprehensive stakeholder outreach and communications campaign, and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service, Office of Support Services, issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Mobility and Parking Educational Outreach and Communications project; and
WHEREAS, Heart & Hunter, Inc,, submitted the best overall proposal for this project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to enter into a multi-year contract with Heart & Hunter, Inc., for the provision of professional consulting services described above in the amount of up to $250,000.00; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of Public Service to enter into contract with Heart & Hunter, Inc., in order to provide funding for the Mobility and Parking Educational Outreach and Communications Campaign, as the current contract has expired, and so that relevant information on mobility and parking projects are presented efficiently to the public, and to ensure the safety of the traveling public, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; and now therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Public Service be, and hereby is, authorized to enter into a professional services contract with Heart & Hunter, Inc., 15 E. Gay Street, #200, Columbus, Ohio 43215, for the Mobility and Parking Educational Outreach and Communications project for an initial term of up to three (3) years and in an amount up to $250,000.00, although a contract modification may be necessary in the future to achieve all of the intended outcomes of that project.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $250,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 6500 (Mobility Operating Fund), Subfund 650001 (Mobility Enterprise), Dept-Div 5906 (Public Service - Mobility and Parking Services), in Object Class 03 (Services) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. 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 4. 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 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.