Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to modify a service contract with R.H. Brown & Company, LLC in an amount up to $153,600.00 of federal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA2) funds and $170,000.00 of General Fund, Neighborhood Initiative Subfund to provide support for those in need of emergency rehousing services and to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Chapter 329 of Columbus City Code. To authorize the contract term to be effective November 1, 2023 through December 31, 2025.
Original Agreement $ 300,000.00 Ord. 3047-2023 PO421838
Modification No. 1 $ 323,600.00
Total $623,600.00
The City’s Emergency Re-housing Initiative assists tenants who have been involuntarily displaced and are struggling to find available rental housing and re-housing assistance. This initiative includes helping tenants identify rental housing that meets their needs based on the affordability of rent, family size, and location. R.H. Brown Company, LLC will work with and support those in need of emergency rehousing in evaluating choices and making informed decisions for their housing needs.
Due to the current housing crisis, securing new housing quickly is extremely difficult, especially for our most vulnerable residents who are more likely to be involuntarily displaced. These residents usually need immediate assistance to achieve stability after displacement, including help locating housing. The desired outcome is housing stability achieved for involuntarily displaced tenants. This modification will further the City’s Emergency Rehousing Initiative in helping to achieve housing stability for those that are involuntarily displaced. The scope modification for this contract is to be retroactive to the start date of the original contract. The reason for the modification to increase funding is that RH Brown is providing rehousing services to our most vulnerable populations and there has been an increase in the need for rehousing since the original contract was awarded. The contract term date modification is requested to be able to spend funds beyond the end of the grant period for ERA2 dollars (9/30/2025), and facilitate the provision of rehousing services through the end of 2025.
Bid Waiver Request: Under the authority of Columbus City Code Chapter 329, the Director of the Department of Development is requesting that City Council finds it in their best interest to waive the competitive bidding provision of City Code as an emergency exists and is an immediate need for services to assist those that have been involuntarily displaced to help them in finding housing and re-housing assistance.
Emergency action is necessary to provide relocation services for individuals due to a large-scale emergency vacate of tenants which has quickly expended resources from the initial contract. Additional resources are needed to be prepared for immediate service provision during other vacate events of tenants in the City of Columbus.
FISCAL IMPACT: $153,600.00 is available from and within the Emergency Rental Assistance Fund (Fund 2208) and $170,000.00 is available with the General Fund, Neighborhood Initiatives Subfund.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: The vendor number is 046895 and expires on 10/04/2025.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to modify a service contract with R.H. Brown & Company, LLC in an amount up to $323,600.00 and to extend the time to provide support for those in need of emergency rehousing services; to waive the competitive bidding provision of Columbus City Code; to authorize the term of the contract from November 1, 2023 to December 31, 2025; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $170,000.00 from the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; to authorize the expenditure of $153,600.00 from the ERA2 fund; and to declare an emergency. ($323,600.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Development wishes to modify a service contract with R.H. Brown & Company, LLC in an amount up to $323,600.00 of federal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA2) funds and General Fund, Neighborhood Initiative Subfunds to provide support for those in need of emergency rehousing; and
WHEREAS, the City’s Emergency Rehousing Initiative assists tenants who have been involuntarily displaced and are struggling to find available rental housing and rehousing assistance; and
WHEREAS, the City is facing a housing crisis and the term of the contract is needed from November 1, 2023 through December 31, 2025 which will provide assistance and will align this contract with the term of the grant; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the city to waive the competitive bidding provision of Columbus City Code 329 to enter into contract with R.H. Brown & Company LLC to provide emergency rehousing services to those who have faced or are currently facing involuntary displacement; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into a service contract with R.H. Brown & Company, LLC to help resolve immediate needs for those facing involuntary displacement, for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, and safety; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That City Council finds it in the best interest of the City to waive the competitive bidding provision of Chapter 329 of Columbus City Code to enter into this contract and does hereby waive the same.
SECTION 2. That the Director of the Department of Development is authorized to modify a service contract with R.H. Brown & Company, LLC in an amount up to $323,600.00 and to extend the time to provide support for those in need of emergency re-housing services utilizing federal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA2) funds and General Fund, Neighborhood Initiative Subfund, and authorizes the term of the agreement from November 1, 2023 through December 31, 2025.
SECTION 3. That the Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $170,000.00 to the Department of Development within fund 1000 (General Fund), subfund 100018 (Neighborhood Initiative), Dept. 44-10 (Housing), in Object Class 03 (Services) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That for the purpose stated in Section 2, the expenditure of $153,600.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 2208 (ERA2), and $170,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in fund 1000, Dept-Div 44-10 (Housing), in object class 03 (Services) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. 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 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 the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure which 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 it.