Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Finance and Management to enter into contract and issue purchase orders as needed with Mark Rite Lines Equipment Company, Inc. for the purchase of (1) Thermoplastic Striper (Ride-On). This purchase will be made for the Department of Public Service, Division of Traffic Management.
The Department of Public Service, Division of Traffic Management, is responsible for traffic maintenance throughout the City of Columbus. The City of Columbus, Fleet Management Division, approved the purchase of this equipment to continue to provide traffic maintenance throughout the City of Columbus.
The Purchasing Office advertised and solicited competitive bids in accordance with the relevant provisions of City Code Chapter 329 relating to competitive bidding (Solicitation RFQ031031) through Vendor Services. The City received one bid for the thermoplastic striper (ride-on) on September 18, 2025 and it was tabulated as follows:
Company Name Bid Amount City/State Majority/MBE/FBE
Mark Rite Lines Equipment $135,919.51 Billings, MT Majority
Company, Inc.
The award is to be made to Mark Rite Lines Equipment Company, Inc. as the sole bidder for this item. Pricing of listed optional items are currently being negotiated, up to a total amount of $140,000.00.
Searches in the System for Award Management (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against Mark Rite Lines Equipment Company, Inc.
2. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE
The contract compliance number for Mark Rite Lines Equipment Company, Inc. is CC-030216 and expires on 11/14/2027.
3. FISCAL IMPACT
Funds are available and appropriated for this purchase within the Municipal Motor Vehicle Tax Fund, Fund 2266. Supplemental appropriation is necessary for this purchase.
4. REQUEST FOR WAIVER OF FORMAL COMPETITIVE BIDING REQUIREMENTS
A request for waiver of the formal competitive bidding requirements of the Columbus City Code Chapter 329 is requested for this purchase so that the Division of Traffic Management can purchase the equipment during the current season to maintain traffic maintenance throughout the City of Columbus. The vendor was the only bidder for two solicitations. This is equipment that is necessary to mark bikeways and shared use paths to preserve the safety of the public during normal usage.
5. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
The department requests emergency designation for this ordinance so this equipment can be put into service as quickly as possible to prevent interruption to, or disruption of, the City’s traffic maintenance program.
Title
To authorize the Director of Finance and Management to enter into contracts with Mark Rite Lines Equipment Company, Inc. for the purchase of a Ride-On Thermoplastic Striper; to appropriate funds within the Municipal Motor Vehicle Tax Fund; to authorize the waiver of the competitive bidding requirements of the Columbus City Codes; to authorize the expenditure of up to $140,000.00 from the Municipal Motor Vehicle Tax Fund to purchase the equipment; and to declare an emergency. ($140,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service, Division of Traffic Management, needs to purchase (1) Thermoplastic Striper (Ride-On) to maintain and repair the streets throughout the City of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, this purchase has been approved by the City’s Fleet Management Division; and
WHEREAS, the Purchasing Office received formal bids on September 18, 2025 for (1) Thermoplastic Striper (Ride-On) for the Division of Traffic Management; and
WHEREAS, Mark Rite Lines Equipment Company, Inc. submitted a bid in the amount of $135,919.51 with options that are being negotiated for (1) Thermoplastic Striper (Ride-On) and is the sole bidder; and
WHEREAS, it is in the City’s best interests to waive the competitive bidding provisions of City Code Chapter 329 to procure this equipment due to the need to be able to purchase the equipment in the current season to ensure traffic maintenance throughout the City of Columbus as this is necessary to mark bikeways and shared use paths to preserve the safety of the public during normal usage; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation in the Department of Public Service to authorize the Director of Finance and Management to enter into contracts with and to issue purchase orders to Mark Rite Lines Equipment Company, Inc. in accordance with the terms, conditions, and specifications of Solicitation Number RFQ031031 on file in the Purchasing Office; and
WHEREAS, funds must be appropriated within the Municipal Motor Vehicle Tax Fund; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to expend funds to pay for the equipment; 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 Finance and Management Director to enter into contracts with Mark Rite Lines Equipment Company, Inc. so this equipment can be put into service as quickly as possible to prevent interruption to, or disruption of, the City’s traffic maintenance program, thereby preserving 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 Finance and Management be and is hereby authorized to establish contracts with and issue purchase orders to Mark Rite Lines Equipment Company, Inc. for the purchase of (1) Thermoplastic Striper (Ride-On).
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, the sum of $10,000.00 is appropriated in Fund 2266 (Municipal Motor Vehicle Tax Fund), Dept-Div 5913(Division of Traffic Management), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of up to $140,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 2266 (Municipal Motor Vehicle Tax Fund), Dept-Div 5913 (Traffic Management), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That City Council finds it is in the best interest of the City of Columbus to waive formal competitive biddings requirements of City Code Chapter 329.
SECTION 5. 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 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 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 8. 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.