Explanation
BACKGROUND:
The City of Columbus is the 15th largest city in the country, with a population of over 700,000 and encompassing nearly 220 square miles. Within the City of Columbus local governing body, the work force is comprised of approximately 8,000 employees. Of these 8,000 employees more than half utilize personal computers and are linked by the City's network. This network is comprised of City owned fiber; leased lines; wireless point to point; and broadband services, necessary to perform daily operational duties and responsibilities. Also, the network provides services to City residents, allowing access and connectivity to the Internet and other City Information Technology (IT) services. Additionally, the City's commercial community has invested in several fiber projects which provide bandwidth for companies to either move their business to the City or support increased business operations of current Columbus based companies.
With regards to connecting to Information Technology (IT), a plan is required to address three key components of the City, with those components being work force, business development, and residents. This legislation will provide for this plan and ultimately result in more effective use of today's assets and implementation of newer technologies for these key components. However, in preparation to implement this plan, the Department of Technology (DoT) exercised due diligence by completing the competitive process in compliance with Columbus City Code Section 329, awarding professional service contracts through the requests for proposals (RFP). Through this process, an RFP was prepared, posted on the City's solicitation web-site, and mailed to potential offerors who responded to the solicitation notice. Out of this process DoT received five (5) offers.
While DoT performed the RFP process an evaluation committee was formed. This committee consisted of voting members represented by the Department of Technology, the EBOCO Office and Ohio Super Computer Center. Also, out of this process, with the five (5) companies who submitted offers (listed below); interviews were held; calls were made to the references of each of the five offerors; and the results were conveyed to the evaluation team. Next, the evaluation team reviewed and evaluated the offers; a final vote was taken, with Whiteboard Broadband Solutions scoring the highest. The result of this process was the recommendation that the award be made to Whiteboard Broadband Solutions, in the amount of $96,500.00. This company, Whiteboard Broadband Solutions, has exhibited an understanding of the needs of the Department of Technology and the City of Columbus. They have provided many references and examples of past success in large city, county and state projects. Also, on this project, Whiteboard Broadband Solutions is partnering with an MBE company, PolicyWorks, L.L.C (contract compliance number 300193496, expiration date: 8/9/2008).
Five Offerors:
Whiteboard Broadband Solutions
CCG
Blackwell Consulting
Innovate
Total Systems Integration (TSI)
This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Technology to establish a contract with Whiteboard Broadband Solutions, for professional consulting services associated with the IT connectivity plan.
Funds for this project are available within the Department of Technology information services budget and The Development Department general fund.
EMERGENCY: There is an immediate need to establish a contract with Whiteboard Broadband Solutions to continue daily operations associated with IT connectivity.
FISCAL IMPACT: There has been no previous cost for this type of contract; nor with the selected vendor, Whiteboard Broadband Solutions. However, funding has been identified for this project as shared cost between The Department of Technology, information services and The Development Department. As the associated costs for this project, The Department of Technology's associated cost, from the 2006 information services internal services budget will be $61,500.00 and The Development Department's associated cost is $35,000.00 from their general fund.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE:
Contract Compliance Number 311738545 Expiration Date: 3/20/2008
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Technology to establish a contract, with Whiteboard Broadband Solutions, for professional services for a citywide connectivity plan, for the Department of Technology; to authorize the expenditure of $61,500.00 from the Department of Technology's information services fund and $35,000.00 from the Development Department's general fund; and to declare an emergency. ($96,500.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Technology seeks services to assist in developing an IT citywide connectivity plan; and
WHEREAS, with regards to connecting to Information Technology (IT), a plan is required to address three key components of the City; work force, business development, and residents; and
WHEREAS, this legislation will authorize the Director of the Department of Technology to establish a contract for services associated with the IT connectivity plan, from Whiteboard Broadband Solutions; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Technology (DoT) exercised due diligence by completing the competitive process in compliance with Columbus City Code Section 329, awarding professional service contracts through the requests for proposals (RFP); and
WHEREAS, there is sufficient budget authority available in the 2006 Department of Technology's information services budget and the Development Department's general fund, as shared cost for this plan; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exits in the usual daily operation of the Department of Technology in that it is immediately necessary to establish a contract with Whiteboard Broadband Solutions, for a citywide connectivity plan for the Department of Technology to support daily operations of all City agencies, citizens and businesses, thereby protecting 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 the Department of Technology be and is hereby authorized to establish a contract for developing a citywide connectivity plan with Whiteboard Broadband Solutions.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $96,500.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary is hereby authorized to be expended from:
Div.: 47-02| Fund: 514| Subfund: 001| OCA: 280735| Obj. Level 1: 03| Obj. Level 3: 3336| Amount: $61,500.00
Div.: 44-01|Fund: 010|OCA: 440307|Obj. Level 1: 03| Obj. Level 3: 3336| Amount: $35,000.00
SECTION 3. 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.