Explanation
This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to modify contracts for Accelerate Columbus program services. These services nurture a pipeline of entrepreneurs and small businesses that reflect Columbus's talent and diversity.
The Department of Development advertised a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA)/Request for Proposal (RFP) from July 1, 2024, through July 25, 2024, on the City's Vendor Services and Bonfire websites. The City received sixteen (16) proposals. Proposals were evaluated and scored in accordance with the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes. The Director of Development desires to enter into a service contract with 10 of the 16 offerors. Of these 10, four are non-profit agencies, and six are for-profit companies.
Contract modifications are needed to clarify the contract scope of work concerning the process to allow awarded organizations the primary responsibility to market and recruit participants for their respective cohort(s) and to allow contract budget structure and payments for both hourly rates and programming needs.
Emergency action is requested to approve payments for work completed under these contracts and to continue the programs awarded.
In accordance with C.C. 329.09(a):
1. No additional funds to be expended.
2. The contracts awarded do not require additional services, but a legislative modification is required by operation of C.C. 329.09(b).
3. It is in the City's best interest to modify each contract as they are the administrator of Accelerate Columbus program services for the Division of Economic Development.
4. This ordinance requires no additional funds.
FISCAL IMPACT: No additional funding is needed.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE:
Below are the various vendors, vendor numbers, contract compliance expiration dates, and coordinated ordinances approving their contract.
Catholic Social Services, Inc. CC- 006067 expires 7/2/2026 Ordinance 3240-2024
Buckeye Innovation LLC, CC- 043613 expires 11/8/2026 Ordinance 3241-2024
Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce, CC- 006012 expires 5/23/2026 Ordinance 3242-2024
Columbus Compact Corporation, CC- 032010 expires 8/5/2026 Ordinance 3243-2024
Economic and Community Development Institute, Inc, CC- 004753 and expires 4/3/2025 Ordinance 3246-2024
Exposeyour, LLC, CC-039621 Expires 09/21/2025 Ordinance 3248-2024
Dennis L Guy, CC- 044146 expires 1/26/2025 Ordinance 3259-2024
Mkg Dept LLC, CC- 030335 expires 12/20/2025 Ordinance 3260-2024
EPIC Creative and Design LLC, CC- 050319 expires 9/10/2026 Ordinance 3261-2024
Thomas J. Eveland, CC- 042347 expires 11/15/2026 Ordinance 3272-2024
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to modify contracts with various organizations to administer the Accelerate Columbus program services; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, in 2019, the City of Columbus launched the Accelerate Columbus program as part of a branded set of small business training, technical assistance, and mentoring programs targeting aspiring entrepreneurs and existing small business owners; and
WHEREAS, the goal of the program is to provide structured training and technical assistance to both aspiring and existing entrepreneurs and small businesses; and
WHEREAS, for the 2025 program, the Department advertised a NOFA/RFP and received 16 responses, of which the Director of the Department of Development entered into contract with 10 offerors; and
WHEREAS, modifications to the original scope of services of these contracts are requested to clarify the process to allow awarded organizations the primary responsibility to market and recruit participants for their respective cohort(s); and
WHEREAS, modifications to the contracts are also requested to allow budget structure and payments for both hourly rates and programming needs; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to modify these contracts to clarify the contract scope of work concerning the process to allow awarded organizations the primary responsibility to market and recruit participants for their respective cohort(s) and to allow contract budget structure and payments for both hourly rates and programming needs to continue program services without interruption, 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 Development be and is hereby authorized to modify the scope of services processes and budget for the following organization contracts for Accelerate Columbus 2025 listed in Exhibit A, attached to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. That this modification is made in accordance with the relevant provisions of the City Code Charter 329 relating to contract modifications.
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 approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.