Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a contract, not to exceed $150,000.00, for the Emergency Repair of Furnace Substation DT-2 Transformer and the 15 KvBus, for the Division of Power and Water. The transformer has failed and there is a need to regain use of this transformer immediately. Customers that are served by this sub-station include, Capital South, State Office Tower, Grant Hospital Rehab Center, 1250 Fairwood Avenue Complex/911 Call Center, and Franklin County Office Complex. The Department is in the process of soliciting 3 informal quotations and requests waiver of competitive bidding provisions to allow entering into a contract with the lowest, responsible and best bidder. The Department of Public Utilities has received one (1) quote to date .
As a result of a fault on the Furnace Substation DT-2 Transformer there was a secondary bushing failure (14.4kv) at the bus duct. The transformer has been in service since 1987 and apparent moisture accumulation combined with recent wind driven rain caused insulation to fail and flash-over between the bushings. Service was restored by transferring the load to a backup transformer at the sub-station however the second transformer is within the same age of the damaged equipment and will not be capable of handling peak loads on its own for long periods. It is imperative that the Division of Power and Water (Power) repair the damaged transformer in a timely fashion so that the substation has backup power source to our customers.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: It is requested that this Ordinance be handled in an emergency manner in order to have executed contracts to make repairs at the Furnace Street Substation as soon as possible.
FISCAL IMPACT: This project was not budgeted; however there are sufficient funds in the Electricity Operating Budget to cover this expense.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a contract for the emergency repair of the Furnace Street Substation for the Division of Power and Water; to waive the provisions of competitive bidding; to authorize an expenditure of up to $150,000.00 from the Electricity Operating Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($150,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, mositure accumulation and wind storms caused a failure of the Furnance Street Substation Tansformer, and
WHEREAS, this substation serves critical customers including, Capital South, State Office Tower, Grant Hospital Rehab Center, 1250 Fairwood Avenue Complex/911 Call Center, and Franklin County Office Complex, and
WHEREAS, informal bids for the Emergency Repair of the Furnace Street Substation are being solicited; and
WHEREAS, the Division of Power and Water will accept the lowest, responsible best bidder; and
WHEREAS, the Director of Public Utilities believes it is within the City's best interest to waive provisions of competitive bidding in order that the Division of Power and Water can proceed with the emergency repairs as soon as possible; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to award and execute an emergency repair for the Furnace Street Substation Transformer; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Division of Power and Water, Department of Public Utilities, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a contract to repair the Furnace Street Substation Transformer, in an emergency manner in order to test and repair to have backup service to customers as soon as possible, 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 the Director of Public Utilities be and hereby is authorized to award and execute a contract for the Emergency Repair of the Furnace Street Substation with the lowest, best, responsive and responsible bidder and expend an amount not to exceed $150,000.00; for the Division of Power and Water.
SECTION 2. That this Council finds it in the best interest of the City of Columbus to waive the provisions of Section 329.06 of the Columbus City Code, 1959, in order to contract for emergency transformer repairs, and such provisions are hereby waived.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure in an amount not to exceed $150,000.00 is hereby authorized for the Emergency Repair of the Furnace Street Substation, within the Division of Power and Water, Dept/Div. No. 60-07, Electricity Operating Fund, Fund No. 550, OCA: 606723, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3372.
SECTION 4. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this Ordinance is 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.