Explanation
The purpose of this legislation is to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into an Indefinite Quantity Contract with Watershed Organic Lawn Care for the Green Infrastructure Inspection and Maintenance Project. The City of Columbus is committed to investing in green infrastructure. As part of this commitment, the City has built a number of bio-retention basins in the right-of-way and/or on City owned property.
A bioretention basin consists of a soil bed planted with vegetation located above a gravel layer with an underdrain. Stormwater runoff entering the bioretention facility is filtered first through the vegetation and then the soil bed before being conveyed downstream through the underdrain system, slowing the runoff velocity and treating stormwater runoff by absorption, decomposition, and filtration. Bioretention facilities are often sited adjacent to and used to treat runoff from paved surfaces such as parking lots.
Bioretention basins improve water quality through: soil and media filtration, stormwater detention, natural evapotranspiration, and biological uptake of water and nutrients. Stormwater can be conveyed to bioretention facilities via sheet flow, channelization, curb cuts, inlets or conveyance systems.
The City is currently responsible for the maintenance of 14 Facilities with 55 basins/wetlands and 24 swales in Group 1- Water and Regional Basins. These facilities are located at Idlewild Drive, Griggs Reservoir, O’Shaughnessy Reservoir, Hoover Reservoir, Dublin Road Water Plant, 910 Dublin Road Landscape, Briggs Road Detention, Crawford Farms Stormwater Retrofit, Mound Street Booster Station, Smokey Row Booster Station, and Joyce Avenue. Each facility and location may have multiple sites with basins, swales, or other types of green infrastructure. Additional facilities may be added in the future.
The City is currently responsible for the maintenance of 11 facilities with 436 basins in Group 2- Urban Basins Type A. These facilities are located at Weisheimer Road, Overbook/Chatham, Schreyer-Springs, Weisheimer-Indian Springs, Morse-Dominion, Blenheim-Glencoe Cooke/Glenmont, American Addition Phase I, Moler Road, Brentnell Avenue & Bar Harbor Road, American Addition Phase 2 & 3. Additional facilities may be added in the future.
The City is currently responsible for the maintenance of 8 facilities with 106 basins in Group 2- Urban Basins Type B. These facilities are located at Barthman Parsons, W. Town Street/U.S.62 DA, 2nd Street, River South Roadways W. Rich Street- Riversouth Street, W. Main Street Riversouth Street, W. Broad St. at Starling Street. Additional facilities may be added in the future.
Watershed Organic Lawn Care will coordinate with Stormwater and Regulatory Management Section (SRMS) staff when performing inspection and maintenance at the remaining basins.
The Department of Public Utilities advertised and solicited competitive bids in accordance with Section 329 of Columbus City Code (RFQ015680). Two hundred and thirty-nine (239) vendors (8-F1, 1-FBE, 183-MAJ, 33-MBE, 1-MBE,V1, 13-MBR) were solicited and three (3 MAJ) bids were received and opened on June 10, 2020. The Division of Sewerage and Drainage recommends awarding the contract to Watershed Organic Lawn Care, the lowest, responsive, responsible and best bidder.
The current contract expires on August 31, 2020 and it is the intent of the Department of Public Utilities that this contract be for a period of one (1) year beginning September 1, 2020 through and including August 31, 2021.
The contract language allows for the option to renew annually for two (2) additional one year periods based on mutual agreement, availability of budgeted funds and approval by City Council. Future modifications will be required to incorporate additional green infrastructures into this contract as facilities are constructed and turned over to the City for maintenance.
At this time, there is knowledge of several other basins coming online in 2020, with other sites coming online over the next several years. With the introduction of Blueprint Columbus there may be additional sites added in the future. The Division of Water has added several sites to this contract and may add another in the next year. The Division of Transportation had added the West Broad Street site at Starling and may add more sites in the future. All Transportation projects that have storm sewer features such as bio-basins will be maintained by the Division of Sewerage and Drainage.
SUPPLIER: Watershed Organic Lawn Care (31-1653866) (Vendor #005742), Expires 5/26/22
The company is not debarred according to the Excluded Party Listing System of the Federal Government or prohibited from being awarded a contract according to the Auditor of State Unresolved Findings for Recovery Certified Search.
FISCAL IMPACT: $244,000.00 is budgeted and needed for this purchase. This funding is estimated to cover the necessary work during the time period of September 1, 2020-August 31, 2021.
$250,634.34 was spent in 2019
$156,656.18 was spent in 2018
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a contract with Watershed Organic Lawn Care for the Green Infrastructure Inspection and Maintenance Project; and to authorize the expenditure of $117,000.00 from the Water Operating Fund and $127,000.00 from the Stormwater Operating Fund. ($244,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is committed to investing in green infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, as part of this commitment, the City has built a number of bio-retention basins in the right-of-way and/or on city owned property; and
WHEREAS, a need exists in the Department of Public Utilities for Green Infrastructure Inspection and Maintenance Project services to maintain and service the basins; and
WHEREAS, the procurement was conducted in accordance with the Request For Quotes (RFQ015680) process set forth in the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of City Code; and
WHEREAS, three (3) bids were received and opened by the Department of Public Utilities on June 10, 2020; and
WHEREAS, the bid received from Watershed Organic Lawn Care was determined to be the lowest, responsive, responsible and best bidder and a contract award is recommended; and
WHEREAS, this original contract language allows for a one (1) year contract with the option to renew the agreement for two (2) additional years on a year to year basis. The first year of the contract will be in effect for one year beginning September 1, 2020 through and including August 31, 2021; and
WHEREAS, additional modifications will be required to incorporate additional green infrastructures into this contract as facilities are constructed and turned over to the City for maintenance; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities, Division of Water, and Division of Sewerage & Drainage Stormwater Section, to authorize the Director to enter into a contract for the Green Infrastructure Inspection and Maintenance Project with Watershed Organic Lawn Care; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Public Utilities be, and is hereby, authorized to enter into a contract with Watershed Organic Lawn Care for the Green Infrastructure Inspection and Maintenance Project in accordance with the terms and conditions of RFQ015680 on file in the Department of Public Utilities, with the option to renew the agreement for two (2) additional years on a year to year basis.
SECTION 2. That said firm shall conduct the work to the satisfaction of the Director of Public Utilities and the Administrators of the Division of Sewerage and Drainage and the Division of Water.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $147,500.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, be and is hereby authorized in Object Class 03 Services, ($89,000.00 in Fund 6200-Stormwater Operating) and ($58,500.00 in Fund 6000-Water Operating) and $96,500.00 in Object Class 02 Materials and Supplies ($38,000.00 in Fund 6200-Stormwater Operating) and ($58,500.00 in Fund 6000-Water Operating) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. 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 5. That this Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.