Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to modify non-profit service agreements with numerous social service agencies to extend the agreements for a twelve-month period that begins on or after January 1, 2022. See attached Exhibit A for a list of social services agencies awarded agreements in 2019, were renewed in 2020, modified in 2021, and will be modified again in 2022. The total amount of these agreements in 2022 is up to $3,964,254.00.
In 2018, a request for proposals (RFP) was issued via direct email to agencies (and City partners to send to their networks of agencies), by press release, and posting on the City’s website. The City received 142 proposals representing 101 agencies with over $19 million in requests. Of those, 44 programs were selected for funding in 2019 and agreements were authorized under ordinance 1170-2019. These agreements were renewed in 2020 under the authority of ordinance 0571-2020.
Historically, the department has done a RFP effort every two years and under normal circumstances such an effort would have been in late 2020 for 2021. Due to COVID-19 and its impact on the nonprofit sector and department priorities, the department had elected to extend the agreements in FY 2021 through an agreement modification, authorized by ordinance 0388-2021. Due to similar COVID-19 related circumstances in 2021, the department is electing to extend these agreements for FY 2022 through another agreement modification.
This ordinance includes authorization for 40 programs with 37 agencies (40 separate agreements) with authorization for four agreements being submitted as separate ordinances.
It is the department’s intent to “modify” these agreements, which means executing the modification before the prior agreement has expired. Should circumstances prevent that for an agreement, the agreement will be processed as an “original” agreement with the same scope of services as the original agreement in 2019 and up to the amount listed in Exhibit A.
Currently, it is the department’s intent to do a RFP process in late 2022 for FY 2023 non-profit service agreements.
The agreements will be modified pending availability of funds and program performance per the agreement with each agency. All 44 programs have performed in accordance with their agreements and are approved for a fourth year of funding. These programs and initiatives will provide services to residents of Columbus within one or more of the City’s Five Investment Strategies:
• Income through Employment
• Job Quality
• Education and Training
• Financial Capability
• Stabilization and Resource Support
Emergency action is necessary to avoid causing interruptions in the delivery of program services.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for these expenditures is allocated from the Emergency Human Services Fund 2022 budget (Fund 2231), up to $2,111,000.00, and the Administration Division’s 2022 General Fund budget in the amount of $1,853,254.00 (Fund 1000).
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: See attached Exhibit A for a list of social services agencies.
Title
To authorize the Director of Development to modify non-profit service agreements with numerous social service agencies to address and provide for multiple human service needs; to authorize the expenditure of up to $2,111,000.00 from the Emergency Human Services Fund; to authorize the expenditure of up to $1,853,254.00 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($3,964,254.00) (AMENED BY ORD. 0930-2023 PASSED 4/4/2023) BA
Body
WHEREAS, in 2018 the City received 142 proposals representing 101 agencies with over $19 million in requests; and
WHEREAS, 44 programs were selected for up to 2 years of funding through the City’s competitive funding process and its Human Services Grant Program; and
WHEREAS, due to COVID-19, the department had elected to modify the agreements for FY2021 and FY2022; and
WHEREAS, all 44 programs have been approved for a fourth year of funding with 40 programs authorized under this ordinance and four authorized under separate ordinances; and
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Development desires to modify each 12 month non-profit service agreement, each of which will begin on or after January 1, 2022, for the continued provision of social services; and
WHEREAS, it is the department’s intent to “modify” these agreements, which means executing the modification before the prior agreement has expired. Should circumstances prevent that for an agreement, the agreement will be processed as an “original” agreement with the same scope of services as the original agreement in 2019 and up to the amount listed in Exhibit A; and
WHEREAS, the agreements will be funded with a combination of Emergency Human Services Funds and General Funds; and
WHEREAS, these programs include, but are not limited to, youth services, resettlement programs, housing referral, intervention activities, information and referral efforts, community mediation, resource centers and neighborhood activities; 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 non-profit service agreements with various social service agencies to avoid causing interruptions in the delivery of vital program services, all for the preservation of 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 Development is authorized to modify non-profit service agreements with the numerous social service agencies in attached Exhibit A for a twelve (12) month period that begins on or after January 1, 2022, and up to the amount indicated in Exhibit A. If circumstances prevent the Director from modifying an agreement, the Director is authorized to execute an original agreement for a twelve (12) month period that begins on or after January 1, 2022, and up to the amount indicated in Exhibit A.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose as stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $2,111,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary is hereby authorized in Fund 2231 (Emergency Human Services), Dept. 44-01 (Administration), in Object Class 03 (Services) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. Payments are expressly contingent upon the availability of sufficient monies in the Emergency Human Services Fund to cover the obligation set forth in this contract and in no case shall payments exceed available cash in this fund. In this event that there is not sufficient cash in the fund to cover the obligation set forth in this contract, the City Auditor shall have the authority to make all necessary adjustments at her discretion.
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of $1,853,254.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 1000 (General Fund), Dept-Div 44-01 (Administration), in object class 03 (Services) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
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 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.