Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Public Safety, on behalf of the Division of Fire, to enter into contract with Locution Systems Inc. for installation, support, and maintenance of a multi-zone locution system at Fire Stations 10, 14, 17, & 18. Installation of a multi-zone locution system will allow the Division of Fire to assign personnel to bunks and program the alert system accordingly, ensuring that fire personnel are only alerted to their assigned calls. This will greatly benefit firefighter health by reducing unnecessary interruptions during sleep periods. The locution system uses soft red ramped light, ramped tones, and crystal clear dispatches to alert assigned personnel to incoming calls for service. The benefits of multi-zone alerts include: Faster response times, reduced stress and reduced sleep deprivation for first responders.
This agreement is being entered into under the Sole Source procurement provisions of Section 329 of the Columbus City Code. Locution Systems Inc. is the only known company that can provide essential backup services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for the Emergency Alerting System (both multi-zone and single zone). Locution Systems Inc. is the vendor for both the hardware and software of the alert system and the current city vendor for these services across the Division of Fire.
Vendor Information: The contract compliance number for Locution Systems Inc. is 010497 (update pending). Locution Systems Inc. is registered with the Ohio Secretary of State's Office to do business in Ohio.
Emergency Designation: Emergency designation is requested in order to enter into contract before the quote expires in July 2024 and to implement this program with important employee health benefits as quickly as possible.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes the expenditure of $600,081.00 for system installation, support, and maintenance and within Public Safety's 2023 Capital Improvement Budget.
Title
To authorize the transfer of funds within the Safety G.O. Bonds Fund, Fund 7701; to authorize the Director of Public Safety, on behalf of the Division of Fire, to enter into contract with Locution Systems Inc. for installation, support, and maintenance of a multi-zone locution system at four fire stations in accordance with the sole source procurement provisions of the Columbus City Code; to authorize the expenditure of $600,081.00 from the Safety G.O. Bonds Fund, Fund 7701; and to declare an emergency. ($600,081.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire is in need of a multi-zone locution system at fire stations 10, 14, 17, & 18; and,
WHEREAS, Locution Systems Inc. is the industry leader in providing fire station alerting systems; and,
WHEREAS, Locution Systems Inc. is the only known company that can provide maintenance services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for this system and is our current vendor for alerting systems across the division; and,
WHEREAS, this contract is being entered into pursuant to the sole source provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Code; and,
WHEREAS, funds are available in the Department of Public Safety's 2023 Capital Improvement Budget and the Safety G.O. Bonds Fund, Fund 7701, for the cost of this contract, and,
WHEREAS, it is necessary to transfer funds within the Safety G.O. Bonds Fund, Fund 7701; and,
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize and direct the Director of Public Safety to enter into contract with Locution Systems Inc. for installation, support, and maintenance of a multi-zone locution system at four fire stations and expend funds from the Safety G.O. Bonds Fund for this purpose, 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 City Auditor is authorized to transfer cash and appropriation within the Safety G.O. Bonds Fund, Fund 7701 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this legislation.
SECTION 2. That the Director of Public Safety be and is hereby authorized to enter into contract with Locution Systems Inc. for installation, support, and maintenance of a multi-zone locution system at four fire stations on behalf of the Division of Fire.
SECTION 3. That this agreement is entered into pursuant to the sole source provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Code.
SECTION 4. That the transfer of $100,081.00 be and is hereby authorized between projects in the Safety G.O. Bonds Fund, Fund 7701 as shown in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That the expenditure of $600,081.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and is hereby authorized from Fund 7701 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. 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 7. 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 8. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer the unencumbered balance in a project account to the unallocated balance account within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administering said project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required.
SECTION 9. 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.