Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a planned contract modification for professional engineering services with Hatch Associates Consultants, Inc. for the Southerly Water Reclamation Plant (SWRP) Power System Upgrade and Safety Improvements contract, CIP 650357-100101, in an amount up to $1,596,426.44.
This contract was awarded through the City’s Request for Proposal process to provide preliminary engineering, detailed design and technical services during construction for the required improvements. The initial contract work was for preliminary design services relating to arc flash hazards and coordination issues with electrical equipment at the SWRP. That portion of the project evaluated electrical equipment that needs replaced or rehabilitated and provided recommendations for replacement or rehabilitation.
Modification 1 to the contract was the first of two planned modifications for design services to provide detailed documents for the construction portion of the project to implement improvements identified during preliminary engineering. It also included bidding assistance services.
This modification, Modification 2 to the agreement, is the second of two planned modifications and will provide engineering services during construction, including submittal reviews, request for information responses, and other technical field representation.
This work will primarily be performed in Columbus Community Planning Area: 99-Citywide.
1.1 Amount of additional funds to be expended: $1,596,426.44
Original Contract Amount: $442,745.00 (Ord 2938-2021, PO308106)
Modification No. 1: $720,000.00 (Ord 3335-2023, PO427858)
Modification No. 2: $1,596,426.44 (Current)
Total $2,759,171.44
1.2. Reason other procurement processes are not used:
This contract was awarded through the City’s Request for Proposal process to completely design the project. Another procurement process is not required.
1.3. How cost of modification was determined:
The cost of this modification was determined by negotiations between Hatch Associates Consultants, Inc., and Department of Public Utilities project staff based upon the existing contract labor titles, maximum labor rates, allowable contract expenses, and the time estimated to be needed to perform contract tasks.
1.4 Timeline: The original engineering contract for this project was estimated for six months after the notice to proceed was provided by the City. The first contract modification for Step 2, detailed design, was estimated to last at least 12 months after the notice to proceed from the City and conclude upon the delivery of conform to contract documents. This contract modification is for Step 3, services during construction. The anticipated length of this contract modification is for 25 months but will continue until the construction contract is substantially competed.
2. ECONOMIC IMPACT/ADVANTAGES; COMMUNITY OUTREACH; PROJECT DEVELOPMENT; ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS/ADVANTAGES OF PROJECT
This project will replace equipment that is past its useful life or that no longer meets the electrical loads required by the plant. Replacing this equipment will reduce the amount of maintenance needed to keep the plant operational as well as reducing the number of electrical safety issues.
3. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE INFORMATION
Hatch Associates Consultants Inc.’s contract compliance number is CC0025646 and expires 2/26/2026.
Searches in the Excluded Party List System (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against Hatch Associates Consultants Inc.
As part of their proposal, Hatch Associates Consultants Inc. has proposed the following subcontractors to perform contract work:
Company Name City/State Contract Compliance Status
CCI Engineering Services Columbus, Ohio WBE
Advanced Engineering Consultants Columbus, Ohio MAJ
The certification of Hatch Associates Consultants Inc. and the above companies was in good standing at the time of this contract modification.
4. FISCAL IMPACT
This phase is anticipated to be financed with a loan from the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF), a program jointly administered by the Ohio EPA's Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance and the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA). City Council authorized this loan application and acceptance of funding via Ordinance 3119-2025, passed by Council on 12/15/25. This loan is expected to be approved at the OWDA March Board meeting. This ordinance is contingent upon the loan being approved by OWDA. The Department of Public Utilities will inform the Auditor's Office when this loan has been approved.
The WPCLF program is now a reimbursement loan. A purchase order will need to be established to Hatch Associates Consultants Inc. for this contract, Public Utilities will need to pay invoices directly to Hatch Associates Consultants Inc., and then submit reimbursement requests based upon these paid invoices to OWDA for OWDA to reimburse Public Utilities.
Funds must be appropriated in the WPCLF Loan Fund, Fund 6111.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to enter into a professional engineering services contract modification with Hatch Associates Consultants, Inc., for the Southerly Water Reclamation Plant Power System Upgrade and Safety Improvements project; to authorize the appropriation of funds in the WPCLF Loan Fund; to make this ordinance contingent upon the Ohio Water Development Authority approving a loan for this project; and to authorize an expenditure of up to $1,596,426.44 within the WPCLF Loan Fund to pay for the contract modification. ($1,596,426.44)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities is engaged in the SWRP Power System Upgrade and Safety Improvements Project; and
WHEREAS, Contract No. PO308106 was authorized by Ordinance 2938-2021 for Hatch Associates Consultants, Inc., to provide preliminary engineering services for the SWRP Power System Upgrade and Safety Improvements; and
WHEREAS, planned Contract Modification 1, PO427858, was authorized by Ordinance 3335-2023 for Hatch Associates Consultants, Inc., to provide detailed engineering services for the SWRP Power System Upgrade and Safety Improvements; and
WHEREAS, a planned contract modification to add funding for Hatch Associates Consultants, Inc. to provide continued support and analysis in providing engineering services for the SWRP Power System Upgrade and Safety Improvements is needed; and
WHEREAS, City Council authorized this contract modification to be funded with a loan from the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund via Ordinance 3119-2025, passed by Council on 12/15/25; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance is contingent upon the loan being approved; and
WHEREAS, funds will need to be appropriated in the WPCLF Loan Fund, Fund 6111; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to expend funds from the WPCLF Loan Fund, Fund 6111, to pay for the contract modification; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities to execute a planned contract modification with Hatch Associates Consultants, Inc., to provide continued professional engineering services for the SWRP Power System Upgrade and Safety Improvements Project; NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the appropriation of $1,596,426.44, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in the WPCLF Loan Fund, Fund 6111, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. That the Director of Public Utilities is hereby authorized to modify and increase the professional engineering services contract with Hatch Associates Consultants Inc., 88 E Broad Street Suite 1980, Columbus, Ohio 43215; for the SWRP Power System Upgrade and Safety Improvements project, in an amount up to $1,596,426.44.
SECTION 3. That an expenditure of up to $1,596,426.44 from the WPCLF Loan Fund, Fund 6111, is authorized per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. This ordinance is contingent upon the Ohio Water Development Authority's Board approving the loan for this contract modification.
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 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 for said project.
SECTION 8. That this Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.