Explanation
This legislation authorizes the Columbus City Attorney’s Office to enter into contract with MDDR Enterprises Incorporated (vendor # 033102) and Lindsay Automotive Inc. (vendor # 004376) for vehicle maintenance and/or repair services for the city’s Project Taillight public service program.
The Columbus City Attorney’s Project Taillight public safety and crime prevention program offers low-income residents access to free vehicle repairs. These repairs keep drivers, passengers and pedestrians safer on the roads and prevent low-income residents from receiving tickets for safety code violations. Project Taillight started as a two-year, grant funded pilot and with the partnership of Columbus City Council, is now a fully-funded program that assists with several different kinds of car repairs for residents.
PROCUREMENT:
In accordance with the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of Columbus City Code, the Columbus City Attorney’s Office solicited Best Value Procurement bids for auto repair services through the Vendor Services and Bonfire websites from February 20th through March 24th, 2025 (solicitation #RFQ029673). The city attorney sought to identify up to five (5) repair partners located in high-need neighborhoods across Columbus. However, only two (2) bids were received. These proposals were evaluated and scored by the review committee using the rubric outlined in the solicitation. Both the Lindsay Automotive, Inc. and MDDR Enterprises Incorporated applications were deemed responsive with both vendors demonstrating a clear understanding of project work and meeting all partner requirements.
Both contracts will be for seventeen months (May 1st, 2025 through December 31st, 2026) with a twelve-month renewal option. NOTE: Funding is contingent on availability within the budget, mutual agreement between the parties, approval of Columbus City Council and certification of funds by the Columbus City Auditor.
INDEFINITE QUANTITY SERVICE CONTRACT JUSTIFICATION:
The City Attorney made a conscious decision to work with multiple service vendors for the Project Taillight program. Working through multiple locations increases access for program participants and allows the city to invest in multiple business partners serving our diverse resident population. Each approved partner contractually commits to the same labor rate and parts discount (see rates in attached BVP). Because eligible participants are referred to the repair shop that is most convenient for them, the project team is unable to determine how many vehicles will be serviced through each vendor location. Therefore, individual contracts will not be assigned budget caps. Rather, purchase agreements will be set up for each Project Taillight vendor in our system that will draw from a single $250,000 encumbrance. The Columbus City Attorney’s Office will monitor the Project Taillight account and stop referring participants for services when available funds are no longer sufficient to cover repairs.
VENDOR:
§ Lindsay Automotive Inc. | CC-004376 | expires 6/18/2027
§ MDDR Enterprises Incorporated | CC-033102 | expires 2/11/2027
These companies do not hold Minority Business Enterprise of Women Business Enterprise status.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Total appropriation is $250,000.00 and is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund.
EMERGENCY ACTION:
Emergency action is requested in order to immediately provide the funds necessary to continue and expand the Project Taillight pilot and provide residents with needed repairs to their vehicles, without interruption.
Title
To authorize the City Attorney to enter into two contracts with Lindsay Automotive, Inc and MDDR Enterprises Incorporated for the purpose of supporting and expanding the Project Taillight public safety and crime prevention program; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $250,000.00 within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; to authorize reimbursement of expenses incurred prior to the issuance of a purchase order; and to declare an emergency. ($250,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Columbus City Attorney’s Office designed and implemented the innovative Project Taillight public safety and crime prevention program giving low-income residents access to free vehicle safety light repair services through vetted auto repair shops; and
WHEREAS, these repair services keep drivers, passengers and pedestrians safer on the roads and prevent low-income residents from receiving tickets for safety code violations; and
WHEREAS, City Council has provided funding in the 2025 operating budget to further expand the capacity of the program; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus City Attorney solicited competitive bids for these services in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 329 of City Code through a Best Value Procurement solicitation #RFQ029673; and
WHEREAS, two (2) bids were received; and
WHEREAS, the procurement review committee evaluated the applications using the scoring rubric outlined in the solicitation on April 4th, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the Lindsay Automotive, Inc. and MDDR Enterprises Incorporated applications were deemed responsive; and
WHEREAS, the evaluation committee recommends that Lindsay Automotive, Inc. and MDDR Enterprises Incorporated be select as contract partners after determining their proposals demonstrated clear understanding of project work and meeting all requirements of the Best Value Procurement solicitation (#RFQ029673); and
WHEREAS, both contracts will be for seventeen months (May 1st, 2025 through December 31st, 2026) with a twelve-month renewal option; and
WHEREAS, this legislation approves reimbursements retroactive to May 1st, 2025 for services rendered prior to final contact execution and prior to the issuance of a purchase order; and
WHEREAS, $250,000 is available in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund for this purpose; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Columbus City Attorney’s Office to immediately enter into contract with Project Taillight repair partners to ensure ongoing access to critical auto safety repair services that keep drivers, passengers and pedestrians safe, for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, and property; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Columbus City Attorney is hereby authorized to enter into contract with Lindsay Automotive, Inc. 5959 Scarborough Blvd. Columbus, Ohio 43232 and MDDR Enterprises Incorporated 2233 Morse Rd Columbus, OH 43229 for the purpose of supporting the Project Taillight public safety and crime prevention program.
SECTION 2. That the Lindsay Automotive, Inc and MDDR Enterprises Incorporated contracts are in accordance with the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of City Code.
SECTION 3. That repair reimbursement is retroactive to May 1st, 2025 for services rendered prior to final contact execution and prior to the issuance of a purchase order.
SECTION 4. That the Auditor is hereby authorized to appropriate $250,000.00 within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, Fund 1000, subfund 100018, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That the expenditure of $250,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1, is hereby authorized in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance 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 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.