Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the Chief Innovation Officer to enter into a professional services contract modification with MTECH Solutions, hereafter referenced as MTECH, in an amount of up to $250,000.00 for integration into kiosks at Smart Mobility Hubs and continued development during deployment of the Multimodal Trip Planning Application (MMTPA) for end to end (door to door) multimodal trip execution.
The Smart City Challenge is a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) grant program seeking to “create a fully integrated, first-of-its kind city that uses data, technology and creativity to shape how people and goods move in the future.” In 2016, the City of Columbus, acting through the Department of Public Service, applied for and won the Smart City Challenge, receiving a $40 million dollar grant from USDOT and a $10 million grant from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation (Vulcan).
As part of Columbus’ overall response to the Smart City Challenge, efforts were focused on how an integrated smart transportation system would encourage the use of multimodal trips. Increasingly, citizens in urban areas view mobility as a service, and expect seamless connections as they move from mode to mode. The MMTPA project will provide this functionality and improve upon the existing functionality currently available to users.
Ordinance 1901-2017 authorized the Public Service Director to transfer signature authority to the Chief Innovation Officer or the Chief Innovation Officer's designee for all past, present and future Smart Columbus, USDOT Smart City Challenge, and Paul G Allen Family Foundation (Vulcan) contracts, documents, and projects.
Pursuant to Ordinance 2864-2018, the Smart City Program Management Office initiated a procurement effort that resulted in the award and execution of a professional services contract with MTECH in the amount of up to $900,000 for the purchase of a new application environment for the execution of multimodal transportation, known as the Multimodal Trip Planning Application (MMTPA) for end to end (door to door) multimodal trip execution.
The purpose of this planned contract modification is to add funding to the original contract to allow for integration into kiosks at Smart Mobility Hubs and continued development during deployment of the Multimodal Trip Planning Application (MMTPA) for end to end (door to door) multimodal trip execution.
Original contract amount: $900,000.00 (Ord. 2864-2018, PO147350)
This Modification No. 1: $250,000.00
Total Contract amount including all modifications: $1,150,000.00
Searches in the System for Award Management (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against MTECH.
Legislation authorizing the Chief Innovation Officer to execute another contract modification with MTECH is not currently planned. However, if additional support is identified, it will be brought before City Council in order to support the delivery of the Smart Columbus Program.
2. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE
The contract compliance number for MTECH Solutions is WBE026781 and expires 08/30/2021.
3. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding in the amount of $250,000.00 is available for this project as follows: $250,000 in the Public Service Taxable Bonds Fund, Fund 7708, Project #530163-100000. An amendment to the 2019 Capital Improvement Budget is necessary for the purpose of providing sufficient spending authority in the proper project for the aforementioned project expenditure.
4. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Chief Innovation Officer to execute a contract with MTECH authorizing the encumbrance and expenditure of requisite engineering and design funding so as to prevent unnecessary delays in the Smart City Challenge deployment schedule.
Title
To amend the 2019 Capital Improvement Budget; to authorize the Chief Innovation Officer to execute a professional services contract modification with MTECH Solutions, LLC relative to the Smart Columbus - Multimodal Trip Planning Application project; to authorize the expenditure of up to $250,000.00 from the Public Service Taxable Bonds Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($250,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, on December 7, 2015, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced the Smart City Challenge, a collaborative effort by the USDOT and Vulcan seeking to “create a fully integrated, first-of-its kind city that uses data, technology and creativity to shape how people and goods move in the future”; and
WHEREAS, on January 11, 2016, Columbus City Council passed Ordinance 0064-2016 supporting the City’s application to the Smart City Challenge; and
WHEREAS, on June 23, 2016, USDOT awarded the City of Columbus up to $40 million in federal funds and up to $10 million in matching funding from Vulcan, Inc., to assist in implementation of the City’s proposal to demonstrate how advanced data and intelligent transportation systems (ITS) technologies and applications that can be used to reduce congestion, keep travelers safe, protect the environment, respond to climate change, connect underserved communities, and support economic vitality; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 1901-2017 authorizes the Public Service Director to transfer signature authority to the Chief Innovation Officer or the Chief Innovation Officer's designee for all past, present and future Smart Columbus, USDOT Smart City Challenge, and Paul G Allen Family Foundation (Vulcan) contracts, documents, and projects; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 2864-2018 authorized the Chief Innovation Officer to enter into a professional services contract with MTECH in an amount of up to $900,000.00 for the execution of multimodal transportation, known as the Multimodal Trip Planning Application (MMTPA) for end to end (door to door) multimodal trip execution; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to execute a planned contract modification with MTECH for integration into kiosks at Smart Mobility Hubs and continued development during deployment of the Multimodal Trip Planning Application (MMTPA) for end to end (door to door) multimodal trip execution; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Smart City Program Office in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Chief Innovation Officer to execute a contract modification with MTECH authorizing the encumbrance and expenditure of requisite engineering and design funding so as to prevent unnecessary delays in the USDOT Smart City Challenge program and to adhere to the terms and conditions of that program, thereby preserving 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 2019 Capital Improvement Budget, authorized by Ordinance 1326-2019, be amended as follows to establish sufficient authority for this project:
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current / Change /Amended
7708 / P530163-100000 / Smart City Challenge (Voted 2016 Debt SIT Supported) / $1,978,873.00/ ($250,000.00) / $1,728,873.00
7708 / P530163-100025 / Smart Columbus - Multimodal Trip Planning Application - Cost Share (Voted 2016 Debt SIT Supported) / $0.00 / $250,000.00 / $250,000.00
SECTION 2. That the Chief Innovation Officer be and is hereby authorized to execute a contract modification with MTECH Solutions, LLC, 2967 Switzer Ave., Ste. D, Columbus, Ohio 43219, in an amount of up to $250,000.00 related to the Smart Columbus - Multimodal Trip Planning Application project.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $250,000.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and is hereby authorized in Fund 7708 (Public Service Taxable Bonds Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Division of Design and Construction), Project P530163-100025 (Smart Columbus - Multimodal Trip Planning Application - Cost Share), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) 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 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 6. 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 Chief Innovation Officer administering said project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for said project.
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 passage and approval by the Mayor, or 10 days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.