Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Columbus Water & Power to enter into a contract with Arcadis U.S., Inc., through the City’s Request For Proposal (RFP) process for professional engineering services for the Towers Court Storm Sewer Improvement project, CIP 611040-100001, in an amount up to $495,975.14.
Columbus Water & Power Division of Water Reclamation initiated Capital Improvement Project 611040-100001 to request proposals to solicit engineering services for the reduction of flooding in the Towers Court neighborhood caused by capacity deficiencies in the Hampton Rd and Livingston Ave existing storm sewers. Storm events often result in ponding in the street and up into driveways and onto the sidewalk which make travel challenging for some residents, especially in wintertime. The project will investigate both a conveyance (new sewers) and detention (new basin) solution to the flooding with modeling performed to determine the most effective method for reducing overall flooding or improving capacity. The RFP will determine the optimal solution to minimize flooding in Towers Court, the Livingston Avenue Area, and Near East communities.
Community Planning Area: 57 - Mid East
TIMELINE: The contract is expected to begin in November 2026 and completed detail design in 1.5 years from the Notice to Proceed. The contract will continue until construction of the improvements is completed and accepted by the City.
ESTIMATED COST OF PROJECT: The proposed maximum award amount is $495,975.14, including a 10% contingency amount that will be utilized to fund needed and approved changes in the work. No contract modifications are anticipated at this time; however, construction exigency might later compel modification of this contract, if unforeseen difficulties are encountered.
Cost summary:
Original Contract $495,975.14
2. ECONOMIC IMPACT/ADVANTAGES; COMMUNITY OUTREACH; PROJECT DEVELOPMENT; ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS/ADVANTAGES OF PROJECT
This project is intended to reduce flooding in the Towers Court subdivision and intercept flow and improve capacity of the James Rd storm sewer by diverting to the west, Bliss Run Trunk storm sewer. This will divert or detain flow from the strained James Rd and Livingston Ave storm sewers which are surcharging during larger events. Freeing up capacity for the Towers Courts runoff to be conveyed in the existing system reducing backups in residential basements. The Neighborhood Liaison(s) will be contacted and informed of this project during the design phase. Further community outreach may result through the Neighborhood Liaison Program.
3. BID INFORMATION
This project was formally advertised on the Vendor Services and Bonfire websites from 1/20/2026 through 2/27/2026. Seven proposals were received:
Name C.C. No. Exp. Date City/State Status
Arcadis US, Inc. CC-009409 1/21/2027 Columbus, OH MAJ
MS Consultants, Inc. CC-006998 1/15/2028 Columbus, OH MAJ
Gresham Smith dba GS-OH, Inc. CC-009789 5/6/2028 Columbus, OH MAJ
GAI Consultants, Inc. CC-046598 9/17/2027 Columbus, OH MAJ
Stantec Consulting Services, Inc. CC-000462 7/1/2027 Columbus, OH MAJ
Hatch Associates Consultants, Inc. CC-025646 2/18/2028 Columbus, OH MAJ
EMH&T, Inc. CC-004214 10/17/2027 Columbus, OH MAJ
All proposals were deemed responsive. The evaluation committee reviewed the proposals and recommended the contract for the Towers Court Storm Sewer Improvement project be awarded to Arcadis US, Inc.
Arcadis US, Inc.’s certification was in good standing at the time of the contract award.
4. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE INFORMATION
Arcadis US, Inc.’s contract compliance number is CC-009409 and expires 1/21/27. Searches in the Excluded Party List System (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against Arcadis US, Inc.
As part of their proposal, Arcadis US, Inc. has proposed using the following sub-consultants to perform contract work:
Company Name City/State ODI Cert. Status
Coldwater Consulting, LLC Columbus, Ohio WBE
DHDC Engineering Consulting Services, Inc. Columbus, Ohio MBE
Korda/Nemeth Engineering, Inc. Columbus, Ohio MAJ
Stone Environmental Engineering Columbus, Ohio WBE
The certification of Arcadis U.S., Inc. and the above companies were in good standing at the time of the award.
5. FISCAL IMPACT
This project is anticipated to be financed with a Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF). The WPCLF program is jointly administered by the Ohio EPA's Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance and the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA). City Council authorized WPCLF loan applications and acceptance of funding via Ordinance 3119-2025, passed by Council on 12/15/2025. This loan is expected to be approved at the OWDA October 2026, Board meeting. This ordinance is contingent upon a loan being approved by OWDA. The WPCLF loan program is now a reimbursement program. Columbus Water & Power will need to pay invoices for the project and submit the invoices paid to OWDA for reimbursement. Columbus Water & Power will inform the Auditor’s Office when this loan is approved.
An amendment to the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget is needed to match the actual loan amount. Funds will need to be appropriated and expended in the OWDA Storm Sewers Loan Fund, Fund 6211.
Title
To authorize the Director of Columbus Water & Power to enter into a professional engineering services contract with Arcadis U.S., Inc. for the Towers Court Storm Sewer Improvement project; to authorize an amendment to the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget; to authorize the appropriation of funds within the Storm Revolving Loan Fund; to make this ordinance contingent upon the Ohio Water Development Authority approving a loan for this project; and to authorize the expenditure of up to $495,975.14 from the Storm Revolving Loan Fund for the contract. ($495,975.14)
Body
WHEREAS, Columbus Water & Power is engaged in the Towers Court Storm Sewer Improvement project; and
WHEREAS, seven proposals for the Towers Court Storm Sewer Improvement project were received and evaluated by the evaluation committee; and
WHEREAS, the evaluation committee recommended Arcadis U.S., Inc. be awarded the contract for this project; and
WHEREAS, this project is anticipated to be funded with a loan from the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF); and
WHEREAS, City Council approved applying for and accepting loan funding from the WPCLF via Ordinance 3119-2025, passed by Council on 12/15/2025; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance is contingent upon that loan being approved; and
WHEREAS, the 2025 Capital Improvements Budget must be modified to align budget authority with the proper project; and
WHEREAS, funds must be appropriated within the OWDA Storm Sewers Loan Fund, Fund 6211; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to pay for the contracted services for the project; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of Columbus Water & Power to authorize the Director of Columbus Water & Power to enter into a professional engineering services contract with Arcadis U.S., Inc. for the Towers Court Storm Sewer Improvement project; AND NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the 2025 Capital Improvements Budget authorized by Ordinance 1790-2025 be amended as follows to establish sufficient budget authority for this project:
Fund / Project Number / Project Name (Funding Source) / Current Authority / Revised Authority / Change
6211 / 611040-100001 / Towers Court Storm Sewer Improvement (WPCLF) / $350,000.00 / $495,976.00 / $145,976.00 (To match loan amount)
SECTION 2. That the appropriation of $495,975.14, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in the OWDA Storm Sewers Loan Fund, Fund 6211, per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the Director of Columbus Water & Power is hereby authorized to enter into a professional engineering services contract for the Towers Court Storm Sewer Improvement project with Arcadis U.S., Inc. 7575 Huntington Park Dr Suite 130, Columbus, OH 43235, in an amount up to $495,975.14, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract on file with Columbus Water & Power.
SECTION 4. That Ordinance 3119-2025 authorized this project to be funded by a loan to be obtained through the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) Loan Account and this ordinance is contingent upon that loan being approved.
SECTION 5. That the expenditure of $495,975.14, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized to pay for this contract per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That 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 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 for said project.
SECTION 9. That this Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.