Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a professional construction management services contract awarded through the City’s Request for Proposal process with Ascension Construction Solutions, LLC, for the WWTFs Professional Construction Management Services #4 Project, and the General Architectural and Mechanical Services - Contract 1, CIP #650261-104000, and the General Architectural and Mechanical Services - Contract 1, CIP 650235-101000, in an amount up to $1,000,000.00.
The contract provides construction administration and management services including construction inspection, coordination, reporting, budgeting, scheduling, document tracking, and related tasks associated with a multi-project program. This agreement provides scope and funding for the following programs:
Small Capital Projects Program, Project Series: 650261-100400, multiple contracts from the ongoing program.
General Architectural and Mechanical Services - Contract 1: 650235-101000, multiple contracts from the ongoing program.
Additional construction contracts to be added by contract modification as needed.
The community area is “99 - City-Wide”.
TIMELINE & FUTURE MODIFICATION(S):
This contract has a four-year work assignment window which will commence in 2025 and will end upon close-out of any projects that are assigned through the duration of the assignment window. Contract length is dictated by duration of construction projects assigned to this contract and will extend beyond the four-year work assignment window.
ESTIMATED COST OF PROJECT:
The proposed award amount is $1,000,000, including a 10% contingency amount that will be utilized to fund needed and approved changes in the work. There are multiple anticipated modifications at this time. The contract modifications will be required for proposal requests for future large capital improvement projects.
Cost summary:
Original Contract (current) $1,000,000.00
Modifications (Multiple proposed) $104,000,000.00
CONTRACT TOTAL $105,000,000.00
2. ECONOMIC IMPACT/ADVANTAGES; COMMUNITY OUTREACH; PROJECT DEVELOPMENT; ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS/ADVANTAGES OF PROJECT
The performance of professional contract management services for the subject construction contracts will help to prevent or reduce the number of construction claims, provide quality control for construction, and minimize any unavoidable claims. No community outreach or environmental factors are considered for this project.
3. BID INFORMATION
This project was formally advertised on the Vendor Services and Bonfire websites and opened 7/11/25. Three proposals were received:
Name C.C. No. Exp. Date City/State Status
Ascension Construction Solutions, LLC CC023827 3/14/26 Columbus, OH MBE
G Stephens, Inc. CC006823 4/21/27 Columbus, OH MBE
New River Engineers, Inc. None N/A Charleston, WV N/A
An evaluation committee reviewed the proposals and recommended that the contract be awarded to Ascension Construction Solutions, LLC
Ascension Construction Solutions, LLC’s certification was in good standing at the time of the contract award.
4. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE INFORMATION
Ascension Construction Solutions, LLC’s contract compliance number is CC025646 and expires 5/03/25.
As part of their proposal, Ascension Construction Solutions, LLC has proposed the following five subcontractors to perform contract work:
Company Name City/State ODI Certification Status
Accenture, LLP Columbus, Ohio MAJ
Smoot Construction Company of Ohio Columbus, Ohio MBE
Hill International, Inc. Columbus, Ohio MAJ
Stantec Consulting Services, Inc. Columbus, Ohio MAJ
DHDC Engineering Consultants, Inc. Columbus, Ohio MBE
The certification of the above listed companies was in good standing at the time the contract was awarded.
5. FISCAL IMPACT
An amendment to the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget is needed to align budget authority with the proper project. A cash transfer of $1,000,000.00 is needed within the Sanitary Bond Fund, Fund 6109, to align cash with the proper project. An expenditure of up to $1,000,000.00 from the Sanitary Bond Fund, Fund 6109, is needed to pay for the project.
6. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
The Division has determined that these services cannot be performed by City personnel at this time, and has planned for the procurement of these services on a routine basis. There are currently several construction projects that will require these vital services. In order to prevent a lapse in construction management services and potential for compensatory delays on construction contracts, we request that this ordinance be approved as emergency legislation.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to enter into a professional construction management services contract with Ascension Construction Solutions, LLC, for the Waste Water Treatment Facilities Professional Construction Management Services #4 Project and the General Architectural and Mechanical Services - Contract 1; to authorize an amendment to the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget; to authorize a transfer of cash and appropriation within the Sanitary Bond Fund; to authorize an expenditure up to $1,000,000.00 from the Sanitary Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($1,000,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities is engaged in the WWTFs Professional Construction Management Services #4 project and the General Architectural and Mechanical Services - Contract 1; and
WHEREAS, a Request for Proposals (RFP) was formally advertised on the Vendor Services and Bonfire websites and opened 7/11/25; and
WHEREAS, three proposals for the WWTFs Professional Construction Management Services #4 Project and the General Architectural and Mechanical Services - Contract 1 were received in response to the RFP; and
WHEREAS, the evaluation committee reviewed the proposals and recommended the contract be awarded to Ascension Construction Solutions, LLC; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to enter into a professional services contract with Ascension Construction Solutions, LLC for the contract; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget to align budget authority with the proper project; and
WHEREAS, a transfer of cash and appropriations is necessary within the Sanitary Bond Fund, Fund 6109, of up to $1,000,000.00 to align cash and appropriation with the proper project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize an expenditure of funds from the Sanitary Bond Fund, Fund 6109, to pay for the contracted services for the project; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities to finalize the contracts for these services as soon as possible to prevent a lapse in construction management services and potential for compensatory delays on construction contracts, for the immediate preservation of 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 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
6109 / 650354-100000 / SWWTP Post Aeration Diffuser Replacement (Voted Sanitary Carryover) / $0.00/ $1,409,915/ $1,409,915 (to match cash)
6109 / 650354-100000 / SWWTP Post Aeration Diffuser Replacement (Voted Sanitary Carryover) / $1,409,915/ $409,915/ ($1,000,000)
6109 / 650261-104000 / WWTFs Professional Construction Management Services #4 (Voted Sanitary Carryover) / $0.00 / $400,000.00 / $400,000.00
6109 / 650235-101000 / General Architectural and Mechanical Services - Contract 1 (Voted Sanitary Carryover) / $0.00 / $600,000.00 / $600,000.00
SECTION 2. That the Director of the Department of Public Utilities is hereby authorized to enter into a professional construction management services agreement for the WWTFs Professional Construction Management Services #4 Project with Ascension Construction Solutions, LLC, 2375 Valleyview Dr, Columbus, OH 43204, for an expenditure up to $1,000,000.00, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract on file in the Department of Public Utilities.
SECTION 3. That a transfer of $1,000,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in the Sanitary Bond Fund, Fund 6109, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of $1,000,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in the Sanitary Bond Fund, Fund 6109, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. 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 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 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.