Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Service to enter into professional services contracts with VS Engineering, Inc. in the amount of up to $361,927.55 for the Pedestrian Safety - General Engineering 2022-2 project.
The intent of this project is to provide the City of Columbus, Department of Public Service, with continuing, contractual access to additional resources that are necessary to perform professional engineering and survey services as well as provide technical expertise for the Department to implement sidewalk and bikeway projects. The contract also provides for preliminary engineering services in order to prepare federal funding applications as needed.
The Department of Public Service, Office of Support Services, solicited Requests for Proposals for the Pedestrian Safety - General Engineering 2022-2 contract. The project was formally advertised on the Vendor Services and Bonfire web sites from November 30, 2021, to January 7, 2022. The city received six (6) responses. All proposals were deemed responsive and were fully evaluated when the Evaluation Committee met on January 14, 2022. The responding firms were:
Company Name City/State Majority/MBE/MBR/F1/AS1/PHC
Prime AE Columbus, OH Majority
TRC Engineers, Inc. Gahanna, OH Majority
TEC Engineering, Inc. Columbus, OH WBE
VS Engineering, Inc. Columbus, OH MBE
Michael Baker International, Inc. Columbus, OH Majority
Woolpert, Inc. Columbus, OH Majority
VS Engineering, Inc. received the highest score by the evaluation committee and will be awarded the Pedestrian Safety - General Engineering 2022-2 contract.
Searches in the Excluded Party List System (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against VS Engineering, Inc.
2. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE
The contract compliance number for VS Engineering, Inc. is CC031373 and expires 06/25/2022.
3. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for $330,000.00 is available and appropriated within Fund 7704, the Streets and Highways Bond Fund. An amendment to the 2021 Capital Improvement Budget and a transfer of cash and appropriation between projects within Fund 7704 is required to establish sufficient budget authority for the project.
The remaining funding is available in Fund 2223, the Special Purpose Fund. The funds will need to be appropriated.
4. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to expedite this contract to complete the project in a timely manner, to ensure the safety of the traveling public.
Title
To amend the 2021 Capital Improvement Budget; to appropriate funds in the Special Purpose Fund; to authorize the transfer of funds and appropriation within the Streets and Highways Bond Fund; to authorize the Director of Public Service to enter into a professional services contract with VS Engineering, Inc. for the Pedestrian Safety - General Engineering 2022-2 project; to authorize the expenditure of up to $361,927.55 from the Streets and Highways Bond Fund and the Special Purpose Fund to pay for this contract; and to declare an emergency. ($361,927.55)
Body
WHEREAS, there is a need to enter into a professional services contract to provide for continuing, contractual access to additional resources that are necessary to perform professional engineering and survey services; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service, Office of Support Services, solicited Requests for Proposals for the Pedestrian Safety - General Engineering 2022-2 project; and
WHEREAS, VS Engineering, Inc. submitted the best overall proposals for this project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to enter into a contract with VS Engineering, Inc. for the provision of professional engineering consulting services described above in the combined amount of up to $361,927.55; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize an amendment to the 2021 Capital Improvement Budget for the purpose of providing sufficient spending authority for the aforementioned project expenditure; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary for Council to authorize a transfer of funds within Fund 7704, the Streets and Highways Bond Fund, to establish sufficient cash to pay for the project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to appropriate funds in Fund 2223; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of Public Service to enter into contract with VS Engineering, Inc. in order to provide funding for the Pedestrian Safety - General Engineering 2022-2 so that resources are available to complete upcoming sidewalk and bikeway projects, to ensure the safety of the traveling public 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 2021 Capital Improvements Budget authorized by ordinance 2707-2021 be amended as follows to establish sufficient authority for this project:
Fund / Project / Project Name / C.I.B. / Change / C.I.B. as Amended
7704 / P590105-100005 / Pedestrian Safety Improvements - Sidewalk Program (Voted Carryover) / $273,427.00 / ($273,427.00) / $0.00
7704 / P590108-100000 / Pedestrian Safety Improvements - Kinnear Road Sidewalks (Voted Carryover) / $81,173.00 / ($56,573.00) / $24,600.00
7704 / P590105-100471 / Pedestrian Safety - General Engineering 2022-2 (Voted Carryover) / $0.00 / $330,000.00 / $330,000.00
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $56,573.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund), from Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P590108-100000 (Pedestrian Safety Improvements - Kinnear Road Sidewalks), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) to Dept-Div 5911 (Infrastructure Management), Project P590105-100471 (Pedestrian Safety - General Engineering 2022-2), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, the sum of $31,927.55 is appropriated in Fund 2223 (Special Purpose Fund), Dept-Div 5911 (Planning & Operations), in object class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the Director of Public Service be, and hereby is, authorized to enter into a professional services contract with VS Engineering, Inc. at 445 Hutchinson Avenue, Suite 695, Columbus, OH 43235, for the Pedestrian Safety - General Engineering 2022-2 project in an amount up to $361,927.55.
SECTION 5. That the expenditure of $330,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund), Dept-Div 5911 (Infrastructure Management), Project P590105-100471 (Pedestrian Safety - General Engineering 2022-2), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That the expenditure of $31,927.55, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 2223 (Special Purpose Fund), Dept-Div 5911 (Planning & Operations), in object class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 7. 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 8. 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 9. 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 10. 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.