Explanation
Background: This legislation authorizes the Finance and Management Director to associate all General Budget Reservations and to establish purchase orders for bulk unleaded, ethanol, diesel, and bio-diesel fuels on behalf of the Fleet Management Division. These purchase orders will be issued from Universal Term Contracts previously established by the City of Columbus, Purchasing Office.
Benchmark Biodiesel Inc., Vendor# 002166; PA008056, expires 09/30/2027 [Diesel/Biodiesel UTC]
Colonial Oil Industries, Inc. Vendor# 032656; PA008055 expires 9/30/2027 [Unleaded Fuel UTC]
These companies are not debarred according to the federal excluded parties listing or prohibited from being awarded a contract to the Auditor of State unresolved findings for recovery certified search.
For 2026, the Fleet Management Division budgeted a total of $9,000,000.00 for unleaded and diesel fuels and fueling services across different vendors.
Fiscal Impact: This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $1,000,000.00 from the Fleet Management Operating Fund from previously established Universal Term Contracts for bulk unleaded, ethanol, diesel, and bio-diesel fuels.
$1,922,099.27 (76.88% of the $2,500,000.00 the Fleet Management Division encumbered in Ord. 0324-2026) has been spent since April 1st of 2026.
$4,000,000.00 was expended in 2025 for bulk unleaded, ethanol, diesel, and bio-diesel fuels for the Fleet Management Division to keep the City's vehicle fleet in operation.
$4,000,000.00 was expended in 2024 for bulk unleaded, ethanol, diesel, and bio-diesel fuels for the Fleet Management Division to keep the City's vehicle fleet in operation.
Emergency action is necessary to maintain sufficient purchasing authority for the continuous acquisition and delivery of bulk fuel and to prevent an interruption in fuel availability. An interruption in the availability of bulk fuel could affect the operation and deployment of City vehicles and equipment, including Police and Fire vehicles and equipment used for public safety response, refuse collection, roadway maintenance, utility operations, and other essential City services.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Finance and Management to associate all General Budget Reservations and to establish various purchase orders for fuel on behalf of the Fleet Management Division, per the terms and conditions of previously established Universal Term Contracts; to authorize the expenditure of $1,000,000.00 from the Fleet Management Operating Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($1,000,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Finance and Management Department, Fleet Management Division, has a need to purchase bulk unleaded, ethanol, diesel, and bio-diesel fuels for use by various City department vehicles; and
WHEREAS, Benchmark Biodiesel, Inc. successfully bid and was awarded contract PA008056 -Diesel/Biodiesel UTC, expires 9/30/2027; and
WHEREAS, Colonial Oil Industries, Inc. successfully bid and was awarded contract PA008055 - Unleaded Fuel UTC, expires 9/30/2027; and
WHEREAS, sufficient purchasing authority must remain available to permit the timely replenishment of City fueling locations and avoid a lapse between the consumption of existing fuel inventories and the delivery of additional fuel; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Finance and Management Department, Fleet Management Division, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to associate all General Budget Reservations and to establish purchase orders with Benchmark Biodiesel, Inc. and Colonial Oil Industries, Inc., to order bulk unleaded, ethanol, diesel, and bio-diesel fuel. An emergency exists to maintain sufficient purchasing authority, prevent an interruption in fuel availability, and maintain the operational readiness of City vehicles and equipment utilized for public-safety and other essential City services, thereby preserving the public health, peace, prosperity, safety and welfare, NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Finance and Management is hereby authorized to associate all General Budget Reservations and to establish purchase orders for the Fleet Management Division, per the terms and conditions of established Universal Term Contracts for automotive vehicle fuel as follows:
Benchmark Biodiesel, Inc., Vendor# 002166; PA008056, expires 09/30/2027 [Diesel/Biodiesel Fuel UTC]
Colonial Oil Industries, Inc. Vendor# 032656; PA008055 expires 9/30/2027 [Unleaded Fuel UTC]
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $1,000,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary in regard to the action authorized in Section 1, is hereby authorized in Fund 5200 Fleet Management Operating Fund in object class 02 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the monies in the foregoing Sections shall be paid upon order of the Director of Finance and Management, and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except by voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 4. 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 5. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared an emergency measure and shall take effect and be enforced from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.