Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a construction contract with Claypool Electric, Inc.,, for the Southerly Water Reclamation Plant Variable Frequency Drives and Harmonic Filter Upgrades project, CIP #650346-100002, in an amount up to $12,549,825.00; and to encumber funds with the Department of Public Service for Prevailing Wage services in an amount up to $2,000.00, for a total expenditure of $12,551,825.00.
Water Reclamation has identified numerous Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) and Harmonic Filters at several Southerly Water Reclamation Plant (SWRP) processes that are nearing the end of their useful service life and are becoming increasingly difficult to repair and maintain. These processes include the fine screens, the Return Activated Sludge (RAS) pumps, the thickening centrifuges, and the skimmings concentrators. This construction contract will replace VFDs and harmonic filters, provide new controls that may be necessary to integrate the new equipment into the existing systems, and provide any other ancillary work to provide a fully functioning system. This work is part of the City’s continuing effort to upgrade its treatment facilities, provide efficient, reliable, cost-effective operations, and enhance personnel safety.
The Columbus Community is 99-Citywide.
TIMELINE: All work shall be substantially complete within 765 calendar days of the Notice to Proceed, with final completion to occur within 825 calendar days. The City anticipates issuing a Notice to Proceed on or about February 2026.
ESTIMATED COST OF PROJECT:
The bid amount and proposed award amount is $12,549,825.00, including a 15% construction 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 $12,549,825.00
Future Anticipated Needs $ 0.00
DPS Prevailing Wage Administration $ 2,000.00
CONTRACT TOTAL $12,551,825.00
2. ECONOMIC IMPACT/ADVANTAGES; COMMUNITY OUTREACH; PROJECT DEVELOPMENT; ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS/ADVANTAGES OF PROJECT
The performance of this contract’s activities to provide construction services to replace VFDs and Harmonic Filters at Southerly Water Reclamation Plant is needed to continue the City’s effort to upgrade its treatment facilities, provide efficient, reliable, cost-effective operations, and enhance personnel safety. If left unperformed, the required work could become larger in scope and more expensive and could produce a major impact to the City’s water reclamation system and the budget.
3. BID INFORMATION
This project was formally advertised on the Vendor Services and Bid Express websites from October 2, 2025, through October 29, 2025. One bid was received:
Name Bid Amount ODI Status
Claypool Electric, Incorporated $12,549,825.00 WBE
The bid was deemed responsive. Claypool Electric, Incorporated’s certification was in good standing at the time of the bid award.
4. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE INFORMATION
Claypool Electric, Incorporated’s contract compliance number is CC-004366 and expires 2/28/2026.
Searches in the Excluded Party List System (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against General Temperature Control Incorporated.
As part of their proposal, Claypool Electric, Incorporated has proposed the following subcontractors to perform contract work:
Company Name City/State ODI Certification Status
Atlas Rigging Columbus, OH Needs to register
Universal Enterprises Mansfield, OH MAJ
The certification of Universal Enterprises was in good standing at the time the bid was awarded. Atlas Rigging is not registered and will need to do so before the contract is executed.
5. PRE-QUALIFICATION STATUS
Claypool Electric, Incorporated and all subcontractors have met code requirements with respect to pre-qualification, pursuant to relevant sections of Columbus City Code Chapter 329.
6. FISCAL IMPACT
The construction portion of this project is anticipated to be financed with a loan from the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF), a program jointly administered by the Ohio EPA's Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance and the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA). City Council authorized this loan application and acceptance of funding via Ordinance 2720-2024, passed by Council on 10/28/24. This loan is expected to be approved at the OWDA January Board meeting. This ordinance is contingent upon the loan being approved by OWDA. The Department of Public Utilities will inform the Auditor's Office when this loan has been approved. The WPCLF program is now a reimbursement loan. The City will pay invoices for the work and then submit the paid invoices to OWDA for reimbursement. There is budget authority for this project in the 2025 Capital Improvement. Funds must be appropriated in the WPCLF Loan Fund, Fund 6111.
Funding in the amount of $2,000.00 is appropriated and available within the Sanitary Bond Fund, Fund 6109, to pay the Department of Public Service to provide prevailing wage services for this project. An amendment to the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget is necessary to align budget authority with the proper project. A transfer of cash and appropriation is needed to align cash and appropriation with the proper project.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a construction contract with Claypool Electric, Inc., for the Southerly Water Reclamation Plant VFD and Harmonic Filter Upgrades project; to authorize an amendment to the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget; to appropriate funds within the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund; to make this ordinance contingent upon the Ohio Water Development Authority approving a loan for this project; to authorize a transfer of cash and appropriation within the Sanitary Bond Fund; and to authorize the expenditure of up to $12,551,825.00 from the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund and the Sanitary Bond Fund to pay for the project. ($12,551,825.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities is engaged in the Southerly Water Reclamation Plant Variable Frequency Drives and Harmonic Filter Upgrades project; and
WHEREAS, one bid for the Southerly Water Reclamation Plant Variable Frequency Drives and Harmonic Filter Upgrades project was received and opened on October 29, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the lowest, best, most responsive and responsible bid was from Claypool Electric, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 2720-2024 authorized this project to be funded by a loan to be obtained through the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) Loan Account; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance is contingent upon that loan being approved; and
WHEREAS, the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget must be modified to align budget authority with the proper project; and
WHEREAS, funds must be appropriated within the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund, Fund 6111; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to enter into a construction contract with Claypool Electric, Inc. for the Southerly Water Reclamation Plant Variable Frequency Drives and Harmonic Filter Upgrades project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize an expenditure of funds from the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund, Fund 6111, to pay for the project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize a transfer of cash and appropriation between projects within the Sanitary Bond Fund, Fund 6109, to pay for payment of prevailing wage services; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation to expend funds from the Sanitary Bond Fund to provide for payment of prevailing wage services associated with said project; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the 2025 Capital Improvement 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 / 650725-100020 / Alum Creek Trunk (South) - Phase 2 (Voted Sanitary Carryover) / $50,000.00 / $48,000.00 / ($2,000.00)
6109 / 650346-100002 / Southerly Water Reclamation Plant Variable Frequency Drives and Harmonic Filter Upgrades project (Voted Sanitary Carryover) / $0.00 / $2,000.00 / $2,000.00
SECTION 2. That the appropriation of $12,549,825.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in the Sanitary Revolving Loan Fund, Fund 6111, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the transfer of $2,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between projects within the Sanitary Bond Fund, Fund 6109, per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. This ordinance is contingent upon the Ohio Water Development Authority's Board approving the loan for this project.
SECTION 5. That the Director of Public Utilities is hereby authorized to enter into a construction contract for the Southerly Water Reclamation Plant Variable Frequency Drives and Harmonic Filter Upgrades project with Claypool Electric, Inc., 1275 Lancaster Kirkersville Road SW, Lancaster, Ohio 43130, in an amount up to $12,549,825.00; in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract on file in the Department of Public Utilities; and to obtain the necessary construction administration and inspection services for this project from the Department of Public Services in an amount up to $2,000.00.
SECTION 6. That the expenditure of $12,551,825.00, 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 7. 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 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 this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.