Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Columbus Water & Power to enter into a planned contract modification for professional construction management services with Ascension Construction Solutions, LLC for the WWTFs Professional Construction Management Services #4 project, CIP 650261-104000, in an amount up to $1,394,071.18.
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 Jackson Pike Water Reclamation Plant (JPWRP) Power System Upgrades and Safety Improvements project, PCM Modification 5, CIP 650257-100101.
Additional construction contracts are to be added by contract modification.
Projects under this contract are in Community Planning Area 99 as these benefit the entire City.
1.1 Amount of additional funds to be expended: $ 1,394,071.18
Original Contract (ORD 2336-2025 PO531316 & PO531319) $1,000,000.00
Modification No.1 (ORD 0033-2026 PO555824) $1,989,574.00
Modification No.2 (ORD 0247-2026 PO562153) $1,429,878.03
Modification No.3 (ORD 2302-2026 PO TBD) $337,305.36
Modification No.4 (ORD 2324-2026 PO TBD) $1,000,000.00
Modification No.5 (Current) $1,394,071.18
CURRENT PROPOSED TOTAL $7,150,828.57
1.2. Reasons additional goods/services could not be foreseen:
This is a four-year contract for fiscal years 2025 - 2028 for which modifications were anticipated pursuant to the original authorizing legislation under Ordinance 2336-2025 to account for future construction projects being assigned to Ascension Construction Solutions, LLC for Professional Construction Management. Those future construction projects were not known when the contract was put into place.
1.3. Reason other procurement processes are not used:
The division solicits these services on a 4-year rolling window. This is a planned modification for services during the work assignment window that was contracted with this firm.
1.4. How cost of modification was determined:
The cost of this modification was determined by negotiations between Ascension Construction Solutions, LLC and Columbus Water & Power project staff based upon the existing contract labor titles, maximum labor rates, allowable contract expenses, and the time estimated to be needed to perform contract tasks.
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. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE INFORMATION
Ascension Construction Solutions, LLC’s contract compliance number is CC025646 and expires 5/03/2027.
As part of their proposal, Ascension Construction Solutions, LLC has proposed the following sub-consultants 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 Consulting Services, Inc. Columbus, Ohio MBE
Multivista Columbus, Ohio MBE
The certifications of Ascension Construction Solutions, LLC and the subconsultants were in good standing at the time the bid was awarded.
4. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for this contract will be obtained through 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 3119-2025, passed by Council on 12/15/25. This loan is expected to be approved at the December OWDA Board meeting. This ordinance is contingent upon the loan being approved by OWDA. Columbus Water & Power will inform the Auditor's Office when this loan has been approved.
This project is budgeted in the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget. Funds must be appropriated within the WPCLF Loan Fund, Fund 6111. This is a reimbursement loan. Columbus Water & Power must pay Ascension Construction Solutions, LLC, and then submit the invoices paid to OWDA for reimbursement.
Title
To authorize the Director of Columbus Water & Power to modify and increase the contract with Ascension Construction Solutions, LLC for the Jackson Pike Water Reclamation Plant Power System Upgrades and Safety Improvements project; to make this ordinance contingent upon the Ohio Water Development Authority approving a loan for this project; to appropriate funds within the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund; and to authorize an expenditure of up to $1,394,071.18 from the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund to pay for the project. ($1,394,071.18)
Body
WHEREAS, Columbus Water & Power is engaged in the WWTFs Professional Construction Management Services #4 Project; and
WHEREAS, Contract PO531316 & PO531319 were authorized by Ordinance 2336-2025, for the WWTFs Professional Construction Management Services #4 Project; and
WHEREAS, the contract is a four-year contract with multiple planned modifications to add funds as projects are added to the contract; and
WHEREAS, the Jackson Pike Water Reclamation Plant (JPWRP) Power System Upgrades and Safety Improvements project, PCM Modification 5, CIP 650257-100101 needs to be added to the contract; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 3119-2025, passed by Council on 12/15/25, authorized the use of loans from the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) to finance Columbus Water & Power projects; and
WHEREAS, a WPCLF loan application has been submitted to fund this contract modification; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance is contingent upon that loan being approved; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to appropriate and to expend funds from the Water Pollution Control Fund, Fund 6111, to pay for the contract modification; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the daily operation of Columbus Water & Power to modify the WWTFs Professional Construction Management Services #4 contract with Ascension Construction Solutions, LLC, to add work for the Jackson Pike Water Reclamation Plant Power System Upgrades and Safety Improvements, PCM Modification 5, CIP Number 650257-100101, to the contract; and NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. This ordinance is contingent upon the Ohio Water Development Authority's Board approving the loan for this contract modification.
SECTION 2. That the appropriation of $ 1,394,071.18, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in the WPCLF Loan Fund, Fund 6111, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the Director of Columbus Water & Power is hereby authorized to modify and increase the professional services contract with Ascension Construction Solutions, LLC, 2375 Valleyview Dr, Columbus, OH 43204; for the Jackson Pike Water Reclamation Plant Power System Upgrades and Safety Improvements project, PCM Modification 5, in an amount up to $ 1,394,071.18.
SECTION 4. That an expenditure of up to $ 1,394,071.18 from the WPCLF Loan Fund, Fund 6111, is authorized 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 this Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.