Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Department of Human Resources Interim Director to enter into a professional services contract with Augstwenty LLC, a strategic advisory firm to support the continued implementation of the City of Columbus’ Citywide Strategic Roadmap and the modernization and process improvement efforts across the City’s Central Service Departments. In addition to the Department of Human Resources, who will administer the contract, the agreement will be utilized by the other Central Service Departments (Finance and Management, the Office and Diversity and Inclusion, Technology, and Civil Service).
The City has used Augustwenty LLC since 2025 through separate agreements for professional services that were entered into by each department independently. This work included the citywide Annual Strategic Planning and Budgeting process, Employee Journey, and the launch of the city’s Change Champions Network. This new agreement will ensure that existing work can continue to be supported in a way that is more coordinated and efficient.
The services to be provided by Augustwenty LLC will continue and build upon existing efforts to support enterprise-level transformation including:
• Advancing the citywide 2026 Strategic Roadmap implementation goals.
• Supporting the design and rollout of a Central Services Support Model to provide increased services to departments, strengthen cross-departmental alignment, and decision-making.
• Assisting with the standardization and modernization of the City’s Employee Journey, specifically Employee Onboarding to ensure greater consistency, efficiency, and alignment with the City’s values, culture, and operational excellence objectives.
These professional services will provide capacity, expertise, and implementation support to complement internal staff efforts as the City transitions from strategic planning into execution and sustainment. The work will directly support improved coordination across the departments of Finance and Management, Human Resources, Technology, Civil Service, and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, enabling more consistent service delivery and enterprise-wide outcomes.
Augustwenty LLC; Tax ID 85-2490408; Vendor Account #053188, CC-053188 and expires on 7/21/2027
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: The Department of Human Resources respectfully requests this legislation be considered an emergency to ensure the timely implementation of the Citywide Strategic Roadmap, continued modernization of Central Service operations, and the effective rollout of enterprise governance and systems.
BID WAIVER JUSTIFICATION: A waiver of the competitive bidding provisions of Columbus City Code Section 329 is being requested to maintain continuity of ongoing work and ensure timely progress on the City’s strategic and modernization efforts.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $458,500.00 to Augustwenty LLC. In 2025, $110,375.00 was expended with Augustwenty LLC through contracts with multiple departments. For 2026, and per the attachment to this ordinance, $208,500.00 will be transferred from the General Fund (contingent on passage of Ord 2938-2025) into the Employee Benefits Fund, $258,500.00,00 will be expensed from the available funds in the Employee Benefits Fund after the transfer and $200,000.00.00 will be expensed from the available funds in the Information Services Division Operating Fund.
Title
To authorize the Human Resources Interim Director to enter into contract with Augustwenty LLC in support of professional services for the city’s Strategic Roadmap and Central Service Departments modernization efforts, including the support of the modernization and standardization of our citywide Employee Onboarding; to waive the competitive bidding requirements of Columbus City Codes; to authorize the transfer from the General Fund (contingent on passage of Ord 2938-2025) to the Employee Benefits Fund of $208,500.00; to authorize the appropriation of $208,500.00 within the Employee Benefits Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $258,500.00 from the Employee Benefits Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $200,000.00 from the Information Services Division Operating Fund or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay the costs of said contract; and to declare an emergency. ($458,500.00)
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus has adopted a Citywide Strategic Roadmap to guide enterprise operations, organizational culture, and system modernization efforts in support of improved outcomes for residents and employees; and
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus has adopted a Citywide Strategic Roadmap to guide enterprise operations, organizational culture, and system modernization efforts in support of improved outcomes for residents and employees; and
WHEREAS, successful implementation of the Strategic Roadmap requires coordinated execution across Central Service Departments, including Finance and Management, Human Resources, the Department of Technology, Civil Service, and the Office of Diversity & Inclusion, with a focus on operational excellence, cultural alignment, and standardized and modernized systems and processes; and
WHEREAS, the City is advancing an enterprise operating model that strengthens governance, clarifies decision rights, and enables cross-departmental collaboration through the implementation of a Central Services Support Model for all citywide departments; and
WHEREAS, the City has identified the need to modernize and standardize key enterprise systems and experiences, including the Employee Onboarding Experience, to reinforce organizational culture, improve efficiency, and ensure consistent service delivery citywide; and
WHEREAS, the Human Resources Department has determined that engaging a strategic professional services partner with experience in enterprise transformation, operating model design, governance implementation, and change enablement is necessary to support internal staff capacity during this critical implementation phase; and
WHEREAS, Augustwenty LLC possesses the specialized expertise and experience required to support operations transformation, cultural alignment, and system implementation, and to assist the City in translating strategic intent into executable, sustainable practices; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the Human Resources Interim Director to enter into a professional services contract with Augustwenty LLC to provide implementation support aligned with the City’s Strategic Roadmap, Central Service modernization, and enterprise system rollout efforts; and
WHERAS, it is in the best interest of the City of Columbus to enter into a contract with Augustwenty LLC to provide strategic advisory services as soon as a Purchase Order is issued through March 31, 2027; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of up to $458,500.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay contract costs for strategic advisory services; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the Human Resources Department in that it is immediately necessary to authorize this contract to ensure continuity and timely execution of critical operational, cultural, and system implementation initiatives essential to the public health, safety, and welfare; and now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1.
That the Human Resources Interim Director is hereby authorized to enter into a professional services contract with Augustwenty LLC. to provide strategic and implementation support services related to the Citywide Strategic Roadmap, Central Service Department modernization, and enterprise operations, culture, and system and process improvement implementation efforts, including but not limited to the rollout of a Central Services Support Model and the standardization of the City’s Employee Onboarding Experience, for the period authorized by this ordinance. The contract term will start as soon as a Purchase Order is issued through March 31, 2027 and will not exceed $458,500.00.
SECTION 2.
That the scope of services under this contract shall support enterprise-level execution, including operating model design, citywide support strategies implementation, change enablement, and system standardization efforts, in coordination with the Human Resources Department and other Central Service Departments as appropriate.
SECTION 3.
The transfer of $208,500 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized from the General Fund in the Finance and Management Department to the Employee Benefits Fund in the HR department contingent upon passage of 2938-2025 per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2026, the sum of $208,500.00 is appropriated in Fund 5502 (Employee Benefits Fund), 46-4601 (Human Resources - Administration), in object class 03 (Purchased Services) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5.
That the expenditure of $258,500.00 or so much thereof as maybe needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 5502 (Employee Benefits Fund), 46-4601 (Human Resources - Administration), in object class 03 (Purchased Services) and $200,000.00 or so much thereof as maybe needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 5100 (Information Services Division Operating Fund), 47-4702 (Department of Technology-Information Services) in object class 03 (Purchased Services) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6.
That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as are necessary.
SECTION 7.
That City Council finds it to be in the best interests of the City to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes and does hereby waive the same.
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, for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare.