Explanation
BACKGROUND: The Columbus Fire Division needs to secure a computer based training content provider for their Distance Learning Project. The Fire Division's Distance Learning project was implemented to provide remote training in all fire stations via computer network. A computer based training content provider is needed to implement training, scheduling, and logging of employee training history.
Bid Information: The Fire Division processed a request for proposal (RFP) for a computer based training content provider via Solicitation SA002986 and received bids on September 11, 2008; upon review of the bids, the Fire Division recommends acceptance of the bid submitted by Centre Learn in the amount of $114,900.00.
Bids were as follows:
Working Fire Training Systems - $74,332.00 annually plus $5,000.00 setup
Centre Learn - $114,900.00 annually
Target Safety - $114,900.00 annually plus $1,850.00 setup
National Paramedic Institute- $153,200.00 annually
A committee of Fire Division personnel reviewed vendor performance with other fire and emergency medical services, EMS departments, quality of training, content and cost of training per employee.
The low bidder, Working Fire Training Systems, offered a system that included primarily fire based content with only a small amount of basic Emergency Medical Services content. Given the major role paramedic EMS plays in the Division of Fire's operations, the absence of advanced EMS content greatly reduces it's functionality as the core content management system the Fire Division needs in order to implement its Distance Learning project. Working Fire submitted a base line price lower than other bidders, but additional costs would be incurred for other services such as key student compliance, report features, and other specific content as needed by the Division of Fire.
Centre Learn, the second lowest bidder, provides fire, basic EMS, and paramedic level content, and offers an all inclusive product in their price. Centre Learn will give the Division of Fire the ability to assign new policy, procedures, and division specific training to members and capture the compliance of such material for all of the various applications. Working Fire did not include several report features in its standard product. The Fire Division's selection committee unanimously agreed the product offered by Centre Learn provided a substantially better training system in all areas of content management, including assignment notification, report generation, and compliance tracking, and thus concluded the award recommendation be made to Centre Learn.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: Centre Learn - 043827563 exp. 9/9/10
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency action is required so that implementation of this final phase of Distance Learning can proceed in a timely manner.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $114,900 for the purchase of a computer based training system for the Fire Division. The Fire Division budgeted $150,000.00 in the General Fund budget for this purpose.
Title
To authorize the Public Safety Director to enter into a contract with Centre Learn for a computer based training content for use by the Fire Division's Training Bureau, to authorize the expenditure of $114,900.00 from the General Fund, and to declare an emergency.($114,900.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Columbus Fire Division is in need of a computer based training content provider for its Distance Learning Project; and
WHEREAS, a committee consisting of Fire Division personnel analyzed bid proposals submitted by said computer based training content providers, and
WHEREAS, the Fire Division recommends acceptance of the proposal submitted by Centre Learn as the best and most responsive proposal, and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Public Safety Director to enter into this contract for the preservation of 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 Public Safety Director be and he is hereby authorized and directed to enter into a contract with Centre Learn for content provision and management for the Fire Division.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $114,900.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized to be expended from the General Fund 010, Department of Public Safety 30, Division of Fire 30-04, OCA 301549, OL3 Code 3326 to pay the cost thereof.
SECTION 3. 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.