Explanation
BACKGROUND: Columbus Public Health (CPH) has been awarded a grant from the Ohio Department of Health originating from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This ordinance is needed to accept and appropriate $2,109,748.00 in grant monies to fund the COVID-19 Enhanced Operations Subgrant Program for the period of August 1, 2023 through July 31, 2024.
The purpose of this grant is to make enhancements to COVID-19 vaccine operations, COVID-19 infection prevention and control activities, and the transition of grant funded COVID-19 contact tracing activities to the Ohio Department of Health’s contracted service.
This ordinance also authorizes the Board of Health to enter into service contract for the period of August 1, 2023 through July 31, 2024 with Emocha Mobile Health Inc for contact tracing services for infectious diseases including but not limited to COVID-19 and Measles in an amount not to exceed $1,136,932.00.
The CPH Infectious Disease and Investigation Program has utilized this software since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and relies on consistency in services and data reporting needed to maintain the deliverables of the COVID-19 Enhanced Operations grant. There is an immediate need for the continuation of contract tracing services to avoid disruption of disease prevention for the public safety. CPH is requesting that the competitive bidding provisions outlined in Chapter 329.18 of the Columbus City Code be waived for this contract.
Emocha contract compliance number is CC-021140.
Emergency action is requested due to the immediate need to bolster the emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic, conducting timely contact tracing efforts and preventative measures for infectious diseases, and to avoid forfeiture of the grant.
FISCAL IMPACT: The grant program award ($2,109,748.00) is fully funded by the Ohio Department of Health and does not generate revenue. The contract with Emocha ($1,136,932.00) is entirely funded by COVID-19 Enhanced Operations Subgrant program. ($2,109,748.00)
Title
To authorize and direct the Board of Health to accept a grant from the Ohio Department of Health for the COVID-19 Enhanced Operations Subgrant Program in the amount of $2,109,748.00; to authorize the appropriation of $2,109,748.00 to the Health Department within the Health Department Grants Fund; to enter into a service contract with Emocha Mobile Health Inc for contact tracing services; to waive the competitive bidding requirements of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes; to authorize the expenditure of $1,136,932.00 from the Health Department Grants Fund for said contract; and to declare an emergency. ($2,109,748.00)
Body
WHEREAS, $2,109,748.00 in grant funds have been made available to the Health Department through the Ohio Department of Health for the COVID-19 Enhanced Operations Subgrant Program; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to accept and appropriate these funds from the Ohio Department of Health for the support of the COVID-19 Enhanced Operations Subgrant Program; and
WHEREAS, the City may receive additional funds awarded from the Ohio Department of Health for the support of COVID-19 Enhanced Operations Subgrant program; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to allow the City Auditor to transfer appropriations between object classes for the Public Health Emergency Preparedness program as needed upon request by the Columbus Public Health department; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus Public Health Department has a need to enter into a contract with Emocha Mobile Health Inc for contact tracing services for infectious diseases which is necessary to address increased needs of the public health emergency in an amount not to exceed $1,136,932.00; and
WHEREAS, the funds for this contract are budgeted in the COVID-19 Enhanced Operations Subgrant from the Health Department Grants Fund; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the Columbus Public Health Department to waive the competitive bidding requirements of the Columbus City Code; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in that it is immediately necessary to accept this grant from the Ohio Department of Health to avoid disruption of contact tracing efforts; to avoid forfeiture of the grant; and to prevent, prepare for, and respond to a public health emergency in central Ohio, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, and safety; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Board of Health is hereby authorized and directed to accept a grant award of $2,109,748.00 from the Ohio Department of Health for the period August 1, 2023 through July 31, 2024.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies in the Health Department Grants Fund, Fund No. 2251, and from all monies estimated to come into said Fund from any and all sources for the period ending July 31, 2024, the sum of $2,109,748.00 is appropriated upon receipt of an executed grant agreement and any eligible interest earned during the grant period is hereby appropriated to the Health Department Grants Fund per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the monies appropriated in the foregoing Section 2 shall be paid upon the order of the Health Commissioner, 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 Board of Health is hereby authorized and directed to accept any additional grant awards from the Ohio Department of Health for the support of the COVID-19 Enhanced Operations Subgrant program for the period of August 1, 2023 through July 31, 2024.
SECTION 5. That the City Auditor is authorized to transfer appropriations between object classes for the Public Health Emergency Preparedness grant program as needed upon request by the Columbus Public Health Department.
SECTION 6. That the Board of Health is hereby authorized to enter a contract with Emocha Mobile Health Inc for contact tracing services from August 1, 2023 through July 31, 2024.
SECTION 7. That the expenditure of $1,136,932.00 is hereby authorized from the Health Departments Grants Fund, Fund No. 2251, Department of Health, Division No. 5001, in object class 03 - Services, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 8. That this Council finds it in the City's best interests to waive the competitive bidding requirements Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes.
SECTION 9. That, at the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized and any unused city match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 10. 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 necessary.
SECTION 11. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is 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.