Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Columbus Water and Power to enter into a construction contract through the City’s Invitation for Bid process with Danbert, Inc., for the CIP #650870-101202, 690236-100160, & 517018-100000; Blueprint Kent/Fairwood Storm Sewers: Gault Street Waterline Improvements; and Driving Park Improvements in an amount up to $10,133,185.42; 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 up to $10,135,185.42.
This project will construct rain gardens and storm sewers within the Right-of-Way and on City owned properties on within the project area bounded Main Street and Livingston Avenue on the north and south, and between Rhoads Avenue and Miller Avenue on the east and west. This work also includes the relocation of waterlines, pavement and sidewalk restoration, and other such work as may be necessary to complete the contract.
Planning Area - 62 Livingston Avenue Area & 56 Near East.
TIMELINE: Contract work is required to be completed in a manner acceptable to the City within 630 days of the date that a Notice To Proceed (NTP) is given by the City.
ESTIMATED COST OF PROJECT: The bid amount and proposed award amount is $10,133,185.42, including a 10% 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 $10,133,185.42
Prevailing Wage Services $ 2,000.00
CONTRACT TOTAL $10,135,185.42
2. ECONOMIC IMPACT/ADVANTAGES; COMMUNITY OUTREACH; PROJECT DEVELOPMENT; ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS/ADVANTAGES OF PROJECT
This project is being completed as part of the City’s Blueprint Columbus program. This project will construct green infrastructure (GI) throughout the neighborhood which will provide a higher water quality within the region by treating the surface runoff before it discharges to the waterways.
Community outreach has been conducted throughout all phases of design via public meetings, distribution of literature, and identification of the location/limits of the proposed work via field markings and signage.
3. CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT AWARD
An Invitation for Bids for Blueprint Kent/Fairwood Storm Sewers: Gault Street Waterline Improvements; and Driving Park Improvements projects were advertised on the Vendor Services and Bid Express websites from 8/11/2026 through 9/16/2026. Four bids were received for the project and were opened on 9/16/2026. The following companies submitted a bid:
Company Bid Amount Compliance Number ODI Status
Danbert, Inc. $10,133,185.42 CC004618 MAJ
Ironsite, Inc. $12,786,714.70 CC005926 WBE
Complete General Construction $14,587,193.47 CC006056 MAJ
Driven Excavating LLC $16,039,36087 CC033459 MAJ
The Danbert, Inc. bid was deemed the lowest, best, most responsive and responsible bid in the amount of $10,133,185.42.
4. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE INFORMATION
Danbert, Inc.’s contract compliance number is CC004618 and expires 5/14/28.
Searches in the Excluded Party List System (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against Danbert, Inc.
Danbert, Inc., listed the following companies as subcontractors for this project:
Company Name City/State ODI Certification Status
Strawser Paving Columbus, Ohio MAJ
Oberlanders Columbus, Ohio MAJ
Decker Construction Company Columbus, Ohio MAJ
Danbert Electrical Columbus, Ohio MAJ
4K Landscape Hilliard, Ohio MAJ
Paul Peterson Company Columbus, Ohio MAJ
Griffin Pavement Striping Columbus, Ohio MAJ
Garica Surveyors Columbus, Ohio MBE
Hurt’s Trucking Columbus, Ohio MBE
The certification of Danbert, Inc. and the above companies were in good standing at the time the bid was awarded.
5. PRE-QUALIFICATION STATUS
Danbert, Inc., 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
Funding for the Blueprint Kent/Fairwood Storm Sewers portion of this contract will be obtained through a loan from the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF), 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 2026 OWDA Board meeting.
Funding for the Gault Street Waterline Improvements portion of this contract will be obtained through a loan from the OWDA Fresh Water Program (OWDA Direct). City Council authorized this loan application and acceptance of funding via Ordinance 0341-2026 passed by Council on 3/2/26. This loan is expected to be approved at the December 2026 OWDA Board meeting.
This ordinance is contingent upon both loans being approved by the OWDA Board. Columbus Water and Power will inform the Auditor’s Office when the loans are approved.
Funds for the Driving Park Improvements portion of this contract are budgeted and available from within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 to meet the financial obligations of this expenditure.
Funds will need to be appropriated in the Sanitary Revolving Loan Fund, Fund 6111, and the Water - Fresh Water Market Rate Loan Fund, Fund 6014.
Funding for the Department of Public Service to perform prevailing wage services in the amount of $2,000.00 is available and appropriated in the Sanitary Bond Fund, Fund 6109.
Title
To authorize the Director of Columbus Water and Power to enter into a construction contract with Danbert, Inc. for the Blueprint Kent/Fairwood Storm Sewers: Gault Street Waterline Improvements; and Driving Park Improvements projects; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of up to $10,133,185.42 from the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund and the Water - Fresh Water Market Rate Loan Fund and to authorize the transfer of $62,629.03 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $62,629.03 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund for the contract; to make this ordinance contingent upon the Ohio Water Development Authority approving loans for the project; and to authorize the expenditure of up to $2,000.00 from the Sanitary Bond Fund to pay for prevailing wage services. ($10,135,185.42)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Columbus Water and Power is engaged in Blueprint Kent/Fairwood Storm Sewer and Gault Street Waterline Improvements; and
WHEREAS, four bids were received and opened for this project on 9/16/26; and
WHEREAS, the lowest, best, most responsive and responsible bid was from Danbert, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 3119-2025, passed by City Council on 12/15/25, approved the Blueprint Kent/Fairwood Storm Sewer project to be funded by a loan obtained through the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF); and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 0341-2026, passed by City Council on 3/2/26, approved the Gault Street Waterline Improvements project to be funded by a loan obtained through the Water - Fresh Water Market Rate Loan Fund; and
WHEREAS, both loans are expected to be approved at the December OWDA Board meeting; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance is contingent upon these loans being approved; and
WHEREAS, funds are available from within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 to meet the financial obligations of this expenditure.; and
WHEREAS, a transfer of up to $62,629.03 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 is needed to align appropriations and funds to the proper project; and
WHEREAS, funds must be appropriated within the Sanitary Revolving Loan Fund, Fund 6111, and the Water - Fresh Water Market Rate Loan Fund, Fund 6014; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize an expenditure of funds from the Sanitary Revolving Loan Fund, Fund 6111, the Water - Fresh Water Market Rate Loan Fund, Fund 6014, the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 and the Sanitary Bond Fund, Fund 6109, to pay for the projects; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Department of Columbus Water and Power to authorize the Director of the Department of Columbus Water and Power to enter a construction contract with Danbert, Inc., for the Blueprint Kent/Fairwood Storm Sewers: Gault Street Waterline Improvements; and Driving Park Improvements, and to provide payment of prevailing wage services associated with said projects; and NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the appropriation of $9,370,317.73, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in the Sanitary Revolving Loan Fund, Fund 6111, the appropriation of $700,238.66, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in the Water - Fresh Water Market Rate Loan Fund, Fund 6014, and the appropriation of $62,629.03, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized from Columbus Rec & Park Project, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. This ordinance is contingent upon the Ohio Water Development Authority's Board approving the loans for this project.
SECTION 3. That the Director of Columbus Water and Power is hereby authorized to enter into a construction contract for the Blueprint Kent/Fairwood Storm Sewer & Gault Street Waterline Improvements projects with Danbert, Inc., 8077 Memorial Drive, Plain City, OH 43064, in an amount up to $10,133,185.42 in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract on file in the Department of Columbus Water and Power; and to obtain the necessary prevailing wage services for this project from the Department of Public Service in an amount up to $2,000.00.
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of $10,135,185.42, 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 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 a transfer of cash and appropriation between projects within the Recreation and Parks GO Bonds Fund, Fund 7702, of up to $62,629.03 is authorized per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 7. 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 8. 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 9. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.