Explanation
Background: This legislation authorizes the Public Service Director to enter into a professional services engineering contract for the Town Street Improvements and the Front Street Two-way Conversion projects with EMH&T, Inc. in the amount of $600,000.
Redesign of the Town Street Improvements project includes full depth pavement replacement, wider sidewalks, sewer lining, water line work, and other work as required. This project is on Town Street between Civic Center Drive and High Street. A professional services engineering contract is needed to assure timely completion of the design as the Transportation Division does not maintain adequate staff or all of the various disciplines necessary to complete such designs in house.
EMH&T, Inc. had completed design drawings, under the direction of the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation (CDDC), for this Town Street project. However, the low bid was much greater than the original engineer's estimate and the City, in cooperation with the CDDC, made the determination to reject all bids and downscale the project scope. Since this project involves the improvement of existing City streets and the CDDC does not have adequate manpower or resources to complete the project, the Transportation Division will manage the new design. Since EMH&T already has extensive knowledge pertaining to the project area, they would be best suited to make changes to the existing plans, saving time and money.
Similarly EMH&T has an existing survey and plans for Front Street from Broad Street to Mound Street. Again, this project was initiated by CDDC. The plans are approximately 35% complete and reflect a two-way conversion in the project scope. This two-way conversion of Front Street is necessary to accommodate the residential development to the south and adjacent to Town Street. Again since EMH&T already has extensive knowledge pertaining to the project area, they would be best suited to make changes to and complete the existing plans.
This action would require that the formal competitive bidding process prescribed by Section 329 of the Columbus City Code, 1959, be waived.
EMH&T's contract compliance number is 31-0685595 which expires on November 29, 2007.
Emergency action is requested so that this project can proceed in a timely manner and keep commitments made to the local community.
Fiscal Impact: Funds in the amount of $600,000 for this project are available within the Streets and Highway Improvement Fund.
Title
To amend the 2007 Capital Improvements Budget, to appropriate $600,000.00 within the Streets and Highways Improvement Fund; to authorize the Public Service Director to enter into a professional service contract with EMH&T, Inc. for engineering of the Town Street Improvements and Front Street Two Way Conversion projects; to authorize the expenditure of $600,000.00 from the Streets and Highways Improvement Fund for the Transportation Division; and to declare an emergency. ($600,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, there is a need to provide professional engineering design services to provide construction drawings for full depth replacement of Town Street (949 Feet) between Civic Center Drive and High Street; and
WHEREAS, design drawings for this Town Street project were completed; however, it was determined that the project scope was excessive and needed to be downscaled; and
WHEREAS, EMH&T has an existing survey and plans for Front Street from Broad Street to Mound Street; and
WHEREAS, this two-way conversion of Front Street is necessary to accommodate the residential development to the south and adjacent to Town Street; and
WHEREAS, since EMH&T, Inc. already has extensive knowledge pertaining to these projects, they would be best suited to make changes to the existing plans, saving time and money; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service, Transportation Division, in that the contract should go forth immediately so that the work may proceed without delay and design may be completed in time for construction in early spring of 2008 to keep commitments made to the local community; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Public Service be and is hereby authorized to enter into a contract with EMH&T, Inc., 5500 New Albany Road, Columbus Oh 43054, in the amount not to exceed $600,000.00 for engineering services required for the Town Street Improvements project and two-way conversion of Front Street.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $600,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, be and hereby is authorized from the Streets and Highway Improvement Fund, Fund 766, Department/Division 59-09, as follows:
Fund / Fund Name / Project Number / Project / Project Name / Object Level 01/03 Codes / OCA Code / Amount
766 / Streets and Highway Improvement Fund / 530161 / Roadway Improvements / 06/6601 / 642728 / $600,000.00
SECTION 3. That in accordance with Section 329.27 of the Columbus City Code, City Council has determined that it is in the best interest of the City of Columbus that Section 329.12 relating to formal competitive bidding requirements be waived and hereby waives said section.
SECTION 4. 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 5. 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.