Explanation
In 2014, the Department of Human Resources conducted a thorough evaluation of all professional benefit consultant proposals submitted as a result of a Request for Proposal in accordance with Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Code. Each proposal was evaluated on the following criteria as required by Chapter 329: competency to perform, quality and feasibility of the offerors technical proposal, ability to perform the required service competently, past performance, and the cost structure of the proposal. As a result, AON Hewitt Consulting was recommended as the city’s benefits consultant and the City entered into contract for the years February 1, 2015 through January 31, 2019. However, due to ongoing labor negotiations with collective bargaining contracts citywide in 2017 and 2018, as well as subsequent major changes to the City’s health insurance benefits, the Department of Human Resources decided not to engage in the request for proposal process for these services this calendar year. Therefore, the Department of Human Resources requests a waiver of competitive bidding requirements.
The Human Resources Department will comply with the competitive bidding provisions in Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Code in 2019 and enter into a new contract to begin February 1, 2020.
The Human Resources Department requests authority to modify and extend the existing contract with AON Hewitt Consulting for benefits consulting services and to provide funding at the current amount of $200,000 per year, from February 1, 2019 through January 31, 2020.
Emergency action is requested to ensure continuity of benefit consultant services is maintained.
Contract Compliance number is 22-2232264
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding is available in the 2019 employee benefits fund budget for this contract. This ordinance is an emergency measure and is contingent on the passage of the 2019 other funds operating budget (ordinance 2871-2018).
Title
To authorize the Human Resources Director to modify and extend the existing contract with AON Hewitt Consulting from February 1, 2019 through January 31, 2020; to waive competitive bidding provisions of the Columbus City Code; to authorize the expenditure of $200,000.00 from the Employee Benefits Fund, or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay the costs of said contract; and to declare an emergency. ($200,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City of Columbus to modify and extend the existing contract with AON Hewitt Consulting to provide professional employee benefits consulting services from February 1, 2019 through January 31, 2020; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $200,000.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay contract costs for employee benefits consulting services; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Human Resources in that it is immediately necessary to modify the contract with AON Hewitt Consulting to ensure benefit consultant services are able to commence as soon as contractually possible, thereby maintaining continuity of service;
Now, Therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Human Resources Director is hereby authorized to modify and extend the existing contract with AON Hewitt Consulting from February 1, 2019 through January 31, 2020.
SECTION 2. That this Council finds it in the best interests of the city to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Chapter 329 of City Code.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $200,000.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized to be expended as follows:
Department: 46-01 | Fund: 5502 | Subfund: 550201 | Program: RM002
SECTION 4. 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 5. That for the 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.