Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the Director of Finance and Management to enter into a contract, on behalf of the Facilities Management Division, with NALCO Water, (previously, Barclay Water Management) for water treatment and remediation services. During the Covid-19 pandemic, occupancy levels in various facilities were significantly reduced due to remote working by employees and reduced visitation from the general public. These reduced occupancy levels drastically lowered the throughput of water through various buildings' water systems. A lower volume of water flow throughout a facility’s water system can provide an environment conducive to the growth of various water contaminants.
In response, the Facilities Management Division partnered with the Human Resources Department, Division of Occupational Safety & Health to establish a program for the safe testing, treatment and remediation of City owned water systems. NALCO Water's expertise and partnership with local health care systems, as well as their skills, equipment, and experience determined that they were best positioned to meet the City’s needs. NALCO Water, (previously Barclay Water Management), is currently under contract with the Department of Finance and Management, Facilities Management Division in such capacity. While occupancy levels have increased as the pandemic has waned, the Facilities Management Division has determined that it is still best practice to continue with the water treatment services to safeguard the health and safety of employees and visitors.
This ordinance seeks to authorize a contract with NALCO Water and to provide for the option to renew this contract for two (2) successive annual terms.
NALCO Water, FID: 82-4607045
Emergency Designation: Emergency action is requested so that these water testing, treatment, and remediation services can continue without delay to safeguard the health and wellness of City employees and visitors alike. The current contract, ORD 1275-2024, PO451089 is set to expire May 31, 2025 and the current funds will be depleted before that date.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes the expenditure of $280,359.14 from the General Fund with NALCO Water for the treatment and remediation of various building water systems under the purview of the Facilities Management Division.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Finance and Management to enter into a contract with NALCO Water, Inc. for the treatment and remediation of water systems under the purview of the Facilities Management Division; to authorize the expenditure of $280,359.14 within the General Fund; to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Columbus City Code; and to declare an emergency. ($280,359.14)
Body
WHEREAS, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, occupancy levels in various facilities have been lowered due to remote working by employees and reduced visitation from the general public; and
WHEREAS, these reduced occupancy levels have in turn lowered the throughput of water through various building’s water systems, which can create an environment conducive to the growth of various water contaminants; and
WHEREAS, NALCO Water, (previously Barclay Water Management) is currently under contract with the Department of Finance and Management, Facilities Management Division and they have the necessary expertise to conduct these continued water treatment and remediation services; and
WHEREAS, the continued testing, treatment, and remediation will ensure a safe and healthy water supply to various buildings, thus ensuring the health and safety of City employees and visitors; and
WHEREAS, a waiver of the competitive bidding provisions of Columbus City Code is necessary as NALCO Water has the expertise to conduct these water treatment and remediation services, and is currently under contract with the Department of Finance, Facilities Management Division in such capacity; and NALCO Water currently provides treatment and remediation services for the City of Columbus. Due to NALCO Water's expertise and partnership with local healthcare systems, as well as their skills, equipment, and experience it was determined that they best positioned to meet the City’s needs. NALCO Water is a provider for the iChlor® program. iChlor® utilizes proprietary state of the art technology that offers multiple code/programming safety layers, that controls alarms and the ability to shut down the unit immediately for any out of spec condition until resolved. NALCO Water is the responsible party for responding to alarms; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Finance and Management Department, Facilities Management Division, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Finance and Management Director to authorize the contract with NALCO Water, so that water testing, treatment, and remediation services can continue without delay to safeguard the health and wellness of City employees and visitors alike, all for the immediate 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 Director of the Department of Finance and Management is hereby authorized to enter a contract, on behalf of the Facilities Management Division, with NALCO Water.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of up to $280,359.14, or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1, is hereby authorized in the General Fund 1000, in Object Class 03 - Contractual Services, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That this Council finds it is in the best interests of the City to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes, and such are hereby waived.
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 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 6. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared 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.