Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a contract modification with Evans Mechwart Hambleton & Tilton Inc. (EMH&T Inc.), for construction administration/inspection services for Department of Public Utilities construction projects bid during the calendar years 2023 through 2025 as part of the Construction Administration/Construction Inspection Services 2023-2025 contracts. The construction project to be administered by EMH&T Inc. under this contract modification is the 2025 Annual Lining Contract, CIP No. 650404-100052, in an amount up to $1,483,646.04.
EMH&T was awarded one of the six contracts to perform construction administration/inspection services for Department of Public Utilities Capital Improvement Projects that bid during the years 2023, 2024, and 2025. The EMH&T contract is modified as needed throughout the 3-year period to include these projects as they go to construction. Projects are located throughout the City of Columbus. The 2025 Annual Lining Contract, CIP No. 650404-100052, was bid in 2025 and needs construction administration/inspection services to ensure the project is constructed to City of Columbus standards.
Planning Area 99 - Citywide
UPDATED TIMELINE
The original contract allowed for work is to be completed within the timeframe established by the individual construction contracts. This contract modification will be in effect through the completion of construction for this project.
1.1. Amount of additional funds to be expended: $1,483,646.04
Original Contract: $ 1,934,456.02 (PO386052)
Modification #1: $ 178,477.12 (PO402261)
Modification #2: $ 495,415.00 (PO425785 and PO425788)
Modification #3: $ 1,133,050.50 (PO486138)
Modification #4: $ 214,836.28 (PO512834)
Modification #5: $ 820,534.46 (PO528513)
Modification #6: (current) $ 1,483,646.04 (TBD)
Total: $ 6,260,415.42
1.2. Reasons additional goods/services could not be foreseen:
This is a three-year agreement for fiscal years 2023 - 2025 and modifications were anticipated and explained in the original legislation under Ordinance 0745-2023.
1.3. Reason other procurement processes are not used:
This is a multi-year contract that will be modified as required to provide Construction Administration/Construction Inspection services for construction projects that bid during the three-year (2023-2025) timeframe. Another procurement process is not required.
1.4. How cost of modification was determined:
The cost of this modification was determined by negotiations between EMH&T Inc. and Department of Public Utilities project staff based upon the existing contract labor titles, maximum labor rates, allowable contract expenses, and the time estimated to be needed to perform contract tasks.
2. ECONOMIC IMPACT/ADVANTAGES; COMMUNITY OUTREACH; PROJECT DEVELOPMENT; ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS/ADVANTAGES OF PROJECT
Division of Water Reclamation projects include rehabilitation of existing sewers, repair to existing sewers, construction of new sewers, and construction of green infrastructure. The majority of the projects will reduce inflow and infiltration to the City’s sanitary sewer system thus mitigating sanitary sewer overflows to basements and waterways. Other projects provide improvement to existing storm infrastructure to mitigate drainage/flooding issues.
3. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE INFORMATION
EMH&T Inc.’s contract compliance number is CC-004214 and expires 10/17/2027.
EMH&T plans to perform the contract work with the use of the following subcontractor:
Name Contract Compliance # Expiration ODI Certification
CTL Engineering, Inc. CC-004209 5/13/2026 MBE
The certifications of EMH&T Inc., and CTL Engineering, Inc. were in good standing at the time of this contract modification.
4. FISCAL IMPACT
This project is anticipated to be financed with a loan from the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF), a program 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 12/15/2025. This loan is expected to be approved at the OWDA April 2026 Board meeting. This ordinance is contingent upon the loan being approved by OWDA. The Department of Public Utilities will inform the Auditor's Office when this loan has been approved. An amendment to the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget is needed to align budget authority with the proper project. Funds must be appropriated in the WPCLF Loan Fund, Fund 6111. This is a reimbursement loan. The Department of Public Utilities must pay EMH&T Inc. and then submit the invoices paid to OWDA for reimbursement. It is necessary to appropriate funds in the amount of $1,483,646.04 in Fund 6111for this project.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a contract modification with Evans Mechwart Hambleton & Tilton Incorporated for the Construction Administration/Construction Inspection Services 2023-2025 contract; to authorize an amendment to the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget; to authorize the appropriation of funds in the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund; to make this ordinance contingent upon the approval of a loan from the Ohio Water Development Authority; and to expend up to $1,483,646.04 from the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund. ($1,483,646.04)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities is engaged in the 2025 Annual Lining Contract project; and
WHEREAS, Contract No. PO386052 was authorized by Ordinance No. 0745-2023, for the Construction Administration/Construction Inspection Services 2023-2025 Project; and
WHEREAS, a planned contract modification is needed to add additional funds for the Construction Administration/Construction Inspection tasks needs to be performed for the 2025 Annual Lining Contract project; and
WHEREAS, the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget must be modified to align budget authority with the proper project; and
WHEREAS, the construction administration/inspection for the 2025 Annual Lining Contract project is anticipated to be funded with a loan from the Ohio Water Development Authority; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance is contingent upon loan approval for construction administration/inspection for the 2025 Annual Lining Contract project by the Ohio Water Development Authority which is anticipated to occur in April of 2026; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to appropriate funds in the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund, Fund 6111, for this expenditure; and
WHEREAS, funds must be expended to pay for the construction administration and inspection services EMH&T Inc. provides under the Construction Administration/Construction Inspection Services 2023-2025 contract from the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund, Fund 6111; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities to modify the Construction Administration/Construction Inspection Services 2023-2025 contract with EMH&T Inc., to add this task to the contract and to add funding to pay for the task; and now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget authorized by Ordinance 1790-2025 be amended as follows to establish sufficient budget authority for this project:
Fund / Project Number / Project Name (Funding Source) / Current Authority / Revised Authority / Change
6111 / 650725-100027 / Scioto Main North Large Diameter Sewer Rehabilitation (WPCLF Loan) / $9,790,151.00 / $8,306,504.00 / ($1,483,647.00)
6111 / 650404-100052 / 2025 Annual Lining Contract (WPCLF Loan) / $11,109,849.00/ $12,593,496.00 / $1,483,647.00
SECTION 2. That the appropriation of $1,483,646.04, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in the Sanitary Revolving Loan Fund, Fund 6111, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the Director of Public Utilities is authorized to enter into a contract modification with Evans Mechwart Hambleton & Tilton Inc., 5500 New Albany Rd, Columbus, Ohio 43054, for construction administration and inspection services, in accordance with the terms and conditions as shown in the contract on file with the Department of Public Utilities, in an amount not to exceed $1,483,646.04.
SECTION 4. That this ordinance is contingent upon the Ohio Water Development Authority approving a Water Supply Revolving Loan Account loan for this project.
SECTION 5. That an expenditure not to exceed $1,483,646.04 is authorized per the accounting codes in the attachment to this Ordinance.
SECTION 6. Funds are 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 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 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.