Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a professional consulting services contract awarded through the City’s Request for Proposal process with Hill International, Inc., for the Owner Advisor Services project, CIP #650264-100001, in an amount up to $100,000.00.
The Owner Advisor Services project will advise the City regarding CMAR procurement, scheduling, budget, and other administrative procedures. It will provide guidance for the Department of Public Utilities as they go through the learning process of CMAR procurement and implementation and will facilitate communication between the project teams. The Owner Advisor will develop a general project selection criterion for future projects to help decide the most appropriate delivery method, as well as develop a summary of the value that CMAR would bring to recommended City projects. Additionally, they will provide the City with feedback through the design development, preconstruction, and construction phases of the CMAR projects.
The community area is “99 - City-Wide”.
TIMELINE & FUTURE MODIFICATION(S):
This contract is anticipated to last for four (4) years, ending in December 2030. The project is scheduled to be funded through annual appropriations, but may be funded more frequently depending upon demand.
ESTIMATED COST OF PROJECT:
The proposed award amount is $100,000.00. Three (3) contract renewals are anticipated currently for annual funding.
Cost summary:
Original Contract (current) $100,000.00
Contract Modification #1 (future) $150,000.00
Contract Modification #2 (future) $150,000.00
Contract Modification #3 (future) $150,000.00
CONTRACT TOTAL $550,000.00
2. ECONOMIC IMPACT/ADVANTAGES; COMMUNITY OUTREACH; PROJECT DEVELOPMENT; ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS/ADVANTAGES OF PROJECT
The Owner Advisor will provide the City with knowledge and advice on what to look for in a CMAR and what best qualifies a project for the CMAR delivery method. This assistance will be beneficial for cutting down lead times and helping ensure a guaranteed maximum price throughout a project’s life, both of which can save the City time and money. With the Owner Advisor’s help, the City will gain experience on CMAR projects and have a sounder understanding of the process moving forward. No community outreach or environmental factors are considered for this project.
3. BID INFORMATION
This project was formally advertised on the Vendor Services and Bonfire websites and opened 11/7/25. Four proposals were received:
Name C.C. No. Exp. Date City/State Status
Hill International, Inc. 000990 10/22/27 Columbus, Ohio MAJ
MarshWagner Inc. 008436 2/7/24 Columbus, Ohio WBE
Accenture LLP 023429 11/19/27 Columbus, Ohio MAJ
Miles McClellan Construction 004557 1/9/27 Columbus, Ohio MBE
An evaluation committee reviewed the proposals and recommended the contract be awarded to Hill International, Inc.
Hill International, Inc.’s certification was in good standing at the time of the contract award.
4. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE INFORMATION
Hill International, Inc.’s contract compliance number is CC000990 and expires 10/22/27.
As part of their proposal, Ascension Construction Solutions, LLC has proposed the following subcontractor to perform contract work:
Company Name City/State ODI Certification Status
Project Management Consultants, LLC Columbus, Ohio MAJ
The certification of the above listed company was in good standing at the time the contract was awarded.
5. FISCAL IMPACT
An amendment to the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget is needed to align budget authority with the proper project. A cash transfer of $100,000.00 is needed within the Sanitary Bond Fund, Fund 6109, to align cash with the proper project. An expenditure of up to $100,000.00 from the Sanitary Bond Fund, Fund 6109, is needed to pay for the project.
6. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Owner Advisor Services are needed for several projects currently either under design or preparing to enter design. At this point, these projects are in imminent need of Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) procurement. It’s imperative that the Owner Advisor is available to move forward with their services, as some CMAR procurement is expected to begin within the next few weeks. While the procurement process is not foreign to Public Utilities (DUP) personnel, we have not gone through the CMAR selection process and are in need of an advisor to help through the selection and contracting process. To prevent any delays on these CMAR projects, we request that this ordinance be approved as emergency legislation.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to enter into a professional consulting services contract with Hill International, Inc., for the Owner Advisor Services project; to authorize an amendment to the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget; to authorize a transfer of cash and appropriation within the Sanitary Bond Fund; to authorize an expenditure up to $100,000.00 from the Sanitary Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($100,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities is engaged in the Owner Advisor Services project; and
WHEREAS, a Request for Proposals (RFP) was formally advertised on the Vendor Services and Bonfire websites and opened 11/7/25; and
WHEREAS, four proposals for the Owner Advisor Services Project were received in response to the RFP; and
WHEREAS, the evaluation committee reviewed the proposals and recommended the contract be awarded to Hill International, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to enter into a professional services contract with Hill International, Inc. for the contract; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget to align budget authority with the proper project; and
WHEREAS, a transfer of cash and appropriation is necessary within the Sanitary Bond Fund, Fund 6109, of up to $100,000.00 to align cash and appropriation with the proper project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize an expenditure of funds from the Sanitary Bond Fund, Fund 6109, to pay for the contracted services for the project; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities in that it is immediately necessary to authorize this professional consulting services agreement to assist through the selection and contracting process to prevent any delays on these CMAR projects, 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 2025 Capital Improvements 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
6109 / 650870-100000 / Blueprint Integrated Approach (Voted Sanitary Carryover) / $580,445.00 / $480,445.00 / ($100,000.00)
6109 / 650264-100001 / Owner Advisor Services (Voted Sanitary Carryover) / $0.00 / $100,000.00 / $100,000.00
SECTION 2. That the Director of the Department of Public Utilities is hereby authorized to enter into a professional consulting services agreement for the Owner Advisor Services Project with Hill International, Inc., 2 Easton Oval, Suite 430, Columbus, OH 43219, for an expenditure up to $100,000.00, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract on file in the Department of Public Utilities.
SECTION 3. That a transfer of $100,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in the Sanitary Bond Fund, Fund 6109, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of $100,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in the Sanitary Bond Fund, Fund 6109, 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 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 7. 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 8. 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.