Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Service to enter into professional services contract with E. P. Ferris and Associates, Inc. in the amount of up to $800,000.00 for the Pedestrian Safety - 17th Avenue ‐ I71 to Billiter Boulevard project.
The intent of this project is to provide the City of Columbus, improvements to existing sidewalk and curb along 17th Avenue from the I-71 southbound ramps to just west of Billiter Boulevard. Improvements include replacing the existing sidewalk, curb, driveways, ADA curb ramps, and resurfacing of 17th Avenue. Traffic signals at the I-71 NB ramps, Hamilton Avenue, and Cleveland Avenue will be replaced. Curb extensions will be constructed to protect parking. Surface drainage will be improved with modifications to the storm sewer. Existing water service lines containing lead or galvanized materials shall be replaced. Preliminary engineering will determine the sidewalk width, final locations and surface materials for the curb extensions, and where marked crosswalks are needed.
Ord. 2534-2022 authorized the Director of Public Service to submit MORPC Attributable Funds roadway improvement project applications and to execute project agreements for approved projects for the Department of Public Service for the Pedestrian Safety - 17th Avenue ‐ I71 to Billiter Boulevard project.
The Department of Public Service, Office of Support Services, solicited Requests for Proposals for the Pedestrian Safety - 17th Avenue ‐ I71 to Billiter Boulevard contract. The project was formally advertised on the Vendor Services and Bonfire web sites from May 8, 2024, to June 5, 2024. The City received four (4) responses. All proposals were deemed responsive and were fully evaluated when the Evaluation Committee met on June 17, 2024. The responding firms were:
Company Name City/State Majority/MBE/WBE/VET/EBE/LGBTBE/SLBE
E. P. Ferris and Associates, Inc. Columbus, OH MAJ
VS Engineering Columbus, OH MBE
2LMN Columbus, OH MBE
Moody Engineering Columbus, OH MBE
E. P. Ferris and Associates, Inc. received the highest score by the evaluation committee and will be awarded the Pedestrian Safety - 17th Avenue ‐ I71 to Billiter Boulevard contract.
Searches in the Excluded Party List System (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against E. P Ferris and Associates, Inc.
The certification of E. P. Ferris and Associates, Inc. and all associated subcontractors was in good standing at the time the bid was awarded.
As part of their bid E. P. Ferris and Associates, Inc., has proposed the following 3 subcontractors to work on the project:
|
Company Name |
City/State |
Majority/ODI Certification |
|
Resource International, Inc. |
Columbus, Ohio |
WBE |
|
Lanham Engineering, LLC |
Columbus, Ohio |
WBE |
|
ASC Group, Inc. |
Columbus, Ohio |
WBE |
2. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE
E. P Ferris and Associates, Inc.’s contract compliance number is CC004823 and expires 04/07/2025.
3. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for this contract is available and appropriated within Fund 7704, the Streets and Highways Bond Fund.
4. MINORITY AND WOMAN OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE & SMALL LOCAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM
This contract was bid with a City of Columbus MBE/WBE Program goal of 20% as assigned by the City’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI). Failure by the contractor to meet this goal subjects the contractor to the Penalties for Non-Compliance as described in the “City’s Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise & Small Local Business Enterprise Program Manual” and in the “City of Columbus MBE/WBE Program Special Provision” that were part of the bid documents for this contract.
5. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested in order to complete needed improvements at the earliest possible time and meet the requirements of the start date for the Ohio Department of Transportation funding award to avoid penalty and to ensure the safety of the traveling public.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Public Service to enter into a professional services contract with E. P. Ferris and Associates, Inc. for the Pedestrian Safety - 17th Avenue - I71 to Billiter Boulevard project; to authorize the expenditure of $800,000.00 from the Streets and Highways Bond Fund to pay for this contract; and to declare an emergency. ($800,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, there is a need to enter into a professional services contract to provide for survey, professional engineering, and technical expertise for the department to implement the Pedestrian Safety; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service, Office of Support Services, solicited Requests for Proposals for the Pedestrian Safety - 17th Avenue ‐ I71 to Billiter Boulevard project; and
WHEREAS, E. P. Ferris and Associates Inc. submitted the best overall proposal for this project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to enter into a contract with E. P. Ferris and Associates, Inc. for the provision of professional engineering consulting services described above in the amount of up to $800,000.00; and
WHEREAS, this contract opportunity was submitted to the City’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) for review and assignment of an MBE/WBE goal prior to bidding; and
WHEREAS, this contract was bid with a City of Columbus MBE/WBE Program goal of 20% as assigned by the City’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI); and
WHEREAS, failure by the contractor to meet this goal subjects the contractor to the Penalties for Non-Compliance; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize an expenditure from Fund 7704, the Streets and Highways Bond Fund, for this project; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of Public Service to enter into contract with E. P. Ferris and Associates, Inc. in order to provide funding for the Pedestrian Safety - 17th Avenue ‐ I71 to Billiter Boulevard project to meet the requirements of the start date for the Ohio Department of Transportation funding award to avoid penalty, to ensure the safety of the traveling public, for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, and safety; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Public Service be, and hereby is, authorized to enter into a professional services contract with E. P. Ferris and Associates, Inc., at 2130 Quarry Trails Drive, 2nd Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43228, for the Pedestrian Safety - 17th Avenue ‐ I71 to Billiter Boulevard project in an amount up to $800,000.00.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $800,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund), Dept-Div 5911 (Infrastructure Management), Project P590105-100474 (Pedestrian Safety - 17th Avenue ‐ I71 to Billiter Boulevard), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. 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 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 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 6. 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.