Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This Ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to modify and increase the professional construction management services contract with Smoot Construction Company of Ohio, for the Big Walnut Trunk Extension Phase 2 Professional Construction Management project, CIP #650033-100002, in an amount up to $1,913,332.96, to pay for professional construction management services.
This contract provides professional construction administration and management services that shall include full-time construction inspection, project coordination, reporting, budgeting, scheduling, document tracking, startup coordination and other related tasks to ensure the City receives a quality product in conformance with the Contract Documents and project objectives of the Big Walnut Trunk Phase 2.
The Community Planning Area for this project is 99-Citywide
1.1 Future Renewals/Modifications: A future contract modification is not planned
1.2 Amount of additional funds to be expended: $1,913,332.96.
Cost summary:
Original Contract (ORD 2035-2020; PO249185) $5,436,121.24
Modification #1 (ORD 1905-2024; PO477349) $4,729,581.18
Modification #2 (current) $1,913,332.96
CONTRACT TOTAL $12,079,035.38
1.3. Reason other procurement processes are not used: Re-bidding the project under the new requirements will likely result in a higher project cost as much of the project history would be lost and required to be rediscovered by another consultant unless won by the same consultant. In such a case, we would have wasted significant time acquiring and evaluating the new proposals without significant benefit.
1.4. How the cost of renewal was determined: The cost proposal was provided by Smoot Construction Company of Ohio, reviewed by the Division of Sewerage and Drainage and was deemed acceptable. The fees in the proposal are based upon contract pricing already established for job titles, tasks, and allowable expenses for the contract.
2. ECONOMIC IMPACT/ADVANTAGES; COMMUNITY OUTREACH; PROJECT DEVELOPMENT; ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS/ADVANTAGES OF PROJECT
This project will provide sanitary sewer service for the rapidly developing area between Hoover Reservoir and the Village of New Albany, north of State Route 161. This will eliminate home septic tank systems in the area which will improve watershed runoff for the region. It will also create an expanded tax base and rate payers for City provided utilities.
3. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE INFORMATION
Smoot Construction Company of Ohio’s contract compliance number is CC-004871 and expires 3/7/27.
As part of their proposal, Smoot Construction Company of Ohio has proposed using the following sub-consultants to perform contract work:
Company Name City/State ODI Cert. Status
LJB dbaAldea Services Inc. Miamisburg, Ohio MAJ
Ascension Construction Services, LLC Columbus, Ohio MBE
GTSA Construction Consulting LLC Columbus, Ohio WBE
PRIME Construction Management & Survey, Inc. Columbus, Ohio MAJ
Ginger Cunningham & Associates, LLC Columbus, Ohio MBE
T&M Associates Foundation Inc. Columbus, Ohio MAJ
Brown and Caldwell Columbus, Ohio MAJ
GHD Services, Inc. Columbus, Ohio MAJ
The certification of Smoot Construction Company of Ohio and the above companies was in good standing at the time of the contract modification.
5. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for the construction contract will be obtained through the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA) Direct Loan Program. City Council authorized these loans via Ordinance 0341-2026, passed by Council on 3/2/2026. This loan is expected to be approved at the OWDA June Board meeting. This ordinance is contingent upon the OWDA Board approving the loan application. The Department of Public Utilities will inform the Auditor’s Office when this loan is approved. Ordinance 0341-2026 also authorized the Director of Public Utilities to add to or subtract from the anticipated loans listed in that ordinance. 650033-100002 was not listed in that ordinance. Even though Ordinance 0341-2026 stated projects can be added to or subtracted from the list without further City Council approval, OWDA requires an ordinance specifically listing Council’s approval for each project. This ordinance will request that approval.
The Ohio Water Development Authority Direct Loan Program is a reimbursement program. Purchase orders will need to be established for Smoot Construction Company of Ohio for this contract. Public Utilities will need to pay invoices directly to Smoot Construction Company of Ohio and then submit reimbursement requests based upon these paid invoices to OWDA for OWDA to reimburse Public Utilities.
The 2025 Capital Improvement Budget will need to be amended to align budget authority with the proper project for the loan amount. Funds will need to be appropriated in the Sanitary - Fresh Water Market Rate Fund, Fund 6124.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Utilities to modify and increase a professional construction management services contract with Smoot Construction Company of Ohio for the Big Walnut Trunk Extension Phase 2 Professional Construction Management project; to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to apply for and accept a loan from the Sanitary Fresh Water Market for the project; to appropriate funds in the Sanitary - Fresh Water Market Rate Fund; to make this ordinance contingent upon the Ohio Water Development Authority approving a loan for this project; and to authorize an expenditure of up to $1,913,332.96 from the Sanitary - Fresh Water Market Rate Fund to pay for the contract modification. ($1,913,332.96)
Body
WHEREAS, there is an existing professional construction management services contract with Smoot Construction Company of Ohio for the Big Walnut Trunk Extension Phase 2 Professional Construction Management project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize a modification to the contract to increase the dollar amount of the contract to fund detailed design of the project; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 0341-2026 authorized this modification to be funded by a loan to be obtained through the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA) Direct Loan Program; and
WHEREAS, the Big Walnut Trunk Extension Phase 2 Professional Construction Management project was not specifically listed as a project to be loan funded on Ordinance 0341-2026 and this ordinance will ask for authorization to loan fund it; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance is contingent upon the loan being approved; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to appropriate funds in the Sanitary - Fresh Water Market Rate Fund; and
WHEREAS, funds must be expended to pay for services provided under this contract modification; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary in the daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities to authorize the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to enter a planned contract modification for the Big Walnut Trunk Extension Phase 2 Professional Construction Management project with Smoot Construction Company of Ohio; 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
6124 / 650033-100002 / Big Walnut Trunk Extension Phase 2 (OWDA Direct Loan) / $0.00 / $1,913,333.00 / $1,913,333.00 (To match loan)
SECTION 2. That the appropriation of $1,913,332.96, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in the Sanitary - Fresh Water Market Rate Fund, Fund 6124, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the Director of Public Utilities is hereby authorized to modify and increase the professional construction management services contract with Smoot Construction Company of Ohio, 1907 Leonard Ave, Columbus, Ohio, 43219, for the Big Walnut Trunk Extension Phase 2 Professional Construction Management project, in an amount up to $1,913,332.96.
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of $1,913,332.96, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized to pay for this contract modification per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That City Council authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to submit loan applications and accept loan funding for the Big Walnut Trunk Extension Phase 2 Professional Construction Management project, and this ordinance is contingent upon that loan being approved.
SECTION 5. That this ordinance is contingent upon the Ohio Water Development Authority's Board approving the loan for this project.
SECTION 6. 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 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 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 this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.