Explanation
1. BACKGROUND: This Ordinance authorizes the Director of Finance and Management, on behalf of the Office of Construction Management, to enter into an Owner Representation Services agreement, with Hill International, Inc., for the Department of Public Service’s South Outpost (aka Marion Outpost) project, in an amount up to $497,027.00.
The Owner’s Representative (OR) will assist in construction oversight of a new South Outpost facility located at 2260 Lockbourne Road, Columbus, Ohio 43207. The facility will house an administration building, vehicle storage building, brine / vehicle wash, salt storage barn, material storage structure, and a fuel island. A task of the OR is to keep construction on schedule and on budget.
2. BID INFORMATION: The selection of the firm providing the consulting services has been performed in accordance with the procedures set forth in Columbus City Code, Section 329, "Awarding professional service contracts through requests for proposals (RFP)." The project was let by the Office of Construction Management through Vendor Services and Bonfire. Five hundred twenty-seven (527) vendors were solicited.
Three (3) Requests for Proposals were opened on December 12, 2025:
Vendor: City/State
Hill International, Inc. Columbus/OH
Advanced Civil Design (fka Anser Advisory) Gahanna/OH
Administrative Controls Management (ACM) Westerville/OH
An evaluation committee reviewed and scored the proposals based on the criteria included in Columbus City Code, Section 329. The Department of Finance and Management recommends an award be made to Hill International, Inc.
3. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE INFO: Hill International, Inc., Vendor No. 000990, expires 10/22/27, Majority-designated.
Searches in the Excluded Party List System (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against Hill International, Inc.
4. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: It is requested that this Ordinance be handled as an emergency manner in order for the vendor to consolidate the project schedule to maintain the November 2027 deadline.
5. FISCAL IMPACT: There are sufficient funds and budgetary authority within the Streets & Highways Bond Fund - Fund No. 7704.
Title
To authorize the Director of Finance and Management, on behalf of the Office of Construction Management, to enter into an Owner Representation Services agreement with Hill International, Inc., for the Department of Public Service’s South Outpost project; to authorize an expenditure up to $497,027.00 within the Streets & Highways Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($497,027.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Finance and Management, on behalf of the Office of Construction Management, received three (3) technical proposals for Owner Representation Services for the Department of Public Service’s South Outpost project on December 12, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Finance and Management recommends an agreement be awarded to Hill International, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of Finance and Management to enter into an Owner Representation Services agreement, with Hill International, Inc., for the Department of Public Service’s South Outpost project, in an amount up to $497,027.00; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize an expenditure of funds within the Streets & Highways Bond Fund - Fund No. 7704; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Finance and Management, Office of Construction Management, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of Finance and Management to enter into an Owner Representation Services agreement with Hill International, Inc., for the Department of Public Service’s South Outpost project, in an emergency manner in order for the vendor to consolidate the project schedule to maintain the November 2027 deadline, 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 Finance and Management is hereby authorized to enter into an Owner Representation Services agreement, with Hill International, Inc., for the Department of Public Service’s South Outpost project, in an amount up to $497,027.00.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $497,027.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in the Streets & Highways Bond Fund - Fund No. 7704, in Object Class 06 - Capital Outlay, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. 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 4. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to transfer any unencumbered balance in the project account to the unallocated balance 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 no longer required for said project; except that no transfer shall be made from a project account by monies from more than one source.
SECTION 5. That the City Auditor is authorized to establish proper project accounting numbers as appropriate.
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 for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this Ordinance is 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.