Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the appropriation of $116,200.00 and expenditure up to $116,200.00 of grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), through the HOME investment Partnerships Program American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) and authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a contract with Amanda King, dba Spatialist LLC in an amount up to $116,200.00 for the purpose of managing the Supportive Services Program (Program) portion of the HOME-ARP program. The contract term shall be through the program year 2026, with the option to renew annually for the remainder of the HOME-ARP period of performance, September 30, 2030.
The City of Columbus was awarded a one-time grant of $16,433,138.00 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the American Rescue Plan Act and the Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME-ARP) which was authorized via Ordinance 0459-2023 and the City’s 2021 Annual Action Plan. HOME-ARP funds must be utilized to address the need for homelessness assistance and supportive services within the City of Columbus.
This funding creates a significant opportunity to meet the housing and supportive services needs of the City’s most vulnerable populations. The Supportive Services Program includes two separate but overlapping parts: 1) sourcing, contracting, and contract management of entities who will provide support services at multi-unit rental developments that are also funded with HOME-ARP funds (Housing Support Services), and 2) sourcing, contracting, and contract management of entities that will provide homeless assistance and supportive services (Homeless Support Services).
The Department of Development advertised RFQ026708 through the Vendor Services portal on January 16, 2024, and accepted proposals for HOME-ARP supportive services administration services through the Bonfire portal on February 14, 2024. Six (6) proposals were submitted in response to RFQ026708 in accordance with the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes. Amanda King, dba Spatialist LLC, was selected by an evaluation committee of staff from the Department of Development and the Department of Finance and Management, Grant Management Office. The qualifications were based on prior federal funding contracts, subrecipient management, grant administration experience, and other factors. The resulting contract will be established for two (2) years with an option to extend the contract through September 30, 2030.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency action is needed to avoid any delay in administering the Supportive Services Program through the HOME-ARP program, which will help provide the necessary services for the City’s most vulnerable populations.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding in the amount of $116,200.00 is available within the HOME-ARP grant (G442101).
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: The vendor’s contract compliance 043977 expires 1/5/2025.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a service contract with Amanda King, dba Spatialist, LLC in an amount up to $116,200.00 for the purpose of administering supportive services for the program under HOME-ARP; to authorize the appropriation of $116,200.00; to authorize the expenditure of $116,200.00; and to declare an emergency. ($116,200.00)
Body
WHEREAS, The City has been awarded $16,433,138.00 in HOME Investment Partnership’s Program - American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP funding) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to meet the housing and services needs of the City’s move vulnerable populations; and
WHEREAS, the goal of the Supportive Services Program includes two separate but overlapping parts: 1) sourcing, contracting, and contract management of entities who will provide support services at multi-unit rental developments that are also funded with HOME-ARP funds (Housing Support Services), and 2) sourcing, contracting, and contract management of entities that will provide homeless assistance and supportive services (Homeless Support Services); and
WHEREAS, the Department of Development seeks to a service contract with Amanda King, dba Spatialist LLC for the purpose of administering supportive services of the HOME-ARP program; and
WHEREAS, the appropriation in the amount of $116,200.00 and the expenditure in an amount up to $116,200.00 is necessary to provide supportive services to the City’s most vulnerable population; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into contract with Amanda King, dba Spatialist LLC to avoid any delay in administering the Supportive Services Program through the HOME-ARP program to help provide the necessary services for the most vulnerable, for the immediate preservation of the publice peace, health, 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 Development is authorized to enter into a contract with Amanda King, dba Spatialist, LLC in an amount up to $116,200.00 for the purpose of administering a supportive services program under the HOME-ARP program, the contract term shall be through the HOME-ARP program year 2026, with the option to renew annually for the remainder of the HOME-ARP period of performance, September 30, 2030.
SECTION 2. The appropriation of $116,200.00 or so much there of as be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 2201 (HOME-ARP), from Dept-Div 44-10 (Housing), G442101 (HOME-ARP), object class 03 (Services) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $116,200.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 2201 (HOME-ARP), Dept-Div 4410 (Housing), G442101 (HOME-ARP), object class 03 (Services).
SECTION 4. That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025,
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 at the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized and any unused City match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 8. That this contract is awarded in accordance with the relevant provisions of Section 329 of the Columbus City Code.
SECTION 9. 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.