Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a construction contract with Capital Electric Line Builders, LLC via the City’s Invitation For Bid process for the Smart Lighting Phase 2 LED Conversions project, C.I.P. Number 670878-100002, in an amount up to $1,337,261.54; to encumber funds for the Department of Public Service for prevailing wage services in an amount up to $2,000.00, for a total expenditure of $1,339,261.54; to apply for, accept, and execute paperwork necessary to enter into a grant agreement with the State of Ohio Department of Development (ODOD); and to repay any unused grant funds.
The Smart Lighting Improvements Phase Two LED Conversions project will implement light emitting diode (LED) street lighting conversions in the Phase 2 project area in the southside neighborhood generally bounded by High Street on the west, Livingston Avenue on the north, Alum Creek Drive to the east, and Marion Road to the south. LED lighting is a highly energy efficient and long lasting form of solid-state lighting that uses a semiconductor device to emit light. Instead of a filament heating up like an incandescent bulb, a semiconductor chip emits light when an electrical current passes through it, converting electricity directly into photons with very little energy lost as heat. The project will replace approximately 3,900 existing high pressure sodium (HPS) lights with LED.
This project is eligible for an “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant Brightening Ohio Communities Program” grant from the United States Department of Energy through the State of Ohio Department of Development (ODOD). These grant funds must be expended by April 15, 2026, and submitted for reimbursement in May 2026. The grant funds will reimburse the purchase of the LED bulbs used on the project, but only those installed by April 15, 2026.
This work will primarily be performed in Columbus Community - 63 - South Side.
TIMELINE: Contract work is required to be completed in a manner acceptable to the City within 365 days from the date that a Notice To Proceed (NTP) is given by the City.
ESTIMATED COST OF PROJECT: The bid amount and proposed award amount is $1,337,261.54, that includes a 15% construction contingency amount that will be utilized to fund needed and approved changes in the work. A contract modification to add funding will be needed if any grant funds must be returned because they are not expended by April 15, 2026.
Cost summary:
Original Contract $ 1,337,261.54
Prevailing Wage $ 2,000.00
Future Anticipated Needs $ 0.00
CONTRACT TOTAL $ 1,339,261.54
2. ECONOMIC IMPACT/ADVANTAGES; COMMUNITY OUTREACH; PROJECT DEVELOPMENT; ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS/ADVANTAGES OF PROJECT
The installation and conversion to LED lighting within the project area would provide both an additional sense of safety and security to the residents. This may also deter criminal activity, which would lessen the financial impact on city resources such as the Police and Fire departments. The Division of Power will have significant energy savings from the conversion to LED from high pressure sodium street lights.
3. BID INFORMATION
This project was formally advertised on the Vendor Services and Bid Express websites from September 25, 2025, through October 20, 2025. Six bids were received:
___Name Bid Amount _City/State Status
Capital Electric Line Builders $1,337,261.54 Parkville, MO MAJ
Complete General Construction $1,420,790.50 Columbus, Ohio MAJ
Asplund Construction, LLC $1,426,885.00 Columbus, Ohio MAJ
Danbert Electric Corp $1,641,487.58 Plain City, Ohio MAJ
Miller Cable Company $1,940,496.95 Green Springs, Ohio MAJ
ProLine Electric Inc $4,971,745.04 Lancaster, Ohio MAJ
Capital Electric Line Builders’ bid was evaluated and deemed the lowest, best, most responsive bid.
4. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE INFORMATION
Capital Electric Line Builders’ contract compliance number is CC-008916 and expires 8/25/27.
Capital Electric Line Builders plans to do this work without the use of subcontractors.
The certification of the Capital Electric Line Builders was in good standing at the time that bids were due.
5. PRE-QUALIFICATION STATUS
Capital Electric Line Builders has met code requirements with respect to pre-qualification, pursuant to relevant sections of Columbus City Code Chapter 329.
6. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding in the amount of $936,690.54 is budgeted, available, and appropriated within the Electricity Bond Fund, Fund 6303.
Partial funding for this project will be provided by a reimbursable grant in the amount of $402,571.00. The grant is an Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant Brightening Ohio Communities Program grant from the United States Department of Energy through the State of Ohio Department of Development (ODOD), Fund 6316, Grant #TBD. Grant Name 2025 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant. The grant funds must be appropriated. The grant funds must be expended by April 15, 2026. Any unexpended grant funds by that date are forfeited.
7. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested as awarded grant funding not expended by April 15, 2026, is lost and must be replaced with City funding, increasing the cost of this project to the City.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a construction contract with Capital Electric Line Builders for the Smart Lighting Phase 2 LED Conversions project; to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to apply for, accept, and execute documents necessary to enter into a grant agreement with the State of Ohio Department of Development and to repay any unused grant funds; to appropriate funds; to authorize the expenditure of up to $1,339,261.54 from the Electricity Bond Fund and the Electricity Grant Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($1,339,261.54)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities is engaged in the Smart Lighting Phase 2 LED Conversions project; and
WHEREAS, six bids for construction of the Smart Lighting Phase 2 LED Conversions project were received and opened on October 20, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the bid from Capital Electric Line Builders was evaluated and deemed the lowest, best, most responsive bid; and
WHEREAS, this project is eligible for an “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant Brightening Ohio Communities Program” grant from the United States Department of Energy through the State of Ohio Department of Development (ODOD); and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to apply for, accept, and execute paperwork necessary to enter into a grant agreement with the State of Ohio Department of Development; and
WHEREAS, funds must be appropriated within the Electricity Grant Fund, Fund 6316; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to enter into a construction services contract with Capital Electric Line Builders for the Smart Lighting Phase 2 LED Conversions project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to expend funds to pay for this 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 the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a construction contract with Capital Electric Line Builders for the Smart Lighting Phase 2 LED Conversions project to expend awarded grant funding by April 15, 2026, as grant funding not expended by then is lost and must be replaced with City funding, increasing the cost of this project to the City, 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 Director of Public Utilities is authorized to apply for, accept, and execute paperwork necessary to enter into a an “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant Brightening Ohio Communities Program” grant agreement from the United States Department of Energy through the State of Ohio Department of Development.
SECTION 2. 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 grant period, the sum of $402,571.00 is appropriated upon receipt of an executed grant agreement in Fund 6316 (Electricity Grant Fund), Grant Number to be determined by Auditor, Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay).
SECTION 3. That the Director of Public Utilities is hereby authorized to enter into a construction contract with Capital Electric Line Builders, 7050 Ensign Drive, Parkville, Missouri 64152, for the Smart Lighting Phase 2 LED Conversions project in an amount up to $1,337,261.54, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract on file in the Department of Public Utilities; and to encumber funds in an amount up to $2,000.00 with the Department of Public Service to provide prevailing wage services for the project.
SECTION 4. That an expenditure of $402,571.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized from the Electricity Grant Fund, Fund 6316, to pay for this construction contract per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That an expenditure of $936,690.54, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized from the Electricity Bond Fund, Fund 6303, to pay for this construction contract, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. 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 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 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 9. At the end of the grant period, any repayment of grant funds 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 10. 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.