Explanation
The Departments of Technology and Public Utilities will be upgrading the Water and Sewer Information Management System (WASIMS) from version 2.2.1.2.1 to version 3.1. Due to the gap in versions and the amount of code customization involved, extensive functional testing is required, so there is no negative impact on how water and sewer bills are calculated and processed. A testing strategy, methodology, and testing scenarios is an absolute necessity. Since the City does not possess the necessary expertise to prepare and publish such materials, it is necessary to outsource this effort. Rekadom Incorporated has detailed knowledge and experience with our billing software, therefore, it is in the best interest of the City of Columbus, Department of Public Utilities to enter into a contract with Rekadom Incorporated, to provide these testing services. The Contract Compliance Number for Rekadom Incorporated is 01-0517562. They do not have certified MBE/FBE status.
It is requested that this Ordinance be handled in an emergency manner, as the WASIMS upgrade is planned for October and we need to have testing completed by then.
FISCAL IMPACT: The Division of Water has allocated $300,000.00 for this testing in the 2003 Budget. There have been no expenditures of this nature in the last two years.
Title
To authorize the Public Utilities Director to enter into a contract with Rekadom Incorporated, to develop a testing strategy, methodology, and testing scenarios for the Water and Sewer billing system upgrade, for the Division of Water, to authorize the expenditure of $50,000.00 from Water Systems Operating Fund, and to declare an emergency. ($50,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Departments of Technology and Public Utilities will be upgrading the Water and Sewer Information Management System (WASIMS) from version 2.2.1.2.1 to version 3.1, and
WHEREAS, extensive functional testing is required due to the gap in versions and the amount of code customization involved, and
WHEREAS, a testing strategy, methodology, and testing scenarios is an absolute necessity, and
WHEREAS, the City does not possess the necessary expertise to prepare and publish such materials and is necessary to outsource this effort, and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Division of Water, Department of Public Utilities, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a contract, to develop a testing strategy, methodology, and testing scenarios for the Water and Sewer billing system upgrade, for the immediate preservation of 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 Public Utilities be and is hereby authorized to enter into a contract with Rekadom Incorporated, to develop a testing strategy, methodology, and testing scenarios for the Water and Sewer billing system upgrade, for the Division of Water, Department of Public Utilities.
Section 2. That the expenditure of $50,000.00 or as much thereof as may be needed is hereby authorized from Water Works Fund 600, Department 60-09, OCA Code 602995, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3369, to pay the cost thereof.
Section 3. 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.