Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to modify a contract with BBC Research & Consulting, Inc. and expand the scope to provide community engagement, and to increase the amount by $38,100.00 for the additional community engagement services to conduct qualitative in-depth interviews with small and diverse business owners as part of the 2026 City of Columbus Availability Study.
Original contract amount $ 374,462.00 PO557903
MOD No.1 amount $ 38,100.00
Total contract amount $ 412,562.00
In accordance with C.C. 329.09(a):
1. The amount of additional funds being requested under this modification is $38,100.00.
2. The need for additional services was unforeseen at the time the initial contract was awarded, but a legislative modification is required by operation of C.C. 329.09.
3. It is in the City’s best interest to continue with the BBC Research & Consulting, Inc. current contract to ensure continuity as they are actively in the process of conducting the 2026 City of Columbus Availability Study. The Office of Diversity and Inclusion advertised RFQ031565 on Vendor Services in October and November of 2025 for these services. Eleven proposals were reviewed, and the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion entered into contract based on careful consideration and evaluation in accordance with Columbus City Code Section 329.01. For the original contract, the contract period is from the date of approval of the purchase order to April 01, 2027.
4. The price for the additional services in this modification was determined by a review of the additional need for qualitative in-depth interviews by the vendor, with guidance from city leadership staff.
Based on the quality of their work to date, the Office Diversity and Inclusion Office seeks to extend the BBC Research & Consulting, Inc. contract to add community engagement services to conduct qualitative in-depth interviews with small and diverse business owners as part of the 2026 City of Columbus Availability Study.
EMERGENCY JUSTIFICATION: This ordinance is submitted as an emergency to prevent delays to the division’s availability study.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for this contract is available in the division's General Fund ($38,100.00).
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: BBC Research & Consulting, Inc. is an approved vendor with the City, with vendor compliance number CC-018879, expiration date 3/3/2028.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to modify a contract with BBC Research & Consulting, Inc to increase funding and to expand the scope services to provide community engagement services; to authorize the expenditure of $38,100.00 from the 2026 General Fund Budget; and to declare an emergency. ($38,100.00)
Body
WHEREAS, this legislation authorizes the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to modify a contract with BBC Research & Consulting, Inc to expand the scope of services to include qualitative in-depth interviews with small and diverse business owners as part of the 2026 City of Columbus Availability Study per the contract, and to add additional funding in the amount by $38,100.00 and authorize the expenditure in this amount, for the community engagement services.
WHEREAS, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion advertised RFQ031565 on Vendor Services in October and November of 2025 for these services. Eleven proposals were reviewed, and the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion entered into contract based on careful consideration and evaluation in accordance with Columbus City Code Section 329.01; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into a contract modification with BBC Research & Consulting, Inc to increase funding and to expand the scope of services to include community engagement services to conduct qualitative in-depth interviews with small and diverse business owners as part of the 2026 City of Columbus Availability Study; and to continue services without interruption, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; and now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion is hereby authorized to modify a contract with BBC Research & Consulting, Inc to increase funding in the amount by $38,100.00 for community engagement services and to expand the scope of services to provide community engagement to conduct qualitative interviews with small and diverse business owners as part of the 2026 City of Columbus Availability Study.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose as stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $38,100.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 1000 (General Fund), Dept-Div 4003 (Administration), object class 03 (Services) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. 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 4. That the City Auditor is authorized to establish such accounting codes as necessary, to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all agreements, contracts, or modifications associated with this Ordinance.
SECTION 5. That this modification is made in accordance with the relevant provisions of the City Code Charter 329 relating to contract modifications.
SECTION 6. 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 approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.