Explanation
BACKGROUND:
The City of Columbus, Columbus Public Health, receives funding for the Implementing Enhanced HIV Prevention and Surveillance for Health Departments to End the HIV Epidemic in Ohio Grant Program from the Ohio Department of Health. The purpose of this grant is to create “Disruptive Innovation” by seeking to prevent new HIV infections by focusing on four (4) pillars: treating HIV to achieve viral suppression, diagnose HIV so that all persons know their HIV status, prevent infections through PrEP and syringe support programs and respond to HIV clusters or outbreaks within the community. This grant specifically focuses on the diagnose and prevent pillars.
This ordinance authorizes the Board of Health to enter into a contract with Stonewall Columbus to fund the delivery of Ending the HIV Epidemic services, including but not limited to resource navigation and client transportation to support at-risk clients that test HIV negative access PrEP services as well as social determinates of health resources with will provide the opportunity to achieve the best health possible. The term of the contract is August 1, 2022 through July 31, 2023 with funding based on vendor estimates of annual funding requirements for allowable services. Using Bonfire, competitive bids were advertised and solicited in accordance with the relevant provisions of Columbus City Code Chapter 329 related to competitive bidding. Specifically, Bonfire RFQ021189 posted on August 15, 2022 and covers a 58-month grant period with annual contracts being issued within the grant fiscal year, according to bidding requirements of the City Code.
This ordinance is submitted as an emergency in order to ensure that quality medical care continues to be available to eligible persons living with HIV/AIDS and to ensure timely payment to providers.
Neither vendor is not debarred according to the Excluded Parties listing of the Federal Government and are not listed in the Auditor of States database for Findings for Recovery.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The contract will be entered into by Columbus Public Health with Stonewall Columbus for services allowable under the Implementing Enhanced HIV Prevention and Surveillance for Health Departments to End the HIV Epidemic in Ohio Grant Program as well as comply with the RFQ and City bidding processes. This ordinance will authorize one ACPO in the amount of $150,000.00 to encumber funds using available grant appropriations for contracts with vendors.
Title
To authorize the Board of Health to enter into a contract with Stonewall Columbus for the Implementing Enhanced HIV Prevention and Surveillance for Health Departments to End the HIV Epidemic in Ohio Grant Program; to authorize the expenditure of $150,000.00 from the Health Department Grants Fund to pay the costs thereof; and to declare an emergency. ($150,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the city receives funding totaling $1,200,000.00 for the Implementing Enhanced HIV Prevention and Surveillance for Health Departments to End the HIV Epidemic in Ohio Grant Program (the Grant) from the Ohio Department of Health which requires Columbus Public Health (CPH) to assure quality medical care to eligible persons living with HIV or AIDS in Central Ohio; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to allow the Board of Health to enter into contracts for services; and,
WHEREAS, $150,000.00 in additional funds are needed for the continued provision of HIV-related early intervention services and any other service allowable under the Grant for a sum total of contracts not to exceed $150,000.00; and,
WHEREAS, the Board of Health will enter into an initial contract with Stonewall Columbus who will provide various HIV-related services to meet all grant deliverables required by the Grant; and
WHEREAS, ODH has tasked CPH to improve the efficiency of the reallocation of grant funds as necessary to minimize unused funds, maximize available services, and avoid funding penalties; and,
WHEREAS, it may be necessary to allow the Board of Health to enter into contracts with vendors that are identified by CPH as qualified to provide the required services and meet federal requirements for the Grant; and,
WHEREAS, it may be necessary for the Board of Health to reallocate appropriated and encumbered unused funds by modifying existing contracts or entering into additional contracts with vendors that are newly identified by CPH as qualified to provide the required services and that meet federal requirements for this grant funding; and,
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of Columbus Board of Health in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Board to enter into this contract in order to continue services without interruption, 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 Board of Health is hereby authorized to enter into contract with Stonewall Columbus, for a total amount not to exceed $150,000.00, for HIV-related services to persons with HIV or AIDS in central Ohio, for the period of August 1, 2022 through July 31, 2023.
SECTION 2. That the Board of Health is hereby authorized to reallocate unused funds and enter into contracts with additional vendors that may be identified by Columbus Public Health as qualified to provide the required services and that meet the federal grant requirements for services allowable under the Implementing Enhanced HIV Prevention and Surveillance for Health Departments to End the HIV Epidemic in Ohio Grant Program from the Ohio Department of Health. Legislation for such contracts shall be submitted when vendors are identified.
SECTION 4. That to pay the cost of said contract, the expenditure of $150,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized from the Health Department Grants Fund, Fund No. 2251, object class 03 per the attached accounting document.
SECTION 5. That for 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.