Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Technology to modify and extend a contract with ABA Communications/Chavez Group to provide closed captioning service for Government Television Channel 3 (GTC-3). The government channel allows citizens of Columbus education and knowledge of government programs and services through the delivery of live or videotaped programming, such as Columbus City Council hearings and meetings, State of the City Address and Martin Luther King Celebration. The primary objective of this service is to meet the demand from the hearing-impaired citizens to receive all the information that is conveyed through broadcasting provided by GTC-3.
The Department of Technology exercised due diligence by executing a formal bid process, via the Purchasing Department, which was advertised for the closed captioning services, Bid Solicitation No. SA000596, opened on January 15, 2004, with the option to renew yearly for two additional one-year periods, subject to the approval of both parties and the approval of appropriations. This ordinance will provide funding for the first additional one year period, in the amount of $26,000.00, with a coverage period from March 1, 2005 through February 28, 2006. It is necessary to modify and extend this contract to insure uninterrupted closed captioning service to the citizens of Columbus for Columbus City Council meetings and other selected GTC-3 programming.
FISCAL IMPACT: During fiscal year 2003, $36,525.00 and $17,472.50 in 2004 was expended with ABA Communications/Chavez Group for closed captioning services. Funding in the amount of $34,200.00 was budgeted and is available in the 2005 Department of Technology, Telecommunications Division, cable fund budget. The cost associated with this contract period, from March 1, 2005 through February 28, 2006, is $26,000.00.
EMERGENCY: There is an immediate need to modify and extend the contract with ABA Communications/Chavez Group, to insure uninterrupted closed captioning service to the citizens of Columbus for Columbus City Council meetings and other selected GTC-3 programming.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: 553669212 Expiration: 06-30-2005
Title
To authorize the Department of Technology to modify and extend a contract with ABA Communications/Chavez Group for closed captioning services, to authorize the expenditure of $26,000.00 from the cable fund, and to declare and emergency. ($26,000.00)
Body
WHERAS, this legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Technology to modify and extend a contract with ABA Communications/Chavez Group to provide closed captioning service for Government Television Channel 3 (GTC-3); and
WHEREAS, the government channel allows citizens of Columbus education and knowledge of government programs and services through the delivery of live or videotaped programming, such as Columbus City Council hearings and meetings, State of the City Address and Martin Luther King celebration; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Technology exercised due diligence by executing a formal bid process which was advertised for the closed captioning services, Bid Solicitation No. SA000596, opened on January 15, 2004, with the option to renew yearly for two additional one-year periods, subject to the approval of both parties and the approval of appropriations; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance will provide funding for the first additional one year period, in the amount of$26,000.00, for the period of March 1, 2005 through February 28, 2006; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in that it is necessary to modify and extend a contract with ABA Communications/Chavez Group for closed captioning services in order to provide uninterrupted services; thereby preserving the public peace, property, health, safety and welfare; now therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1: That the Director of the Department of Technology be and is hereby authorized to modify and extend a contract with ABA Communications/Chavez Group, for closed captioning services for the Government Television Channel 3.
SECTION 2: That the expenditure of $26,000.00 or so much thereof as maybe necessary is hereby authorized to be expended from:
Div.: 47-03|Fund: 203|SubFund: 001|OCA Code: 289652|Obj. Level 1: 03|Obj. Level 3: 3336|Amount: $26,000.00
SECTION 3: 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.