Explanation
BACKGROUND: The City receives annual entitlement Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) awards from the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The purpose of this ordinance is to authorize the Director of the Department of Finance and Management to enter into various agreements with multiple vendors totaling the amount of $446,500.00 for the time period starting January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021 to provide CDBG-eligible public services for the residents of the City of Columbus.
Stone Environmental Engineering and Science Inc. FEID#31-1262683 WBE CC expires 6/30/24 $60,000.00
Rebuilding Together Central Ohio dba ModCon Living FEID#311317238 CC pending $86,500.00
Economic & Community Development Institute FEID#311145544 CC expires 4/21/23 $200,000.00
Legal Aid Society of Columbus FEID#314416407 CC expires 4/27/22 $100,000.00
Stone Environmental Engineering and Science Inc. will provide consultation services and assist the City in preparing environmental review records. The Department of Finance and Management, Grants Management Section solicited proposals to provide environmental review services and Stone submitted their response to the request for proposals (RFQ015377) through the Columbus Bonfire portal in accordance with City procurement standards.
ModCon Living will utilize grant funds to expand the existing Tool Library and the Home Ownership Sustainability Program available to all City residents and provide discounted membership fees for qualifying low to moderate income households.
The Economic Community Development Institute will utilize grant funds as part of the Capital for Construction program. Specifically, the funding will be used to provide technical assistance to eligible small businesses and will target minority business enterprises.
The Legal Aid Society of Columbus will utilize grant funds to advocate for residents in Columbus by using legal tools to encourage landlords to invest in the maintenance of their rental properties and make improvements for sustainable living conditions for low to moderate income tenants.
The previous three vendors submitted proposals for CDBG-eligible programs in response to the Request for Proposals solicited by the Department of Finance and Management, Grants Management Section for the 2022 program year. The 2022 CDBG RFP solicited all CDBG-eligible project proposals through the Columbus Bonfire portal in accordance with City procurement standards.
Emergency action is requested to immediately enter into agreements with the various vendors listed above for the ongoing and timely operation and implementation of the CDBG programs for the program year 2022 beginning on January 1.
This ordinance is contingent on the passage of ordinance 3221-2021 to appropriate CDBG funding for 2022 program year.
FISCAL IMPACT: This legislation will authorize the expenditure of $446,500.00 from the 2022 Community Development Block Grant Fund. ($446,500.00)
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Finance and Management to enter into contracts with Stone Environmental Engineering and Science Inc., Rebuilding Together Central Ohio dba ModCon Living, Economic & Community Development Institute, and Legal Aid Society of Columbus to carry out 2022 CDBG programs; to authorize the expenditure of $446,500.00 from the Community Development Block Grant fund; and to declare an emergency. ($446,500.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Finance and Management receives annual entitlement grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for Community Development Block Grant programs; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Finance and Management, Grants Management Section solicited proposals to provide CDBG-eligible services and each vendor submitted their response in accordance with City procurement standards; and
WHEREAS, City Council has approved ordinance #3221-2021 to adopt the proposed 2022 Annual Action Plan; and
WHEREAS, the CDBG-eligible project proposals from Rebuilding Together Central Ohio dba ModCon Living, Economic & Community Development Institute, and Legal Aid Society of Columbus are part of said plan; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to enter into contract with Stone Environmental Engineering and Science Inc. to provide consultation services for environmental reviews of federally funded projects; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to enter into an agreement with Rebuilding Together Central Ohio, dba ModCon Living, to expand the Tool Library and the Home Ownership Sustainability programs; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to enter into an agreement with Economic & Community Development Institute to provide technical assistance to targeted small business as part of the Capital for Construction program; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to enter into an agreement with Legal Aid Society of Columbus to provide legal services to ensure sustainable living conditions for Columbus residents; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual and daily operation of the Department of Finance and Management in that is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into agreements with the previously listed vendors for the ongoing timely operation and implementation of the 2022 CDBG grant programs, thereby preserving 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 Department of Finance and Management is hereby authorized and directed to enter into a contract with Stone Environmental Engineering and Science Inc. to provide consultation services for environmental reviews for an amount not to exceed $60,000.00 for the time period of January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022.
SECTION 2. That the Director of the Department of Finance and Management is hereby authorized and directed to enter into an agreement with Rebuilding Together Central Ohio, dba ModCon Living, to expand the Tool Library and the Home Ownership Sustainability Program for an amount not to exceed $86,500.00 for the time period of January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022.
SECTION 3. That the Director of the Department of Finance and Management is hereby authorized and directed to enter into an agreement with Economic & Community Development Institute to provide technical assistance to targeted small business as part of the Capital for Construction program for an amount not to exceed $200,000.00 for the time period of January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022.
SECTION 4. That the Director of the Department of Finance and Management is hereby authorized and directed to enter into an agreement with Legal Aid Society of Columbus to provide legal services to ensure sustainable living conditions for Columbus residents for an amount not to exceed $100,000.00 for the time period of January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022.
SECTION 5. That these agreements are awarded in accordance to the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of City Code relating to a competitive request for proposals.
SECTION 6. That to pay the cost of these agreements the expenditure of $446,500.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, from CDBG Fund 2248 is hereby authorized per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 7. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
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. 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.