Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Office of Violence Prevention to enter into contracts with The Saunders Company LLC and Canvaas Consulting LLC for community outreach, education, and engagement activities related to violence prevention. Both the Saunders Company and Canvaas Consulting have experience in creating campaigns that target the unique demographic disproportionately impacted by community violence. It is therefore necessary to engage these companies, as their competencies and understanding of the impacted communities will help ensure the creation of a campaign that will connect with this community in order for the campaign to be impactful and effective. In addition to direct consulting services, this ordinance also seeks authorization to encumber funding for various ancillary needs such as advertising, merchandise, community events (including food and beverage), and other related campaign costs. Finally, this ordinance authorizes a consulting and advisory services contract for violence intermediation, public safety, and gang intervention. These services are needed to inform and advise the continued build-out of the Columbus Violence Intervention program.
The Saunders Company LLC; Tax ID 464722967; Vendor Account # 008789, CC-008789
Canvaas Consulting LLC; Tax ID 823821580; Vendor Account # 031214, CC-031214
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: The Office of Violence Prevention respectfully requests this legislation be considered an emergency in order for needed community violence prevention programming can be implemented as quickly as possible.
Bid Waiver Justification: A waiver of the competitive bidding provisions of Columbus City Code is being requested due to the specialized nature of the consulting services and related programmatic costs necessary for successful programmatic implementation.
Fiscal Impact: This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $220,000.00 collectively from the General Fund with The Saunders Company LLC and Canvaas Consulting LLC for community outreach, education, and engagement activities related to violence prevention, as well as ancillary program supplies, services, and professional services.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Office of Violence Prevention to enter into contract with The Saunders Company LLC and Canvaas Consulting LLC for community outreach, education, and engagement activities related to violence prevention; to authorize the Director of the Office of Violence Prevention to establish purchase orders for labor, material, supplies, services and/or professional services in conjunction with necessary programmatic needs; to waive the competitive bidding provisions of the Columbus City Code; to authorize the transfer of $35,000.00 within the General Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $220,000.00 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($220,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, The Office of Violence Prevention has a need for consulting services related to community outreach, education, and engagement activities; and
WHEREAS, Both the Saunders Company and Canvaas Consulting have experience in creating campaigns that target the unique demographic disproportionately impacted by community violence; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to encumber funding for various ancillary and critical programmatic needs such as advertising, merchandise, community events (including food and beverage), and other related campaign costs; and
WHEREAS, it is also necessary to contract for future consulting and advisory services for violence intermediation, public safety, and gang intervention, which are necessary to inform and advise the continued build-out of the Columbus Violence Intervention program; and
WHEREAS: A waiver of the competitive bidding provisions of Columbus City Code is being requested due to the specialized nature of the consulting services and related programmatic costs necessary for successful programmatic implementation; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Office of Violence Prevention in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into contract with The Saunders Company LLC and Canvaas Consulting LLC for community outreach, education, and engagement activities related to violence prevention, as well as related programmatic support and consulting supplies and services, in order for necessary violence prevention programming to be implemented as quickly as possible, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS, OHIO:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Office of Violence Prevention is hereby authorized to enter into separate contracts with The Saunders Company LLC and Canvaas Consulting LLC for community outreach, education, and engagement activities related to violence prevention.
SECTION 2. That the Director of the Office of Violence Prevention is here by authorized to establish purchase orders for labor, material, supplies, services and/or professional services in conjunction with in conjunction with necessary violence prevention programmatic needs.
SECTION 3. That the transfer of $35,000.00, is hereby authorized within the General Fund 1000, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
See Attached File: Ord 3471-2024 Legislation Template.xls
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of $220,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed in regard to the action authorized in Sections 1 and 2, is hereby authorized from the General Fund 1000, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
See Attached File: Ord 3471-2024 Legislation Template.xls
SECTION 5. That this Council finds it to be in the best interests of the City to waive the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of City Code relating to professional services.
SECTION 6. That the monies in the foregoing Sections shall be paid upon order of the Director of the Office of Violence Prevention, and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except by voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
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 this Council hereby recognizes that this ordinance does not identify all potential contractors or vendors for the expenditure purposes authorized herein and hereby delegates sole and final contracting decisions relative to the determination of lowest, best, most responsive and most responsible vendor(s) to the Director of the Office of Violence Prevention. All contracts will be entered into in compliance with the relevant provisions of the Columbus City Code, Chapter 329 and, if applicable, Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS) contracts.
SECTION 10. 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.