Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a contract through the City’s RFP process with Arcadis US, Inc. for professional engineering services for the Jackson Pike Water Reclamation Plant (JPWRP) Dewatering Improvements project, CIP #650246-100001, in an amount up to $3,132,414.00.
This contract is necessary to ensure continued operation of the dewatering centrifuges at the JPWRP. The plant will become non-compliant without the dewatering centrifuges as they provide the primary means of removing solids to the various disposal outlets. Recent electrical equipment failures have necessitated acceleration of this capital project to a CMAR delivery model to complete the improvements as expeditiously as possible.
This contract is for preliminary design, detailed design, and services during construction to replace existing problematic sludge dewatering centrifuges, feed pumps, cake pumps, electrical gear, and supporting equipment at JPWRP. The work will include select building improvements to increase resiliency of the dewatering and thickening systems. The work will also evaluate side stream nutrient removal to improve treatment capacity at JPWRP and improve biosolids nutrient composition for more land application opportunity.
Two planned contract modifications to add funding are anticipated. One modification is planned at the completion of design development and a second is planned for services during construction.
The Columbus Community is 99 - Citywide.
TIMELINE: The contract is expected to begin in January 2026 and expected to complete preliminary design in 13 months. CMAR procurement and step 2 services will be acquired before the end of step 1 to begin coordination of the detailed design components. Step 2 services are planned to last through February 2028. Step 3 services will be started in March 2028 and construction will continue until construction is completed and accepted by the City, which is planned to be August 2029.
ESTIMATED COST OF CONTRACT: The proposed award amount is $3,132,414.00, including a 10% contingency amount that will be utilized to fund needed and approved changes in the work. Future contract modifications are anticipated.
Original Contract (current) $3,132,414.00
Modification #1 (future) $3,000,000.00
Modification #2 (future) $3,000,000.00
CONTRACT TOTAL $9,132,414.00
2. ECONOMIC IMPACT/ADVANTAGES; COMMUNITY OUTREACH; PROJECT DEVELOPMENT; ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS/ADVANTAGES OF PROJECT
The project is essential for the continued successful operation of JPWRP. A failure of the dewatering system would put the facility out of compliance, negatively impact the Scioto River, and prevent new construction from occurring in the City as OEPA will not permit new construction without sufficient wastewater treatment capacity. The project will utilize local labor and return funds into the local economy.
3. BID INFORMATION
This project was formally advertised on the Vendor Services and Bonfire websites from 5/16/2025 through 6/20/2025. Three proposals were received:
Name C.C. No. Exp. Date_____ ___City/State Status
Arcadis US, Inc. CC-009409 1/21/2027 Columbus, OH MAJ
AECOM Technical Services, Inc. CC-010897 5/28/2026 Columbus, OH MAJ
HDR Engineering, Inc. CC-008851 3/11/2026 Columbus, OH MAJ
All proposals were deemed responsive. The evaluation committee reviewed the proposals and recommended the contract for the JPWRP Dewatering Improvements project be awarded to Arcadis US, Inc.
4. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE INFORMATION
Arcadis US, Inc.’s contract compliance number is CC-009409 and expires 5/1/27. Searches in the Excluded Party List System (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against Arcadis US, Inc.
As part of their proposal, Arcadis US, Inc. has proposed using the following sub-consultants to perform contract work:
Company Name City/State ODI Cert. Status
Black & Veatch Corporation Columbus, Ohio MAJ
CCI Engineering Services Columbus, Ohio WBE
DLZ Ohio, Inc. Columbus, Ohio MBE
Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. Columbus, Ohio MAJ
Moody Engineering, LLC Columbus, Ohio MBE
Resource International, Inc. Columbus, Ohio WBE
The certification of Arcadis US, Inc. and the above companies was in good standing at the time of the contract modification.
5. FISCAL IMPACT
This project is anticipated to be financed with a Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF). The WPCLF program is jointly administered by the Ohio EPA's Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance and the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA). City Council authorized this loan application and acceptance of funding via Ordinance 2720-2024 passed by Council on 10/28/2024. This loan is expected to be approved in December of 2025. This ordinance is contingent upon the loan being approved by OWDA.
The WPCLF program is now a reimbursement program. Public Utilities will need to pay Arcadis US, Inc.’s invoices and then submit them to OWDA for reimbursement.
The 2025 Capital Improvement Budget will need to be amended to align budget authority with the amount of the needed loan. Funds will need to be appropriated and expended in the Sanitary Revolving Loan Fund, Fund 6111.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to enter into a professional engineering services contract with Arcadis US, Inc. for the Jackson Pike Water Reclamation Plant Dewatering Improvements project; to authorize the appropriation of funds within the Sanitary Revolving Loan Fund; to make this ordinance contingent upon the Ohio Water Development Authority approving a loan for this project; and to authorize the expenditure of up to $3,132,414.00 from the Sanitary Revolving Loan Fund for the contract. ($3,132,414.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities is engaged in the JPWRP Dewatering Improvements project; and
WHEREAS, three proposals for the JPWRP Dewatering Improvements project were received and evaluated by the evaluation committee; and
WHEREAS, the evaluation committee recommended Arcadis US, Inc. be awarded the contract for this project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to enter into a professional engineering services contract with Arcadis US, Inc. for the JPWRP Dewatering Improvements project; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 2720-2024 authorized this project to be funded by a loan to be obtained through the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF); and
WHEREAS, this ordinance is contingent upon that loan being approved; and
WHEREAS, the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget must be amended to align budget authority with the amount of the loan; and
WHEREAS, funds must be appropriated within the Sanitary Revolving Loan Fund, Fund 6111; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize an expenditure of funds from the Sanitary Revolving Loan Fund, Fund 6111, to pay for the contracted services for the project; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget authorized by Ordinance 1790-2025 be amended as follows to establish sufficient budget authority for this project:
Fund / Project Number / Project Name (Funding Source) / Current Authority / Revised Authority / Change
6111 / 650246-100001 / JPWRP Dewatering Improvements (WPCLF) / $1,330,000.00 / $3,132,414.00 / $1,802,414.00 (to match loan)
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, the sum of $3,132,414.00 is appropriated in Fund 6111 (Sanitary Revolving Loan Fund), per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the Director of the Department of Public Utilities is hereby authorized to enter into a professional services and construction services contract for the JPWRP Dewatering Improvements project with Arcadis US, Inc., 7575 Huntington Park Drive, Suite 130, Columbus, OH 43235, in an amount up to $3,132,414.00, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract on file in the Department of Public Utilities.
SECTION 4. That Ordinance 2720-2024 authorized this project to be funded by a loan to be obtained through the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) Loan Account and this ordinance is contingent upon that loan being approved.
SECTION 5. That the expenditure of $3,132,414.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized to pay for this contract per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That 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 7. 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 8. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer the unencumbered balance in a project account to the unallocated balance account within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administering said project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for said project.
SECTION 9. That this Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.