Explanation
BACKGROUND:
This ordinance authorizes the Board of Health to enter into and, if needed, modify contracts with the following vendors to provide HIV-related somatic and outpatient/ambulatory medical care, early intervention services, medical and non-medical case management services, medical transportation, mental health services, housing services, emergency financial assistance, and any other service allowable under the grant. The term of the contract with each qualified vendor is March 1, 2024, through February 28, 2025, with funding based on vendor estimates of annual funding requirements for allowable services. These services were advertised through vendor services with RFQ023101 on October 10, 2022, also referenced in Ordinance No. 0485-2023, according to bidding requirements of the City Code. This RFQ covers a 60-month grant period, March 1, 2023 to February 28, 2028. Annual contracts will be issued.
The City of Columbus, Columbus Public Health, receives funding for the Ryan White Part A HIV Care Grant Program from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The purpose of this grant is to improve access to quality medical care for persons with HIV or AIDS living in Central Ohio (Franklin, Licking, Delaware, Morrow, Union, Madison, Pickaway, and Fairfield counties). The goal is that each client will achieve viral suppression, which improves their quality of life and reduces the risk of spreading the infection.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation CC-010938: $316,882.00
Equitas Health CC-004721: $638,635.50
Collaborative Research LLC. CC-000696: $70,800.00
Heart of Ohio Family Health Centers CC-007697: $104,233.50
The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital CC-006172: $722,128.00
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center CC-006163: $407,224.00
Columbus Neighborhood Health Center, Dba PrimaryOne Health CC-005542: $118,062.00
TOTAL CONTRACTS: $2,377,965.00
Under the terms of the grant, funds must be used during the grant period or they are forfeited and CPH may be subject to penalties related to future grant funding. Previously, CPH has reallocated unused funds from vendors through appropriate contract modifications. These modifications oftentimes required additional legislation. Most recently, toward the goals of minimizing unused funds, maximizing available services, and avoiding funding penalties, HRSA has tasked CPH with improving the process by which unused funds are reallocated. Therefore, this ordinance authorizes the Board of Health to enter into initial contracts with qualified vendors, modify those contracts if portions of previously appropriated and encumbered funds are unused and reallocate unused funds amongst the initial vendors without the need for additional legislation. If there is a need to enter into contracts with additional vendors, the requirements of City Code procurement will be followed. As such, this ordinance requests a waiver of the competitive bidding provisions of City Code Chapter 329, as well as the contract modification provisions of Chapter 329.
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.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Contracts will be entered into by Columbus Public Health with vendors who meet federal requirements related to services allowable under the Ryan White Part A HIV Care Grant Program as well as comply with the RFQ and City bidding processes. This ordinance will authorize one ACPO in the amount of $2,377,965.00 to encumber funds using available grant appropriations for contracts with vendors.
Title
To authorize the Board of Health to enter into initial contracts with the following qualified vendors: AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Equitas Health, Collaborative Research, LLC, Heart of Ohio Family Health Centers, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, and Columbus Neighborhood Health Center d/b/a PrimaryOne Health; to authorize the Board of Health to modify those contracts if portions of previously appropriated and encumbered funds are unused, and reallocate unused funds amongst the initial vendors without the need for additional legislation for the Ryan White Part A HIV Care Grant Program for the provision of services allowable under the grant for persons with HIV or AIDS in central Ohio; to authorize the expenditure of $2,377,965.00 from the Health Department Grants Fund to pay the costs thereof; to waive applicable provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes; and to declare an emergency. ($2,377,965.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the city receives funding totaling $3,359,181.00 for the Ryan White Part A HIV Care Grant Program (the Grant) from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), 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, $2,377,965.00 in additional funds are needed for the continued provision of HIV-related somatic medical care, medical case management services, non-medical case management services, mental health services, housing services, emergency financial assistance, and any other service allowable under the Grant for a sum total of contracts not to exceed $2,377,965.00; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Health will enter into initial contracts with AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Equitas Health, Collaborative Research, LLC., Heart of Ohio Family Health Centers, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, and Columbus Neighborhood Health Center d/b/a PrimaryOne Health who will provide various HIV-related services to meet all grant deliverables required by the Grant; and
WHEREAS, HRSA 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 is necessary to allow the Board of Health to enter into and modify 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 is necessary for the Board of Health to reallocate appropriated and encumbered unused funds by modifying existing contracts amongst the initial vendors identified in this ordinance to provide the required services that meet federal requirements for this grant funding without the need for additional legislation; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the city to waive provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes relating to competitive bidding and contract modifications; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of Columbus Public Health in that it is immediately necessary to enter into contracts in order to continue services without interruption for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, and safety; 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 contracts for a total amount not to exceed $2,377,965.00 for HIV-related services to persons with HIV or AIDS in central Ohio, for the period of March 1, 2024 through February 28, 2025, with AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Equitas Health, Collaborative Research, LLC. Heart of Ohio Family Health Centers, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, and Columbus Neighborhood Health Center d/b/a PrimaryOne Health.
SECTION 2. That the Board of Health is hereby authorized to modify those contracts if portions of previously appropriated and encumbered funds are unused, and reallocate unused funds by modifying existing contracts amongst the initial vendors that are identified in this ordinance; to provide the required services and that meet the federal grant requirements without the need for additional legislation, for services allowable under the Ryan White Part A HIV Care Grant Program from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration.
SECTION 3. That to pay the cost of said contracts, the expenditure of $2,377,965.00, 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 4. 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 5. 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 6. That Council finds it in the City's best interest to waive the competitive bidding and contract modification provisions of City Code Chapter 329 to enter into the contract modifications described in Section 2 of this Ordinance, and does hereby waive the same.
SECTION 7. 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.