Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Service to enter into a professional services contract with A. Morton Thomas & Associates, Inc. (AMT) in the amount of up to $1,000,000.00 for the Roadway - Nelson Road - Livingston Avenue to Main Street project.
The intent of this contract is to provide the Department of Public Service with continuing, contractual access to additional resources that are necessary to perform various professional engineering, survey, and technical expertise for the department to implement the Roadway - Nelson Road - Livingston Avenue to Main Street project, which includes narrowing Nelson Road and installing new sidewalk along the east side from Livingston Avenue to Main Street. Narrowing of Nelson Road will include relocation and replacement of the existing curb, storm structures, and curb ramps. Existing driveways will be reconstructed throughout the project and Nelson Road will be resurfaced full-width.
Ordinance 2794-2025 authorized the Director of Public Service to execute project agreements with the Central Ohio Transit Authority for projects approved to receive 2026 Transit Supportive Infrastructure Program funds for the Mobility - Nelson Road - Livingston Avenue to Main Street project.
The Department of Public Service, Office of Support Services, solicited Requests for Proposals for the Roadway - Nelson Road - Livingston Avenue to Main Street contract. The project was formally advertised on the Vendor Services and Bonfire web sites from November 19, 2025, to December 17, 2025. The City received three (3) response. All proposals were deemed responsive and were fully evaluated when the Evaluation Committee met on December 31, 2025. The responding firms were:
Company Name City/State Majority/MBE/WBE/VET/EBE/LGBTBE/SLBE
Korda/Nemeth Engineering, Inc . Columbus, OH MAJ
A. Morton Thomas & Associates, Inc. Columbus, OH MAJ
CHA Consulting, Inc. Columbus, OH MAJ
A. Morton Thomas & Associates, Inc. received the highest score by the evaluation committee and will be awarded the Roadway - Nelson Road - Livingston Avenue to Main Street contract.
Searches in the Excluded Party List System (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against A. Morton Thomas & Associates, Inc.
The certification of A. Morton Thomas & Associates, Inc. and all associated subcontractors was in good standing at the time the bid was awarded.
As part of their bid A. Morton Thomas & Associates, Inc. has proposed the following 2 subcontractors to work on the project:
Company Name City/State Majority/ODI Certification
AWR Engineering, LLC Blue Rock, Ohio WBE
National Engineering Architectural Columbus, OH MBE
Services Incorporated
2. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE INFORMATION
A. Morton Thomas & Associates, Inc.’s contract compliance number is CC045672 and expires 06/23/2027.
3. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for this contract is budgeted and available within Fund 7766, the Street and Highway Improvement Fund. An amendment to the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget to transfer funds is necessary to establish sufficient budget authority for the project. Funds will need to be appropriated.
4. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested in order to complete needed improvements at the earliest possible time and meet the requirements of the close out date for the Transit Supportive Infrastructure Program award to avoid penalty under the relevant grant agreement and to ensure the safety of the traveling public.
Title
To amend the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget; to authorize the transfer of funds within the Street and Highway Improvement Fund; to appropriate funds within the Street and Highway Improvement Fund; to authorize the Director of Public Service to enter into contract with A. Morton Thomas & Associates, Inc. for the Roadway - Nelson Road - Livingston Avenue to Main Street project; to authorize the expenditure of up to $1,000,000.00 from the Street and Highway Improvement Fund to pay for the project; and to declare an emergency. ($1,000,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, there is a need to enter into a professional services contract to provide for additional resources that are necessary to perform various professional engineering, survey, and technical expertise for the department to implement the Roadway - Nelson Road - Livingston Avenue to Main Street project, and;
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service, Office of Support Services, solicited Requests for Proposals for the Roadway - Nelson Road - Livingston Avenue to Main Street Project; and
WHEREAS, A. Morton Thomas & Associates, Inc. submitted the best overall proposal for this project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to enter into a contract with A. Morton Thomas & Associates, Inc. for the provision of professional engineering consulting services described above in the amount of up to $1,000,000.00; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary for Council to authorize a transfer of funds within Fund 7766, the Street and Highway Improvement Fund, to establish sufficient cash to pay for the project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary for Council to authorize an expenditure of funds within Fund 7766, the Street and Highway Improvement Fund to pay for the project; and
WHEREAS, funds must be appropriated within the Street and Highway Improvement Fund, Fund 7766; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into contract with A. Morton Thomas & Associates, Inc. to ensure the safety of the traveling public and to complete needed improvements at the earliest possible time and meet the requirements of the close out date for the Transit Supportive Infrastructure Program funding award to avoid penalty, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the 2025 Capital Improvements Budget authorized by ordinance 1790-2025 be amended as follows to establish sufficient authority for this project:
Fund / Project / Project Name / C.I.B. / Change / C.I.B. as Amended
7766 / P538041-100000 / Intersection - Dublin Rd at McKinley Av-Trabue Rd / $1,144,256.00/ ($1,000,000.00) / $144,256.00
7766 / P530161-100225 / Roadway - Nelson Road - Livingston Avenue to Main Street / $0.00 / $1,000,000.00 / $1,000,000.00
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $1,000,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 7766 (Street and Highway Imp Fund), from Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P538041-100000 (Intersection - Dublin Rd at McKinley Av-Trabue Rd), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) to Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P530161-100225 (Roadway - Nelson Road - Livingston Avenue to Main Street Project), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) between projects per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. 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, 2026, the sum of $1,000,000.00 is appropriated in Fund 7766 (Street and Highway Improvement Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the Director of Public Service be and is hereby authorized to enter into a professional services contract with A. Morton Thomas & Associates, Inc., 250 Civic Center Drive, Suite 330, Columbus, OH 43215, for the Roadway - Nelson Road - Livingston Avenue to Main Street project in the amount of up to $1,000,00.00.
SECTION 5. That the expenditure of $1,000,00.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7766 (Street and Highway Improvement), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), P530161-100225 (Roadway - Nelson Road - Livingston Avenue to Main Street Project), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) 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 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.