Title
To authorize and direct the Director of Finance to enter into a contract for an option to purchase medical supplies with Owens & Minor, a Novation company, to authorize the expenditure of $100,000.00, to waive the provisions of competitive bidding, and to declare an emergency.($100,000.00)
Explanation
Background: This legislation authorizes the City of Columbus Director of Finance to enter into a contract with Owens & Minor, on behalf of the Division of Fire, for the purchase of medical supplies.
The Columbus Division of Fire provides emergency medical services to all in need. With the advent of EMS Billing, the Division of Fire must stock more medical supplies and restock supplies quickly. To maximize city resources, the Division of Fire worked with the Finance Department's Purchasing Office to obtain optimal pricing available through a national buying consortium for hospitals, Novations.
The Ohio State University Hospital has agreed to sponsor the City of Columbus, Division of Fire as an Alternate Purchasing Location (APL) through the buying consortium Novation. As an APL of OSU, the Columbus Division of Fire will see significant savings from the Novation contract with Owens & Minor. Cost comparisons of the most frequently used medical supplies done by the Purchasing Office indicate average savings of 20%.
Bid Information: The provisions of competitive bidding are being waived as the pricing was established through a cooperative purchasing group, Novation, per Ordinance 1608-2003.
Contract Compliance: 542049200
Emergency Designation: An emergency designation is requested to insure these purchases may begin promptly and continue without interruption.
Fiscal Impact: Funds are budgeted within the Fire Division's 2004 General Fund Budget.
Body
WHEREAS, the Division of Fire, in an effort to maximize city resources, worked with the Purchasing Office to obtain optimal pricing for medical supplies; and
WHEREAS, the Fire Division and Purchasing Office analyzed several purchasing options for medical supplies products/services; and
WHEREAS, the Division of Fire, and thus the City of Columbus, will qualify for lower pricing on medical supplies purchased via a buying consortium contract with Owens & Minor; and
WHEREAS, competitive bidding is being waived as the pricing was established through Novation, a cooperative purchasing group, and
WHEREAS, this ordinance is being submitted as an emergency measure so medical supplies can be delivered in time to maintain minimum stock levels on City of Columbus emergency vehicles; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Division of Fire, Department of Public Safety in that it is immediately necessary to enter into a contract with Owens & Minor, and waive provisions of competitive bidding, thereby preserving 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 Director of Finance is hereby authorized to enter into a contract between the City of Columbus, on behalf of the Division of Fire, and Owens & Minor to purchase medical supplies.
Section 2. That in accordance with Section 327.27, this Council finds it is in the best interest of the City of Columbus to waive, and does hereby waive, the provisions of Section 329.06 (Formal Competitive Bidding) of the Columbus City Code to permit the authorization to enter into a contract for these purchases.
Section 3. That the expenditure of $100,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary is hereby authorized to be expended from the General Fund 010, Public Safety Department, Division of Fire 30-04, OCA Code 301531, OL3 Code 2207, to pay the cost thereof.
Section 4. 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.