Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Public Safety to enter into a contract with Medical Priority Consultants Inc., DBA Priority Dispatch, for procuring additional ProQA software licenses, training and overall project management for the Division of Police Communication Technicians and 911 call takers. Presently, the Communications Technicians answer all 911 calls but transfer the fire and emergency medical services calls to the Fire Alarm Office (FAO) for eventual dispatching. The communication center is increasing the number of civilian employees who will be 911 call takers which requires the current Communication Technicians be certified to answer all 911 emergency medical and fire calls. To be able to certify the civilian communication technicians and future 911 call takers, training will be conducted along with the purchase of additional seat licenses for these additional civilian call taker positions. Priority Dispatch is the current vendor used to certify current Columbus firefighters that answer 911 emergency medical and fire calls at the 911 communication center.
ProQA is based on the Medical Priority Dispatch System and provides a standardized format for carrying out the practice of priority dispatching. It is an automated system which operates by evaluating incoming information according to logical rules built on expert medical knowledge. The Emergency Medical Dispatcher then uses the information provided to send the appropriate response configuration. Medical Priority Consultants is the sole source supplier of this software and maintenance. It would not be cost efficient to seek an alternative software and training regiment for 911 call taking at this time.
Bid Information: This acquisition is being processed in accordance with the sole source provisions of Section 329 of the Columbus City Codes. Priority Dispatch is the proprietary software licensing and maintenance contractor for the City's current ProQA system and is linked with the Public Safety CAD and 911 phone systems.
Contract Compliance: Contract Compliance Number #870447422
Emergency Designation: Emergency designation is requested to ensure that the civilian call takers are ready as soon as possible to answer emergency medical and fire calls and to ensure the city attains the negotiated price discount.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes the appropriation and expenditure of $249,950.00 from E911 Fund for the provision of ProQA licenses and training for civilian call takers. Funds are available in the E911 fund to support emergency response operations in the Division of Police. The Public Safety Department negotiated pricing for the additional software licenses, training and project management with Priority Medical Consultants.
Title
To authorize and direct the Director of the Department of Public Safety to enter into a contract with Medical Priority Consultants Inc. DBA Priority Dispatch, to provide ProQA software licenses and training for 911 call takers in accordance with the sole source provisions of the Columbus City Codes; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $249,950.00 from the E911 Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($249,950.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Safety has a need to provide ProQA software, training and project managment for 911 call takers; and
WHEREAS, the 911 communication center is implementing a plan that requires that the current civilian call takers be certified to answer 911 emergency medical and fire calls; and
WHEREAS, Medical Priority Consultants Inc. DBA Priority Dispatch currently provides ProQA software, licenses and training to the City of Columbus' 911 communication center; and
WHEREAS, this acquisition shall be executed in accordance with sole source provisions of City Code with Medical Priority Consultants Inc DBA Priority Dispatch for provision of ProQA software; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the Department of Public Safety, in that it is immediately necessary to enter into said contract with Medical Priority Consultants Inc. DBA Priority Dispatch for additional software licenses, training and project management, to allow the 911 communication center to transition to civilian Communication Technicians and 911 call takers as soon as possible, thereby preserving the public peace, health, property, safety and welfare; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Public Safety be, and is hereby, authorized and directed to enter into a contract with Medical Priority Consultants Inc. DBA Priority Dispatch for the provision of additional ProQA software licenses, training and overall project management for 911 call takers.
SECTION 2. That this contract is awarded in accordance with the relevant provisions of the City Code Chapter 329 relating to sole source procurement.
SECTION 3. That from the unappropriated monies in the E911 fund and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the project period, the sum of $249,950.00 is appropriated as follows;
Division 3003 | Fund 270 | Object Level One 03 | Object Level Three 3347 | OCA Code 270001 | Amount $249,950.00
SECTION 4. That for the purpose stated in Section 1 hereof, the expenditure of $249,950.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized from:
Div. 30-03 | fund: 270 | Obj. Level One: 03 | Obj. Level Three: 3347 | OCA: 270001 | Amount: $249,950.00
SECTION 5. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for any contract or contract modification associated with the expenditure of the funds in Section 4 above.
SECTION 6. That the funds necessary to carryout the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 7. 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.