Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to enter into professional engineering contracts with Glaus, Pyle, Schomer, Burns & Dehaven, Inc., in an amount up to $650,000.00, and G-A-I Consultants, Inc., in an amount up to $100,000.00, for General Engineering Services 2024-2026, CIP #670868-100002, for the Division of Power.
The Division of Power (DOP) has lost several staff members in recent years. The General Engineering Services contract has been used to supplement DOP design resources to ensure projects stay on track. DOP is very shorthanded with engineering staff and needs to utilize this contract for technical support. A lot of work has been put on hold that must be restarted to avoid delaying public and private utility projects like the ODOT 70/71 project and small cell towers.
Services to be performed under this contract include providing designs to connect new customers, reviewing applications for Joint Use and plan reviews, Substation Design, Transmission Line Design, Distribution Line Design, Underground Distribution Design, Equipment Upgrade Program, Grounding Studies, SCADA, Streetlight Design, Power Quality Issues, Development of Bid Packages, Bid Analysis/Technical Reviews, Technical Submittal and request for Information Reviews, Easement Acquisition Services, AutoCAD Drafting, Surveying, Easement Legal Descriptions, Trouble Shooting, Maintenance and Testing Specifications, and Fiber Optic Cable System Design.
It is necessary to award this contract work to two firms. Plan reviews and other such work cannot be performed by the firm that developed the plans as that is a conflict of interest. Awarding two firms gives a contracted firm to perform work that would be a conflict of interest for the primary firm.
This work will be performed in Columbus Community “99 - Citywide.”
TIMELINE: Both contracts have a three year project assignment window starting upon the date the Notice To Proceed is issued. Work will be completed upon all projects assigned as contract work during this three year window until the project work is complete and accepted by the City. No new projects will be assigned after the three year assignment window expires. There are two planned modifications to add funding for future years of the contract.
ESTIMATED COST OF PROJECT: There will be two contracts awarded with $650,000.00 being the initial amount with Glaus, Pyle, Schomer, Burns & Dehaven, Inc., and $100,000.00 the initial amount with G-A-I Consultants, Inc. Future contract modifications are planned to add funding as needs dictate.
Cost summary:
Original Contract $ 750,000.00
Future Anticipated Needs $1,500,000.00
CONTRACT TOTAL $2,250,000.00
2. ECONOMIC IMPACT/ADVANTAGES; COMMUNITY OUTREACH; PROJECT DEVELOPMENT; ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS/ADVANTAGES OF PROJECT
This is a contract for supplemental engineering services for the Division of Power’s various CIP projects such as studies required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Public Employment Risk Reduction Program (PERRP), and to reduce the backlog of DOP’s routine engineering needs. As such, it will not have any economic impact but it will include community outreach if it is used for projects that typically solicit input from the community.
3. BID INFORMATION
This project was formally advertised on the Vendor Services and Bonfire websites from 8/15/2025 through 9/12/2025. Five proposals were received:
Name C.C. No. Exp. Date City/State Status
GPD Group CC006560 6/23/27 Columbus, OH MAJ
G-A-I Consultants, Inc. CC046598 9/12/25 Columbus, OH MAJ
Patrick Engineering, Inc. CC007237 4/16/26 Columbus, OH MAJ
Metro Engineering Solutions, LLC CC053572 9/08/27 Columbus, OH MAJ
TRC Engineers, Inc. CC027657 7/22/26 Columbus, OH MAJ
All proposals were deemed responsive. The evaluation committee reviewed the proposals and recommended the contract for the General Engineering Services 2024-2026 project be awarded to Glaus, Pyle, Schomer, Burns & Dehaven, Inc. and G-A-I Consultants, Inc.
4. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE INFORMATION
Glaus, Pyle, Schomer, Burns & Dehaven, Inc.’s contract compliance number is CC006560 and expires 6/23/27. G-A-I Consultants, Inc.’s contract compliance number is CC046598 and expires 9/16/27.
As part of their proposal, Glaus, Pyle, Schomer, Burns & Dehaven, Inc., proposed using the following sub-consultant to perform contract work:
Company Name City/State ODI Cert. Status
Dynotec, Inc. Columbus, Ohio MBE
As part of their proposal, G-A-I Consultants, Inc. proposed using the following sub-consultant to perform contract work:
Company Name City/State ODI Cert. Status
Surveying and Mapping, LLC Columbus, Ohio MAJ
The certification of Glaus, Pyle, Schomer, Burns & Dehaven, Inc., G-A-I Consultants, Inc., and the above companies was in good standing at the time of the contract award.
5. FISCAL IMPACT
An amendment to the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget is needed to align budget authority with the proper project. A transfer of cash and appropriation between projects within the Electricity Bond Fund, Fund 6303, is needed to align cash and appropriation with the proper project.
6. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency designation is requested to utilize these contracts to supplement DOP staff to meet project deadlines for public and private utility projects and to restart work on needed utility improvements put on hold that will increase power reliability and reduce power failures.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into professional services contracts with Glaus, Pyle, Schomer, Burns & Dehaven, Inc., and G-A-I Consultants, Inc., for Power General Engineering Services 2024-2026; to authorize an amendment to the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget; to authorize a transfer of cash and appropriation within the Electricity Bond Fund; to authorize the expenditure of up to $750,000.00 for the contracts; and to declare an emergency. ($750,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities is engaged in the General Engineering Services 2024-2026 project; and
WHEREAS, five proposals for a professional services contract for the General Engineering Services 2024-2026 project were received and evaluated by the evaluation committee; and
WHEREAS, the evaluation committee recommended Glaus, Pyle, Schomer, Burns & Dehaven, Inc., and G-A-I Consultants, Inc., be awarded contracts for this project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to enter into a professional services contract for General Engineering Services 2024-2026 with Glaus, Pyle, Schomer, Burns & Dehaven, Inc. and G-A-I Consultants, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget to align budget authority with the proper project; and
WHEREAS, a transfer of cash and appropriation between projects within the Electricity Bond Fund, Fund 6303, is needed to align cash and appropriation with the proper project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize an expenditure of funds from the Electricity Bond Fund, Fund 6303, to pay for the contracted services for the project; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into professional engineering services contracts with Glaus, Pyle, Schomer, Burns & Dehaven, Inc. and GAI Consultants, Inc, in order to utilize these contracts to supplement DOP staff to meet project deadlines for public and private utility projects and to restart work on needed utility improvements put on hold that will increase power reliability and reduce power failures, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, welfare, and safety; 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
6303 / 670878-100002 / Smart Lighting Phase Two (Voted Electricity Carryover) / $3,419,408.00 / $2,669,408.00 / ($750,000.00)
6303 / 670868-100002 / General Engineering Contract 2024-2026 (Voted Electricity Carryover) / $0.00 / $750,000.00 / $750,000.00
SECTION 2. That a transfer of cash and appropriation between projects within the Electricity Bond Fund, Fund 6303, of up to $750,000.00 is authorized per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the Director of Public Utilities is hereby authorized to enter into a professional services contract for General Engineering Services 2024-2026 with Glaus, Pyle Schomer, Burns & Dehaven, Inc., 1801 Watermark Drive, Suite 210, Columbus, OH 43215, in the amount of up to $650,000.00; and G-A-I Consultants, Inc., 100 East Campus View Boulevard, Suite 205, Columbus OH 43235, in the amount up to $100,000.00; in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract on file in the Office of the Division of Power.
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of up to $750,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized from the Electricity Bond Fund, Fund 6303, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. 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 6. 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 7. 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 8. 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.