Explanation
The purpose of this legislation is to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a contract with Watershed Organic Lawn Care and Landscape for the purpose of inspecting the performance of and maintain the City’s biorentention basins. The City of Columbus is committed to investing in green infrastructure. As part of this commitment, the City has built a number of bioretention basins in the right-of-way and/or on City owned property.
Bioretention basins are engineered, shallow depressions that treat stormwater runoff using pollutant removal mechanisms that function in natural ecosystems: settling, filtration, absorption, microbial breakdown and nutrient assimilation. Surface runoff is directed into the bioretention area where it temporarily ponds before infiltrating through mulch and a soil media planted with vegetation. The infiltrated water percolates into soils and, if necessary, enters a perforated underdrain that discharges into a water body or storm drain system.
The contractor will be responsible for inspection of the bioretention basins to ensure proper performance during heavy rainfall, soil, and clean and replace soil media to meet original design standards at each location. Each bioretention basin is designed specifically for its location. Contractor will also be required to document and report on the performance of the basins.
The City is currently responsible for the maintenance of 50 basins located in the River South area of downtown and 38 basins located at Griggs, O’Shaughnessy and Hoover reservoirs. The contractor will work with Watershed Maintenance staff when performing maintenance at the basins located at the reservoirs.
The Department of Public Utilities advertised Request for Proposals (RFP’s) for the subject services in the City Bulletin in accordance with the provisions of Sections 329.25, Columbus City Codes, 1959. Two hundred twenty-six (226) vendors (19 MBE, 3 FBE, 204 MAJ) were solicited (SA004768), and five (5) proposals (1 MBE, 4 MAJ) were received and opened on February 13, 2013. The evaluation and final ranking of the firm was based upon the criteria specified in the RFP and Watershed Organic Lawn Care and Landscape was determined to be the most qualified responder to provide the services for the Bioretention Basin and Maintenance Services project. This contract will be for a period of one (1) year from the date of execution.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: This Ordinance is being submitted as emergency to allow for the prompt establishment of a new contract without delay in order to stay ahead of excessive weed growth that occurs in the Spring and Summer months and to ensure inspections of the basins begin at the earliest time available.
SUPPLIER: Watershed Organic Lawn Care and Landscape (20-8300390), Expires June 6, 2014
The company is not debarred according to the Excluded Party Listing System of the Federal Government or prohibited from being awarded a contract according to the Auditor of State Unresolved Findings for Recovery Certified Search.
FISCAL IMPACT: $43,435.00 is budgeted and needed for this purchase.
$7,602.50 has been spent to date in 2013
$11,050.00 was spent in 2012
$0.00 was spent in 2011
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a contract with Watershed Organic Lawn Care and Landscape for Bioretention Basin Inspection and Maintenance Services for the Division of Sewerage and Drainage, to authorize the expenditure of $43,435.00 from the Sewer System Operating Fund, and to declare an emergency. ($43,435.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is committed to investing in green infrastructure, and
WHEREAS, as part of this commitment, the City has built a number of bioretention basins in the right-of-way and/or on city owned property, and
WHEREAS, the City is currently responsible for the maintenance of 50 basins located in the River South area of downtown and 38 basins located at Griggs, O’Shaughnessy and Hoover reservoirs, and
WHEREAS, a need exists in the Department of Public Utilities for Bioretention Basin Inspection and Maintenance Services, and
WHEREAS, the procurement was conducted in accordance with the Request For Proposals (RFP) process set forth in Section 329.25, Columbus City Codes, 1959, and
WHEREAS, five (5) proposals were received and reviewed by the Department of Public Utilities on February 13, 2013, Solicitation SA004768 for Bioretention Basin Inspection and Maintenance Services, and
WHEREAS, a contract is being established with Watershed Organic Lawn Care and Landscape based upon the proposal received, and
WHEREAS, this contract will be for a period of one year from the date of execution, and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities, Division of Sewerage and Drainage hereby requests this City Council to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into contract for Bioretention Basin Inspection and Maintenance Services with Watershed Organic Lawn Care and Landscape, and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities, Division of Sewerage and Drainage in that it is immediately necessary to allow for the prompt establishment of a new contract without delay in order to stay ahead of excessive weed growth that occurs in the Spring and Summer months for the 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 Director of Public Utilities be, and is hereby authorized to enter into a contract with Watershed Organic Lawn Care and Landscape for Bioretention Basin Inspection and Maintenance Services for the Department of Public Utilities, in accordance with the terms and conditions as shown in the contract on file in the office of the Division of Sewerage and Drainage.
SECTION 2. That the said firm shall conduct the work to the satisfaction of the Director of Public Utilities and the Administrator of the Division of Sewerage and Drainage.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $43,435.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, be and the same hereby is authorized from the Sewer System Operating Fund, Fund 650, Department 60-05, to pay the cost of this contract as follows:
OCA: 605113
Object Level 1: 03
Object Level 03: 3377
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 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.