Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Columbus Water and Power to enter into a contract with Black and Veatch Corporation, through the City’s RFP process for professional engineering services for the Lower Olentangy Tunnel Phase 2 project, CIP #650724-100003, in an amount up to $4,595,036.43.
Columbus Water & Power (CWP), Division of Water Reclamation (DWR) has identified the need to provide additional hydraulic capacity to improve water quality and reduce the potential for human contact with waterborne pollutants by mitigating overflows from the sewer system to a 10-year level of service along portions the Olentangy River. This project will address hydraulic inefficiencies, potential alterations to land uses and rapidly developing areas within the Olentangy Main Interceptor (OMI), Clintonville Main Trunk Sewer (CVM) and Clinton No.3 Trunk Sewer (CL3) sewers’ tributary areas through the Lower Olentangy Tunnel (LOT) Phase 2 contract. It is tentatively assumed that a relief sewer will be constructed with a minimum of 96-inches in diameter and will need to be constructed via tunneling or micro tunneling methods from its downstream connection to LOT Phase 1 in Tuttle Park, to its upstream terminus near Antrim Park, along with additional interception points along the alignment. Multiple horizontal and vertical alignments and diameters will be evaluated.
Community Planning Area: 99 - Citywide
TIMELINE: It is expected to take approximately 3.5 years for the evaluation and design of the necessary improvements and an additional 4 to 5 years to complete the easement acquisition, construction and warranty period. This contract will also include engineering services during construction.
ESTIMATED COST OF PROJECT: The proposed award amount is $4,595,036.43. Seven contract modifications are anticipated.
Cost summary:
Original Contract $4,595,036.43
Modification #1 $5,500,000.00
Modification #2 $5,500,000.00
Modification #3 $2,000,000.00
Modification #4 $2,000,000.00
Modification #5 $2,000,000.00
Modification #6 $2,000,000.00
Modification #7 $1,000,000.00
CONTRACT TOTAL $24,595,036.43
2. ECONOMIC IMPACT/ADVANTAGES; COMMUNITY OUTREACH; PROJECT DEVELOPMENT; ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS/ADVANTAGES OF PROJECT
This project will allow the City of Columbus to address multiple sanitary sewer overflows at several designed sanitary relief's along the Olentangy River corridor. The tunnel will relieve 3 of the 25 main trunk sewers in the City's collection system.
3. BID INFORMATION
This project was formally advertised on the Vendor Services and Bonfire websites from 3/4/2026 through 5/1/2026. Three proposals were received:
Name C.C. No. Exp. Date City/State Status
Black & Veatch Corporation CC008038 8/11/27 Columbus, Ohio MAJ
DLZ Ohio, Inc. CC004939 7/2/28 Columbus, Ohio MBE
LJB, Inc. (dba Aldea Design Services LLC) CC028387 6/23/27 Columbus, Ohio MAJ
All proposals were deemed responsive. The evaluation committee reviewed the proposals and recommended the contract for the Lower Olentangy Tunnel Phase 2 project be awarded to Black and Veatch Corporation
Black and Veatch Corporation’s certification was in good standing at the time of the contract award.
4. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE INFORMATION
Black and Veatch Corporation’s contract compliance number is CC008038 and expires 8/11/27. Searches in the Excluded Party List System (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against Black and Veatch Corporation
As part of their proposal, Black and Veatch Corporation has proposed using the following sub-consultants to perform contract work:
Company Name City/State ODI Cert. Status
AECOM Technical Services, Inc. Columbus, Ohio MAJ
Resource International, Inc. Columbus, Ohio WBE
Dynotec, Inc. Columbus, Ohio MBE
Magna Engineers Columbus, Ohio WBE
DHDC Engineering Consulting Services, Inc. Columbus, Ohio MBE
The certification of Black and Veatch Corporation and the above companies was in good standing at the time of the Request for Proposals award.
6. FISCAL IMPACT
This project is anticipated to be financed with a Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF). The WPCLF program is jointly administered by the Ohio EPA's Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance and the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA). City Council authorized this loan application and acceptance of funding via Ordinance 3119-2025 passed by Council on 12/15/25. This loan is expected to be approved at the December 2026 OWDA Board meeting.
This ordinance is contingent upon a loan being approved by OWDA. The WPCLF loan program is a reimbursement program. Columbus Water and Power will need to pay invoices for the project and submit the invoices paid to OWDA for reimbursement.
Title
To authorize the Director of Columbus Water and Power to enter into a professional engineering services contract with Black and Veatch Corporation for the Lower Olentangy Tunnel Phase 2 project; to authorize the appropriation of funds within the Sanitary Revolving Loan Fund; to authorize this contract to be funded with a loan from the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund; to make this ordinance contingent upon the Ohio Water Development Authority approving a loan for this project; and to authorize the expenditure of up to $4,595,036.43 from the Sanitary Revolving Loan Fund for the contract. ($4,595,036.43)
Body
WHEREAS, Columbus Water and Power is engaged in the Lower Olentangy Tunnel Phase 2 project; and
WHEREAS, three proposals for the Lower Olentangy Tunnel Phase 2 project were received and evaluated by the evaluation committee; and
WHEREAS, the evaluation committee recommended Black and Veatch Corporation be awarded the contract for this project; and
WHEREAS, this project is anticipated to be funded with a loan from the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF); and
WHEREAS, City Council approved applying for and accepting loan funding from the WPCLF via Ordinance 3119-2025, passed by Council on 12/15/2025; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance is contingent upon that loan being approved; and
WHEREAS, funds must be appropriated within the Sanitary Revolving Loan Fund, Fund 6111; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to pay for the contracted services for the project; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of Columbus Water and Power to authorize the Director of Columbus Water and Power to enter into a professional engineering services contract with Black and Veatch Corporation for the Lower Olentangy Tunnel Phase 2 project; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. 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 $4,595,036.43 is appropriated in Fund 6111 (Sanitary Revolving Loan Fund), per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. That the Director of Columbus Water and Power is hereby authorized to enter into a professional services and construction services contract for the Lower Olentangy Tunnel Phase 2 Design project with Black and Veatch Corporation 4449 Easton Way, Suite 150, Columbus, OH 43219, in an amount up to $4,595,036.43, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract on file in Columbus Water and Power.
SECTION 3. That Ordinance 3119-2025, approved by Columbus City Council on 12/15/25, authorized projects to be funded by a loan to be obtained through the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF); City Council approves the Lower Olentangy Tunnel Phase 2 project, CIP #650724-100003, to be funded with a WPCLF loan; and this ordinance is contingent upon that loan being approved.
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of $4,595,036.43, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized to pay for this contract per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. 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 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 this Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.