Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Service to enter into contract with Complete General Construction Company for the Signals - Downtown Signals Part 2 project and to provide payment for construction, construction administration and inspection services.
This contract includes replacement of existing traffic signals at the intersections of Rich Street with 3rd Street, 4th Street, 5th Street, and Grant Avenue. The signals will be fully replaced including new poles and equipment. New fiber optic cable will be installed within the limits of each intersection to connect the signals to the existing Columbus Traffic Signal System (CTSS) network. Additional work includes the brick walk, drainage structure replacement, new signage and pavement markings, and other work as may be necessary to complete the contract in accordance with the plans and specifications set forth in the Bid Submittal Documents.
Ordinance 1442-2023 authorized the Director of Public Service, on behalf of the City of Columbus, to submit applications to and execute grant agreements with the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) relative to the Local Transportation Improvement Program, accept and expend awarded grant funds, and issue refunds, if necessary, for the Signals ‐ Downtown Signals Part 2 project.
Ordinance 2495-2024 authorized the Director of Public Service, on behalf of the City of Columbus, to submit applications to and execute grant agreements with the Ohio Department of Transportation relative to the MORPC Attributable Funds Program, accept and expend awarded grant funds, and issue refunds, if necessary, for the Signals ‐ Downtown Signals Part 2 project.
The estimated Notice to Proceed date is July 18, 2025. The project was let by the Office of Support Services through Vendor Services and Bid Express. Two bids were received on May 8, 2025, (both majority) and tabulated as follows:
Company Name Bid Amount City/State Majority/ODI Cert
Complete General Construction Company $2,706,695.26 Columbus, OH Majority
Danbert Electrical Corp. $3,031,082.05 Plain City, OH Majority
Award is to be made to Complete General Construction Company as the lowest responsive and responsible and best bidder for their bid of $2,706,695.26. The amount of construction administration and inspection services will be $324,803.00. The total legislated amount is $3,031,498.26.
Searches in the System for Award Management (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against Complete General Construction Company.
The certification of Complete General Construction Company and all associated subcontractors was in good standing at the time the bid was awarded.
As part of their bid Complete General Construction Company has proposed the following subcontractors to work on the project:
Company Name City/State Majority/ODI Certification
The Paul Peterson Company Columbus, Ohio MAJ
Griffin Pavement Striping, LLC Columbus, Ohio MAJ
Harris & Heavener Excavating, Inc. Reynoldsburg, Ohio MAJ
U.S. Utility Contractor Company Perrysburg, Ohio WBE
Strawser Paving Co., Inc. Columbus, Ohio MAJ
Key Cable & Supply Co., Inc. Perrysburg, Ohio EBE
2. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE INFORMATION
The contract compliance number for Complete General Construction Company is CC-006056 and expires 04/05/27.
3. PRE-QUALIFICATION STATUS
Complete General Construction Company and all proposed subcontractors have met code requirements with respect to pre-qualification, pursuant to relevant sections of Columbus City Codes Chapter 329.
4. FISCAL IMPACT
A portion of this project is a reimbursable budgeted expense of $2,228,348.38 within the Federal Transportation Grants Fund, Fund 7765, Grant G592507 (2025 Downtown Signals - Rich Street 115410). Funds need to be appropriated.
A portion of this project is a reimbursable budgeted expense of $509,083.00 within the OPWC Grants and Loans Fund, Fund 7763, Grant G592508 (2025 Downtown Rich St Signals DCAB01). Funds will need to be appropriated.
The remaining balance of $294,066.88 is budgeted, available, and appropriated within Fund 2265, the Street Construction Maintenance and Repair Fund.
5. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested in order to complete needed improvements at the earliest possible time and meet the requirements of the start date for the MORPC Attributable Funds Program and Ohio Public Works Commission funding award to avoid penalty and to ensure the safety of the traveling public.
Title
To appropriate funds within the OPWC Grants and Loans Fund and the Federal Transportation Grants Fund; to authorize the Director of Public Service to enter into contract with Complete General Construction Company for the Signals - Downtown Signals Part 2 project; to authorize the expenditure of up to $3,031,498.26 from the OPWC Grants and Loans Fund, Federal Transportation Grants Fund, and the Street Construction Maintenance and Repair Fund for the Project; to repay any unused grant funds at the end of the grant period; and to declare an emergency. ($3,031,498.26)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service is engaged in the Signals ‐ Downtown Signals Part 2 project; and
WHEREAS, the work for this project consists of the replacement of existing traffic signals at the intersections of Rich Street with 3rd Street, 4th Street, 5th Street, and Grant Avenue. The signals will be fully replaced including new poles and equipment. New fiber optic cable will be installed within the limits of each intersection to connect the signals to the existing Columbus Traffic Signal System (CTSS) network. Additional work includes the brick walk, drainage structure replacement, new signage and pavement markings; and other work as may be necessary to complete the contract in accordance with the plans and specifications set forth in the Bid Submittal Documents; and
WHEREAS, Complete General Construction Company will be awarded the contract for the Signals ‐ Downtown Signals Part 2 project; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service requires funding to be available for the Signals ‐ Downtown Signals Part 2 project for construction expense along with construction administration and inspection services; and
WHEREAS, Federal Transportation grant funds and Ohio Public Works Commission grant funds will be used to pay for a portion of this project; and
WHEREAS, funds must be appropriated within the OPWC Grants and Loans Fund and the Federal Transportation Grants Fund; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize an expenditure of up to $3,031,498.26 from the OPWC Grants and Loans Fund, Federal Transportation Grants Fund, and the Street Construction Maintenance and Repair Fund for this contract; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to enter into contract with Complete General Construction Company to ensure the safety of the traveling public, 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 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, 2025, the sum of $2,228,348.38 is appropriated in Fund 7765 (Federal Transportation Grants Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project G592507 (2025 Downtown Signals - Rich Street 115410), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. 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, 2025, the sum of $509,083.00 is appropriated in Fund 7763 (OPWC Grants and Loans Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project G592508 (2025 Downtown Rich St Signals DCAB01), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the Director of Public Service be and is hereby authorized to enter into a construction services contract with Complete General Construction Company, Columbus, Ohio 43219, for the Signals ‐ Downtown Signals Part 2 project in the amount of up to $2,706,695.26 in accordance with the specifications and plans on file in the Office of Support Services, which are hereby approved; and to pay for necessary construction administration and inspection costs associated with the project up to a maximum of $324,803.43.
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of $2,228,348.38, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7765 (Federal Transportation Grants Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project G592507 (2025 Downtown Signals - Rich Street 115410), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That the expenditure of $509,083.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7763 (OPWC Grants and Loans Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project G592508 (2025 Downtown Rich St Signals DCAB01), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That the expenditure of $294,066.88, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 2265 (Street Construction Maintenance and Repair Fund), Dept-Div 5913 (Traffic Management), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 7. 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 8. 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 9. 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 10. At the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized and any unused City match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 11. 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.