Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a contract modification with Hatch Associates Consultants, Inc. for construction administration/inspection services for Department of Public Utilities construction projects bid during the calendar years 2026 through 2028 as part of the Construction Administration/Construction Inspection Services 2026-2028 contracts.
Hatch Associates Consultants, Inc. will perform construction administration/inspection services for Department of Public Utilities Capital Improvement Projects that bid during the years 2026, 2027, and 2028. The contract will be modified as needed throughout the 3-year period to include these projects as they go into construction. Projects are located throughout the City of Columbus.
This modification is for Hatch Associates Consultants, Inc. to perform construction administration/ inspection services for:
• Velma Avenue Area Water Line Improvements, CIP 690236-100138 | $1,300,000.00
The Community Areas = 41 - Northeast, 44 - University District, 45 - South Linden, 48 - Milo-Grogan, 49 - North Central
• CA-CI General Fund (Water), CIP 690549-100016 | $75,000.00
The Community Area for this ordinance will be 99 - Citywide.
1.1. Amount of additional funds to be expended: $1,375,000.00
Original Contract: $379,000.00 (ORD 1149-2026, PO TBD)
Modification #1: $1,375,000.00 (Current)
Total $1,754,000.00
1.2. Reasons additional goods/services could not be foreseen:
This is a three-year contract for fiscal years 2026 - 2028 for which modifications were anticipated pursuant to the original authorizing legislation under Ordinance 1149-2026 to account for future construction projects being assigned to Hatch Associates Consultants, Inc. for inspection services. Those future construction projects were not known when the contract was put into place.
1.3. Reason other procurement processes are not used:
This is a multi-year contract that will be modified as required to provide construction administration/inspection services for future construction projects that bid during the three-year (2026-2028) time frame. Those future construction projects were not known when the contract was put into place.
1.4. How cost of modification was determined:
The cost of this modification was determined by negotiations between Hatch Associates Consultants, Inc. and the Department of Public Utilities project staff based upon the existing contract labor titles, maximum labor rates, allowable contract expenses, and the time estimated to be needed to perform contract tasks.
2. ECONOMIC IMPACT/ADVANTAGES; COMMUNITY OUTREACH; PROJECT DEVELOPMENT; ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS/ADVANTAGES OF PROJECT
Division of Water projects include replacement or rehabilitation of water lines that have a high break frequency and valves that are inoperable. Replacement of these water lines will improve water service, decrease burden on water maintenance operations, and reduce water loss. The Neighborhood Liaison(s) will be contacted and informed of this project during the design phase. Further community outreach may result through the Neighborhood Liaison Program.
3. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE INFORMATION
Hatch Associates Consultants, Inc. contract compliance number is CC-025646 and expires 2/18/2028. Hatch Associates Consultants, Inc.’s certification was in good standing at the time of contract award.
Hatch Associates Consultants, Inc. plans to subcontract with the following companies:
Name City/State Status
Resource International, Inc. Columbus/OH WBE
Ascension Construction Solutions Columbus/OH MBE
Smoot Construction Company of Ohio Columbus/OH MBE
Searches in the Excluded Party List System (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against Hatch Associates Consultants, Inc.
Hatch Associates Consultants, Inc. and all subs were in good standing at the time of this contract modification.
4. FISCAL IMPACT
Velma Avenue Area Water Line Improvements, CIP 690236-100138
Funding for the contract will be obtained through the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA) Direct Loan Program. City Council authorized this loan application and acceptance of loan funding via Ordinance 0341-2026, passed by Council on 3/2/2026. Ordinance 0341-2026 also authorized the Director of Public Utilities to add to or subtract from the anticipated loans listed in that ordinance. 690236-100138 was not listed in that ordinance. Even though Ordinance 0341-2026 stated projects can be added to or subtracted from the list without further City Council approval, OWDA requires an ordinance specifically listing Council’s approval for each project. This ordinance will request that approval. This loan is expected to be approved at the OWDA June Board meeting. This ordinance is contingent upon the OWDA Board approving the loan application. The Department of Public Utilities will inform the Auditor’s Office when this loan is approved. The Ohio Water Development Authority Direct Loan Program is a reimbursement program. The Department of Public Utilities will pay invoices for the work performed and then submit them to OWDA for reimbursement.
The 2025 Capital Improvement Budget will need to be amended to align budget authority with the proper project for the loan amount. Funds will need to be appropriated in the Water - Fresh Water Market Rate Fund, Fund 6014.
General Water Construction Projects, CIP 690549-100016
Funds in the amount of $75,000.00 are available and appropriated within the Water Bond Fund, Fund 6006, for the Construction Administration Services 2026 to 2028 project, CIP 690549-100016. The 2025 Capital Improvement Budget must be amended to align budget authority with the proper project. A transfer of cash and appropriation within the Water Bond Fund is needed to align cash and appropriation with the proper project.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a contract modification for the Construction Administration and Inspection Services 2026-2028 contract with Hatch Associates Consultants, Inc. for the Velma Avenue Area Water Line Improvements project and for the Construction Administration Services 2026 to 2028 project to add additional funding; to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to apply for and accept a loan from the Ohio Water Development Authority Direct Loan Program for the Youngs Drive Area Water Line Improvements project; to appropriate funds within the Water - Fresh Water Market Rate Fund; to amend the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget; to authorize a transfer of cash and appropriation between projects within the Water Bond Fund; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of up to $1,300,000.00 from the Water - Fresh Water Market Rate Fund and an expenditure of up to $75,000.00 from the Water Bond Fund for the contract; and to make this ordinance contingent upon the Ohio Water Development Authority approving a loan for the project. ($1,375,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities advertised a Request for Proposals for Construction Administration/Construction Inspection Services; and
WHEREAS, Hatch Associates Consultants, Inc. was one of seven firms selected by the evaluation committee to provide these services; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 1149-2026 authorized the contract with Hatch Associates Consultants, Inc. for these services and assigned the first task to be performed; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities is engaged in the Velma Avenue Area Water Line Improvements Project, CIP 690236-100138; and
WHEREAS, a construction contract has been awarded for the Velma Avenue Area Water Line Improvements Project; and
WHEREAS, construction administration and construction inspection services must be performed on the construction work; and
WHEREAS, an additional construction inspection/administration task needs to be performed; and
WHEREAS, the contract with Hatch Associates Consultants, Inc. will need to be modified to add this task to the contract and to add funding to pay for the task; and
WHEREAS, an amendment to the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget is needed to align budget authority with the proper project; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 0341-2026 authorized the use of loans from the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA) Direct Loan Program to finance Public Utilities projects; and
WHEREAS, the Velma Avenue Area Water Line Improvements project was not specifically listed as a project to be loan funded on Ordinance 0341-2026 and this ordinance will ask for authorization to loan fund it; and
WHEREAS, a loan application has been submitted to OWDA to finance this project; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance is contingent upon the loan being approved; and
WHEREAS, the loan is anticipated to be approved by the Ohio Water Development Authority Board at their June Board meeting; and
WHEREAS, funds must be appropriated within the Water - Fresh Water Market Rate Fund, Fund 6014; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize an expenditure of funds from the Fresh Water Market Rate Fund, Fund 6014, to pay for the project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to transfer cash and appropriation within the Water Bond Fund for the Construction Administration Services 2026 to 2028 project to align cash and appropriation with the proper project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to expend funds from the Water Bond Fund, Fund 6006 to pay for the construction administration and inspection services Hatch Associates Consultants, Inc. under the Construction Administration/Construction Inspection Services 2026-2028 contract;
WHEREAS, it is necessary in the daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities to authorize the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to enter into the Construction Administration/Construction Inspection Services 2026-2028 contract modification with Hatch Associates Consultants, Inc. for Construction Administration/Construction Inspection Services for the Velma Avenue Area Water Line Improvements project, CIP 690236-100138 and Construction Administration Services 2026 to 2028 CIP 690549-100016; 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
6014 / 690236-100138 / Velma Avenue Area Water Line Improvements (OWDA Direct Loan) / $0.00 / $1,300,000.00 / $1,300,000.00 (To match the loan amount)
6006 / 690554-100000 / Laboratory Upgrades (Voted Water Carryover) / $357,000.00 / $589,599.00 / $232,599.00 (To Match Cash)
6006 / 690554-100000 / Laboratory Upgrades (Voted Water Carryover) / $589,599.00 / $514,599.00 / ($75,000.00)
6006 / 690549-100016 / Construction Administration Services 2026 to 2028 (Voted Water Carryover) / $575,000.00 / $650,000.00 / $75,000.00
SECTION 2. That the appropriation of $1,300,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in the Fresh Water Market Rate Fund, Fund 6014, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the transfer of funds within the Water Bond Fund, Fund 6006, in an amount up to $75,000.00, is authorized per the accounting codes in the attachment to this Ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of $1,375,000.00, 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 the Director of Public Utilities is authorized to enter into a contract modification with Hatch Associates Consultants, Inc., 88 E. Broad Street, Suite 1980, Columbus, Ohio 43215, for construction administration and inspection services, in accordance with the terms and conditions as shown in the contract on file with the Department of Public Utilities. to add additional funding in an amount not to exceed $1,300,000.00, for the Velma Avenue Area Water Line Improvements project and in an amount not to exceed $75,000.00 for Construction Administration Services 2026 to 2028 projects.
SECTION 6. That the Director of Public Utilities is authorized to apply for and accept a loan from the Ohio Water Development Authority for the Velma Avenue Area Water Line Improvements project, and to execute those documents necessary to establish the loan.
SECTION 7. That the loan portion of this this ordinance is contingent upon the Ohio Water Development Authority approving a loan for the Velma Avenue Area Water Line Improvements project.
SECTION 8. Funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures authorized to carry out the purposes of this Ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 9. 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 10. 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 11. That this Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.