Explanation
Background
This legislation authorizes the City Attorney to modify an existing contract with Alban & Alban LLC for title services by increasing the maximum obligation amount by $40,000.00 and extending the contract term through February 28, 2027. The modification will ensure that the Property Action Team has uninterrupted access to title services necessary for nuisance abatement litigation while the City Attorney’s Office completes a competitive procurement for these services.
The City Attorney’s Office entered into the current contract with Alban & Alban LLC for the period of March 1, 2026, through September 30, 2026, in an amount not to exceed $40,000.00. The title services include one-owner lien searches, expedited one-owner lien searches, full marketable title examinations, title commitments, and preliminary judicial reports necessary for nuisance abatement litigation.
The City Attorney’s Office has met with the Purchasing Office and identified revisions needed to the draft request for proposals for title services. The City Attorney’s Office anticipates issuing the request for proposals for bid in 2026; however, the competitive procurement will not be completed before the current contract expires. Accordingly, the existing contract must be modified to add funding and extend the term to ensure that title services continue without interruption.
Contract Modification:
This ordinance is being submitted in accordance with Section 329 of the Columbus City Codes relating to contract modifications.
1. Amount of additional funds: The amount of additional funds to be expended under this modification is $40,000.00. The original contract amount was $40,000.00, and the total contract amount, including this modification, will be $80,000.00.
2. Reason the additional services were not foreseen: At the time the original contract was awarded, the City Attorney's Office anticipated completing a competitive procurement and awarding a new contract for title services before the existing contract expired on September 30, 2026. After meeting with the Purchasing Office, the City Attorney's Office identified revisions needed to the draft request for proposals. The competitive procurement and resulting contract award will therefore not be completed before the existing contract expires, creating the need for an interim extension and additional funding that was not anticipated when the current contract was awarded.
3. Reason other procurement processes were not used: Before awarding the current contract, the City Attorney's Office obtained verbal price quotes from multiple title-service providers, with Alban & Alban LLC providing the lowest-priced quote. Modifying the existing contract for a limited period is in the City's best interest because it will allow title services to continue while the competitive procurement already underway is completed. Conducting a separate procurement solely for the interim period would duplicate the ongoing procurement process and may not be completed before the current contract expires.
4. How the cost was determined: The prices under the existing contract were established after the City Attorney's Office obtained verbal price quotes from multiple title-service providers, with Alban & Alban LLC providing the lowest-priced quote. All existing contract prices will remain unchanged under this modification. The additional maximum obligation of $40,000.00 is based on the anticipated title-service needs through February 28, 2027, at the rates established in the existing contract.
Fiscal Impact:
The amount of the contract modification is $40,000.00, and the total amount of this contract, as modified, is $80,000.00. This contract modification will be funded by the Environmental Fund.
Original contract amount: $40,000.00 (PO561127)
Current balance of contract PO: $11,450.00)
Modification No. 1 amount: $40,000.00 (This Ordinance)
Total contract amount: $80,000.00
Alban & Alban LLC
FID: 31-1315799 | CC#: CC005040 | expires 04/03/2028
SOS Entity #: 1128005 | Active
Emergency Justification:
Emergency action is requested because the existing contract expires September 30, 2026, and immediate authorization is necessary to allow sufficient time to execute the contract modification and prevent an interruption in title services necessary for the continued filing of nuisance abatement litigation addressing blight and criminal activity in the City of Columbus.
Title
To authorize the City Attorney to modify an existing contract with Alban & Alban LLC to add additional funding and extend the contract term through February 28, 2027; to authorize the expenditure of $40,000.00 from the Environmental Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($40,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, on March 1, 2026, the City Attorney’s Office entered into a contract with Alban & Alban LLC in an amount not to exceed $40,000.00 to provide title services for our Property Action Team; and
WHEREAS, the number of nuisance abatement cases filed, and complexity of each case, determines the cost of title services; and
WHEREAS, the number of nuisance abatement cases filed and the complexity of each case determines the cost of title services; and
WHEREAS, the number and complexity of nuisance abatement cases fluctuate from year to year; and
WHEREAS, the City Attorney’s Office has met with the Purchasing Office and identified revisions needed to the draft request for proposals for title services; and
WHEREAS, the City Attorney’s Office anticipates issuing the request for proposals for bid in 2026, but the process will not be completed before the existing contract expires September 30, 2026; and
WHEREAS, nuisance abatement cases have a significant impact on community safety; and
WHEREAS, failure to modify the existing contract would cause undue delay in filing nuisance abatement cases; and
WHEREAS, all terms of the existing contract, including the prices for title services, will remain in full force and effect except for the increase to the maximum amount and extension of the contract term authorized by this ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the City Attorney has identified the need to modify the existing contract with Alban & Alban LLC to increase the maximum obligation by $40,000.00, bringing the total contract amount up to $80,000.00, and extend the term through February 20, 2027; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operations of the Columbus City Attorney’s Office to authorize the City Auditor to appropriate and expend these funds; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City Attorney’s Office in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the City Attorney to modify the existing contract with Alban & Alban LLC before its September 30, 2026, expiration, thereby preserving the public health, peace property, and safety; and NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Attorney be and is hereby authorized to modify an existing contract with Alban & Alban LLC to extend the contract term through February 28, 2027, and increase the maximum amount by $40,000.00, bringing the total contract amount to $80,000.00.
SECTION 2. That for the purposes stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $40,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and is hereby authorized in Fund 2297 (Environmental Fund), 24-2401 (City Attorney), in object class 03 (Purchased services) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That 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 4. That this modification is made in accordance with the relevant provisions of the City Codes Chapter 329 relating to contract modifications.
SECTION 5. That the City Auditor is authorized to establish such accounting codes as necessary, to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all agreements, contracts, or modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 6. 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 because the existing contract expires on September 30, 2026, and immediate authorization is necessary, 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.