Explanation:
BACKGROUND:
Columbus Public Health, in partnership with community leaders, developed a strategic plan to reduce the number of people living with HIV by 75% in 5 years and 90% in 10 years. Columbus Public Health (CPH) embraces the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s mantra toward Ending the HIV Epidemic, which is to create “Disruptive Innovation”. CPH will seek to prevent new HIV infections by focusing on four (4) pillars: treating HIV to achieve viral suppression, diagnose HIV so all person know their HIV status, prevent infections through PrEP and syringe support programs, and respond to HIV clusters, or outbreaks, within the community. This grant specifically focuses on the diagnose and prevent pillars.
Columbus Public Health has been awarded grant funding from the Ohio Department of Health. This grant award originates from the U.S. department of Health and Human Services, for the: Implementing Enhanced HIV Prevention and Surveillance for Health Departments to End the HIV Epidemic in Ohio grant program. This ordiance is needed to accept the funding of $900,000.00 in grant monies for grant program, Implementing Enhanced HIV Prevention and Surveillance for Health Departments to end the Epidemic in Ohio for the period of August 1, 2023 through May 31, 2024. This ordinance also authorizes subrecipient agreements with the following vendors.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (EBO_CC-CC-010938): $55,284.00
Equitas Health, Inc. (EBO_CC-CC043135): $212,500.00
Columbus Neighborhood Health Center, Inc., dba Primary One Health (EBO_CC-CC-005542): $120,000.00
Stonewall Columbus Inc. (EBO_CC-CC004810): 45,000.00
Total Contracts: $432,784.00
The identified subrecipients are to carry out the deliverables detailed in the Implementing Enhanced HIV Prevention and Surveillance for Health Departments to End the HIV Epidemic in Ohio. These agreements with the subrecipeients are for the period of August 1, 2023 through May 31, 2024. The subrecipients will assist CPH in fulfilling the deliverables of the grant to achieve strategic plan to reduce the number of people living with HIV. Contracting with Aids Healthcare foundation, Equitas Health, Columbus Neighborhood Health Center, and Stonewall Columbus Inc. allows CPH the ability to carry out enhanced HIV prevention service delivery throughout Franklin County and in areas other than the City of Columbus jurisdiction. Services provided with this grant program include, but are not limited to; targeted HIV testing in emergency rooms, Trans programming, distribution of HIV testing kits for persons who are homeless, and individuals who inject drugs or are in active addiction. This ordinance is submitted as an emergency to not delay End the Epidemic services to clients and families, and to meet grant deliverables required by the grantor to avoid being at risk for forfeiture of funds.
FISCAL IMPACT: The Implementing Enhanced HIV Prevention and Surveillance for Health Departments to End the HIV Epidemic in Ohio is entirely funded by the Ohio Department of Health and does not generate revenue or require a City match.
Title
To authorize and direct the Board of Health to accept the Implementing Enhanced HIV Prevention and Surveillance for Health Departments to End the HIV Epidemic in Ohio grant program in the amount of $900,000.00; to authorize the appropriation of $900,000.00 to the Health Department in the Health Department Grants Fund; to authorize the Board of Health to enter into contractual agreements with the following qualified vendors: Aids Healthcare foundation, Equitas Health, Columbus Neighborhood Health Center, and Stonewall Columbus Inc. for the provision of HIV related services to clients required to meet the deliverables of the grant for the period of August 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024; to authorize the expenditure of $432,784.00 from the Health Department Grants Fund; and to declare an emergency ($900,000.00).
Body
WHEREAS, $900,000.00 in grant funds have been made available through the Ohio Department of Health for the Implementing Enhanced HIV Prevention and Surveillance for Health Departments to End the HIV Epidemic in Ohio grant program for the period of August 1, 2023 through May 31, 2024; and,
WHEREAS, it is necessary to accept and appropriate these funds from the Ohio Department of Health for the support of the Implementing Enhanced HIV Prevention and Surveillance for Health Departments to End the HIV Epidemic in Ohio grant program; and,
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $432,784.00 from the Health Department Grants Fund;
WHEREAS, it is necessary that the Board of Health enters into subrecipient agreements, pursuant to City Code Section 329.30, with Franklin County Public Health for the provision of Ending the Epidemic related services to clients required to meet the deliverables of the grant for the period of August 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024; and,
WHEREAS, it is necessary to allow the City Auditor to transfer appropriations between object classes for the Implementing Enhanced HIV Prevention and Surveillance for Health Departments to End the HIV Epidemic in Ohio grant program as needed upon request by the Columbus Public Health department;
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of Columbus Public Health in that it is immediately necessary to accept these grant funds from the Ohio Department Health and to appropriate these funds to Columbus Public Health to avoid delay in client services. Avoiding a delay in client services will ultimately allow the grant program to meet grant deliverables required by the grantor and to avoid being at risk for forfeiture of funds. All for the immediate 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 Board of Health is hereby authorized and directed to accept a grant award of $900,000.00 from the Ohio Department of Health for the Implementing Enhanced HIV Prevention and Surveillance for Health Departments to End the HIV Epidemic in Ohio grant program for the period August 1, 2023 through May 31, 2024.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies in the Health Department's Grants Fund, Fund No. 2251, and from all monies estimated to come into said Fund from any and all sources during the grant period, the sum of $900,000.00 and any eligible interest earned during the grant period is hereby appropriated upon receipt of an executed grant agreement to the Health Department, Division No.5001, according to the attached accounting document.
SECTION 3. To authorize the Board of Health to enter into subrecipient agreements in order to meet deliverables required by grantor and avoid forfeiture of funds, for the provision of Ending the Epidemic related services to for the period of August 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024.
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of $432,784.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in the Health Department, Division No. 5001, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer appropriations between object classes for the Implementing Enhanced HIV Prevention and Surveillance for Health Departments to End the HIV Epidemic in Ohio grant program as needed upon request by the Columbus Public Health department.
SECTION 6. That the monies appropriated in the foregoing Section 2 shall be paid upon the order of the Health Commissioner and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except upon voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 7. That 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 8. That for 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.