Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a contract modification with ms consultants, inc. for continued design services for the Fourth Water Plant Transmission Main project, CIP Number 690502-100001, in an amount up to $14,773,063.35.
This contract is for engineering consulting services for the design of water transmission mains that will be constructed in conjunction with the construction of the City’s future Home Road water plant. The transmission mains will extend from the Home Road water plant located at 5992 Home Road, Delaware, OH 43015, to a strategic connection points in the City’s existing water distribution system, specifically the Cleveland/Henderson pressure district.
The initial project funding for Phase 1 was to start preliminary design services. Modification #1 was to add funding for preliminary engineering services for a new Scioto River/Griggs Reservoir crossing(s) into the Cleveland/Henderson pressure districts and associated transmission main alignment(s) to connect the Home Road Water Plant transmission mains due to the existing waterlines crossing the Scioto River not having the capacity to convey flows from the future Fourth Water Plant. Modification #3 added funding to begin detailed design. This contract modification is needed to fund continued detailed design services.
There are several additional planned contract modifications. The final planned contract modification will be for Phase 3, engineering services during construction.
The majority of the transmission main will be located outside the City of Columbus. The portion within the City of Columbus will be located within the Hayden Run Planning Area (30) and the Far Northwest Planning Area (31).
UPDATED TIMELINE
Phase 2 - Detailed Design Services (Modification No. 2 & 3 (Current)) is expected to have a duration of approximately 36 months. Phase 3 - Engineering Services during Construction (Modification No. 4) is expected to have a duration of approximately 36 months.
ESTIMATED COST OF PROJECT
1.1 Amount of additional funds to be expended: $14,773,063.35
Cost summary:
Original Contract - Phase 1 Preliminary Design $ 5,399,068.91
Modification No. 1 - Preliminary Design - River Crossings $ 1,487,278.77
Modification No. 2 - Detailed Design - Survey, Soil Borings $ 901,234.82
Modification No. 3 - Detailed Design - Phase 1 $ 18,739,250.02
Modification No. 4 - Detailed Design - Phase 2 $ 14,773,063.35
Modification No. 5 - Easements Phase 1 $ 7,500,000.00 (estimated)
Modification No. 6 - Services During Construction (Plant) $ 1,000,000.00 (estimated)
Modification No. 7 - Services During Construction (Phase 1) $ 9,000,000.00 (estimated)
Modification No. 8 - Services During Construction (Phase 2) $ 2,500,000.00 (estimated)
Modification No. 9 - Detailed Design - Phase 3 $ 5,000,000.00 (estimated)
Modification No.10- Easements (Phase 2) $ 1,500,000.00 (estimated)
Modification No.11 - Easements (Phase 3) $ 1,500,000.00 (estimated)
Modification No.12 - Services During Construction (Phase 3) $ 1,250,000.00 (estimated)
CONTRACT TOTAL $70,549,895.87 (estimated)
1.2. Reason other procurement processes are not used:
This contract was awarded through the City’s RFP process with planned modifications to add funding. This is one of the planned funding modifications so another procurement process is not required.
1.3. How cost of modification was determined:
ms consultants, inc. provided a cost proposal as requested by the City based on existing contract job titles, rates of pay, and allowable expenses, and the estimated hours needed to complete the assigned tasks.
2. ECONOMIC IMPACT/ADVANTAGES; COMMUNITY OUTREACH; PROJECT DEVELOPMENT; ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS/ADVANTAGES OF PROJECT
This project has been scoped with a significant public outreach program. This outreach program will include public meetings, advisory group briefings for stakeholders, development of a project website, fact sheets, pop-up engagement at neighborhood gatherings, e-newsletters, social media posts, and news releases.
3. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE INFORMATION
ms consultants, inc.’s contract compliance number is CC006998 and expires 1/15/28.
Searches in the Excluded Party List System (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against ms consultants, inc.
As part of their proposal, ms consultants, inc. has proposed the following subconsultants/subcontractors to perform contract work:
Company Name City/State ODI Certification Status
Resource International Columbus, OH WBE
LJB (Aldea Services Inc.) Columbus, OH MAJ
7NT Engineering Columbus, OH MBE
Gresham Smith Columbus, OH MAJ
MurphyEpson Columbus, OH WBE
BREMA (STONE Environmental) Westerville, OH WBE
Moody Engineering Columbus, OH MBE
Eagon & Associates Columbus, OH MAJ
Regency Construction Services Columbus, OH WBE
DHDC Inc. Columbus, OH MBE
KTA Tator Pittsburgh, PA MAJ
ASC Group, Inc. Columbus, OH WBE
D&D Policy Works Columbus, OH MAJ
CCI Engineering Services Columbus, OH WBE
The certification of ms consultants, inc. and the above companies was in good standing at the time of the contract modification.
5. FISCAL IMPACT
This design modification is expected to be financed with a loan from the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account (WSRLA) through the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and administered by the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA). City Council authorized WSRLA loan applications and acceptance of funding via Ordinance 1320-2026, passed by Council on 6/1/2026. This loan is expected to be approved in July, 2026. Ordinance 1320-2026 did not list this project as one that would be submitted for WSRLA loan funding. Even though 1320-2026 states City Council approves the Director of Public Utilities to make changes to the list of projects without additional Council approval, WSRLA and OWDA requires the project to be specifically listed in an ordinance passed by City Council before they will approve the loan. This ordinance seeks that approval and is contingent upon City Council’s approving this ordinance and WSRLA/OWDA approving the loan. The Department of Public Utilities will inform the Auditor's Office when this loan has been approved.
The 2025 Capital Improvement Budget must be amended to align budget authority with the proper project. It is necessary to appropriate funds in the amount of $14,773,063.35 in Fund 6011 (Water Supply Revolving Loan Fund).
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to enter into a professional services contract modification with ms consultants, inc. to add funding for the Fourth Water Plant Transmission Main project; to authorize an amendment to the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget; to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to apply for a loan from the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account and to accept the loan; to make this ordinance contingent upon that loan being approved; and to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of up to $14,773,063.35 from the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account Fund to pay for the contract modification. ($14,773,063.35)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities is engaged in the Fourth Water Plant Transmission Main project; and
WHEREAS, Contract No. PO363148 was authorized by Ordinance No. 3235-2022, for ms consultants, inc. to provide design services for the Fourth Water Plant Transmission Main project and to begin preliminary design; and
WHEREAS, Contract No. PO409207, Modification Number 1, was authorized by Ordinance No. 2421-2023 for the Fourth Water Plant Transmission Main contract for preliminary design of river crossings; and
WHEREAS, Contract No. PO442514, Modification Number 2, was authorized by Ordinance No. 0828-2024 for the start of detailed design services for the project; and
WHEREAS, Contract No. PO468691, Modification Number 3, was authorized by Ordinance No. 1498-2024 for the start of detailed design services for the project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to enter into a contract modification with ms consultants, inc.to add funding to complete detailed design of the project; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 1320-2026, passed by City Council on 6/1/26, authorized this contract modification to be funded by a loan to be obtained through the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account (WSRLA) program; and
WHEREAS, a loan is needed to fund this contract modification; and
WHEREAS, City Council approval is needed to apply for the loan; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance is contingent upon a loan being approved; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget to provide sufficient budget authority for the project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to appropriate and expend funds from the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account Fund, Fund 6011, to pay for the design of this project; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities to authorize an expenditure of up to $14,773,063.35 from the WSRLA Fund, Fund 6011, for the Division of Water to pay for continued design services for the Fourth Water Plant Transmission Main project; 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
6011 / 690502-100001 / Fourth Water Plant Transmission Main (WSRLA Loan) / $0.00 / $14,773,064.00 / $14,773,064.00 (To match the loan amount.)
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 ending December 31, 2026, the sum of $14,773,063.35 is appropriated in the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account Fund, Fund 6011, per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the Director of Public Utilities be and hereby is authorized to enter into a contract modification for professional engineering services for the Fourth Water Plant Transmission Main project, CIP #690502-100001, with ms consultants, inc., 2221 Schrock Road, Columbus, OH 43229, in an amount not to exceed $14,773,063.35; in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract modification on file in the Department of Public Utilities.
SECTION 4. That the Director of Public Utilities is authorized to apply for a Water Supply Revolving Loan Account loan to fund this contract modification for the Fourth Water Plant Transmission Main project, to accept the loan if it is approved, and to execute those documents needed to accept the loan.
SECTION 5. That this ordinance is contingent upon the Ohio Water Development Authority approving a Water Supply Revolving Loan Account loan for this project.
SECTION 6. That the expenditure of $14,773,063.35, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized to pay for this contract modification 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. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.