City of Columbus - File #: 0582-2008

• File #: 0582-2008
• Version: 1
• Type: Ordinance
• Status: Passed
• File created: 3/25/2008
• In control: Utilities Committee
• On agenda: 4/14/2008
• Final action: 4/16/2008
• Title: To authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a contract with First Data Government Solutions for services necessary for electronic payment of utility bills; to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Columbus City Code; to authorize the expenditure of $100,000.00 from the Water Systems Operating Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($100,000.00)

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
4/16/2008	1	CITY CLERK	Attest
4/15/2008	1	MAYOR	Signed
4/14/2008	1	Columbus City Council	Approved	Pass
4/14/2008	1	COUNCIL PRESIDENT	Signed
4/2/2008	1	Utilities Drafter	Sent for Approval
4/2/2008	1	CITY ATTORNEY	Reviewed and Approved
4/2/2008	1	Utilities Drafter	Sent to Clerk's Office for Council
4/1/2008	1	FINANCE-PURCHASING APPROVER	Reviewed and Approved
4/1/2008	1	FINANCE DIRECTOR	Reviewed and Approved
4/1/2008	1	Utilities Drafter	Sent for Approval
4/1/2008	1	Auditor Reviewer	Reviewed and Approved
4/1/2008	1	CITY AUDITOR	Reviewed and Approved
3/31/2008	1	EBOCO Reviewer	Reviewed and Approved
3/31/2008	1	ODI DIRECTOR	Reviewed and Approved
3/31/2008	1	Utilities Drafter	Sent for Approval
3/31/2008	1	Finance Reviewer	Reviewed and Approved
3/28/2008	1	UTILITIES DIRECTOR	Reviewed and Approved
3/28/2008	1	Utilities Drafter	Sent for Approval
3/27/2008	1	Utilities Drafter	Sent for Approval
3/27/2008	1	Utilities Reviewer	Sent for Approval
3/26/2008	1	Utilities Drafter	Sent for Approval
3/26/2008	1	Utilities Drafter	Sent for Approval
3/26/2008	1	Utilities Reviewer	Reviewed and Approved
3/25/2008	1	Utilities Drafter	Sent for Approval

Explanation

BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a multi-year contract with First Data Government Solutions, LP to provide an IVR (interactive voice response) and web portal capable of taking utility payments via the telephone and internet. This service is necessary to accommodate customers' growing demand to pay utility bills in a convenient and secure manner.

The existing system in use requires the services of a Customer Service Representative to assist the customer with the processing of credit card payments. This contract will provide a web platform and IVR interface that will allow the customer to enter their credit card information into the system via telephone or web access. In addition, the City of Columbus internet sites have experienced numerous outages in the last few months due to the IP block being modified by an external provider. All functionality including the Water Payment Applications needs to be migrated as soon as possible to mitigate the risk of future outages.

The Income Tax Division requested proposals in 2004 through the Purchasing Office and these proposals were evaluated by a committee of representatives from the Income Tax Division, the Department of Technology, the Deputy Auditor and the City Treasurer. It was determined that First Data Government Solutions, formerly GovConnect, had the municipal government experience and product that would best serve the needs of the City and its taxpayers. First Data Government Solutions, Inc. currently provides Income Tax E-File/E-Pay services and Pay-by-Phone and Pay-by-Web services for the Parking Violations Bureau.

It was intended that the initial contract for the electronic payment services provided to the Income Tax Division would be the basis for the web platform for electronic payment services to other agencies in the City including the Department of Public Utilities. Due to these existing interfaces between the City's we...