Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Finance and Management Director to purchase a van and all necessary accessories to be used by Columbus Public Health’s Lead Program, utilizing existing grant funds budgeted within the 2023 ODH Lead Safe Housing Grant, in an amount not to exceed $150,000.00.
Columbus Public Health will strategically use this mobile unit to provide blood lead screenings for children under age six and provide general lead poisoning prevention outreach to our residents. The mobile unit will allow us to provide these services in high-risk zip codes and areas of Columbus where families have access to care issues.
A waiver of the competitive bid process as outlined in Columbus City Code Chapter 329.15 is requested because the minimum lead-time to up fit a van to our specifications is 16 weeks from receipt of the vehicle, according to vendor estimates. The Grantor (Ohio Department of Health) did not authorize the purchase of a vehicle until November 26, 2024. If purchased as soon as possible, the van would arrive to the vendor in February or March of 2025 at the earliest. This timeframe would surpass the remaining life of the grant if a formal bid were to be included, as all expenses must be encumbered and expensed prior to the end of the grant period on June 30, 2025.
This ordinance also authorizes the Finance and Management Director to establish purchase orders with Waldoch Crafts Inc to purchase a van and perform all up-fitting services as directed by Columbus Public Health’s Lead Program.
The contract compliance number for Waldoch Crafts Inc is CC-051259.
Emergency action is requested due to the instability of the automobile supply chain and to ensure all purchases are completed within the grant period. The market volatility of all the OEMs continues with the ongoing shortage of chips and other critical supply line parts to produce vehicles. This limited availability is causing vehicle order windows to open and close, a...
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