Explanation
Background: This legislation authorizes the Finance and Management Director to enter into a professional services contract for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) infrastructure for the City of Columbus, at 1250 Fairwood Avenue and 4211 Groves Road. Services are to include the design of a Compressed Natural Gas filling station at 4211 Groves Road, as well as renovations to the maintenance shops at 4211 Groves Road and 1250 Fairwood Avenue. The filling station will provide a rapid and reliable dispensing of compressed natural gas to begin and grow a fleet of energy efficient CNG fueled vehicles.
Requests for Statements of Qualifications were available on May 12, 2010, and submitted on June 14, 2010. The City received five proposals (1 MBE, 0 FBE): Kramer Engineering, MS Consultants, DLZ Ohio Inc, Design and Construction Group and Braun & Steidl. A three person committee evaluated the proposals, including one member each from the Fleet Management Division, the Office of Construction and the Public Utilities Department. DLZ Ohio Inc scored the highest in many categories including competence to perform, past performance, cost containment and proposed schedule.
CNG vehicles produce significantly lower amounts of harmful emissions such as nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and toxic and carcinogenic pollutants. Natural gas is a domestically available, inherently clean burning fuel. Using compressed natural gas as vehicle fuel increases energy security by reducing our dependence on foreign oil and improves public health and the environment. Currently, CNG is also significantly lower in cost than either gasoline or diesel. The City of Columbus has paid an average of $2.77 per gallon year to date in 2010 for diesel fuel. CNG is currently retailing in Columbus for $1.50 per gge (gasoline gallon equivalent), a $1.27 per gallon or 46% savings in fuel cost.
Emergency action is requested so that any needed designs within the City so that Federal funds are...
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