Explanation
Background: This legislation authorizes the Public Service Director to enter into a contract for the Transportation Division for a professional services engineering contract for the Polaris Parkway at Orion Place Intersection Improvement project with R. D. Zande & Associates, Incorporated in the amount of $400,000.00. The project is located on Polaris Parkway between I-71 and the Westerville corporation line.
The purpose of the project is to reduce congestion and improve safety at this intersection and within the Polaris Parkway corridor. This project will widen Orion Place north and south of Polaris Parkway, and the widening of Polaris Parkway between I-71 and the Westerville corporation line. R. D. Zande & Associates, Inc. completed plans in 2000 for the widening of Polaris Parkway between I-71 and the Westerville corporation line; however, due to the lack of funds for constructing this improvement, this project was placed on hold. With the recently completed Polaris Parkway/I-71 interchange improvements, delays, backups, congestion, and accidents are on the rise. R. D. Zande has all of the survey data and expertise to complete this task with a lower fee and shorter schedule than a consultant selected by the QBS process, resulting in substantial savings to the citizens of Columbus. A professional services contract for engineering is needed to assure timely completion of the design as the Transportation Division does not maintain adequate staff or all of the various disciplines necessary to complete such design in house.
R.D. Zande was originally selected using the selection process for the professional service contract done in accordance with provisions of Chapter 329.12 of Columbus City Code 1959 for the completion of the original Polaris Parkway Widening Project. It is recommended that the applicable provisions of Chapter 329 of the City Code be waived and the consulting engineering firm of R. D. Zande & Associates, Inc., CC#311395123 expiring on 1/27/2008, be authorized to perform this work.
Emergency action is requested so that design work can proceed immediately in order to reduce congestion and improve safety at this intersection and keep commitments made to the local community.
Fiscal Impact: Funds for this project in the amount of $400,000.00 are available in the Street and Highway Improvement Fund for the Transportation Division.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Service to enter into a professional service contract with R. D. Zande & Associates, Inc., for the engineering of the Polaris Parkway at Orion Intersection Improvement project and to authorize the expenditure of $400,000.00 from the Street and Highway Improvement Fund for the Transportation Division; to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Columbus City Codes, 1959; and to declare an emergency ($400,000.00).
Body
WHEREAS, there is a need to alleviate congestion and improve safety at the intersection of Polaris Parkway and Orion Place and;
WHEREAS, the Director of Public Service has identified the need to enter into a professional service contract for the preparation of engineering for the Polaris Parkway at Orion Place Intersection Improvement project and;
WHEREAS, a satisfactory proposal has been submitted by R. D. Zande & Associates, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, R. D. Zande & Associates, Inc. has already been selected via a previous QBS process and previously developed plans for the original improvement of Polaris Parkway; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to waive the competitive bidding provisions of the Columbus City Code with respect to professional services due the consultant's experience and knowledge of this project; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service, Transportation Division, in that the contract should go forth immediately so that the work may proceed without delay, thereby preserving 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 Public Service Director be and is hereby authorized to enter into a contract with R. D. Zande & Associates, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $400,000.00 for engineering of the Polaris Parkway at Orion Place Intersection Improvement project.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose of paying the cost thereof, the sum of $400,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized to be expended as follows:
Fund/ Fund Name/ Dept.-Div. / OCA/ Object Level 01/03 Codes / Project Number / Project Name/ Amount
766 / Streets & Highways Improvement Fund / 59-09 / 642728 / 06/6682 / 530161 / Roadway Improvements / $400,000.00
SECTION 3. That this Council finds it in the best interests of the City of Columbus that the formal competitive bidding provisions of Section 329 of the Columbus City Code 1959 be waived.
SECTION 4. 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 5. That for the 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.