Explanation
Background: This legislation authorizes the Finance and Management Director to modify a professional services contract for the Office of Construction Management with Bird Houk & Associates, Inc. for architectural and engineering consulting services. The original contract was authorized by Ordinance No. 2085-2006, passed December 13, 2006. Construction Management uses Bird Houk & Associates, Inc. on an ongoing basis for various projects in city owned facilities. In 2007, air quality issues associated with cooking operations in the North Market facility were brought to the attention of the Construction Management office as well as the North Market Development Authority. In order to address any potential health and safety issues as quickly as possible, the Office of Construction Management asked Bird Houk to conduct an initial investigation of the exhaust ventilation system, hot water delivery system, and various plumbing and electrical infrastructure at the North Market. This investigation revealed the need to make various repairs and reconfigurations of existing systems. Issues associated with electrical and plumbing systems are to be addressed by the Authority by the end of the year. The reconfiguration of the hot water delivery system will be designed by Bird Houk under the original contract. Adequate funding does not exist within the original contract for the design services necessary to correct the problems associated with the exhaust ventilation system, thereby necessitating this modification. It is in the City's best interest to modify the existing contract instead of awarding a new contract, because Bird Houk has already conducted initial investigations and recommended solutions. To bring on a new design firm would cause unnecessary delays and lead to duplication of work. The North Market is owned by the City of Columbus and leased to the North Market Development Authority. The Office of Construction Management has budgeted $250,...
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