Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Public Safety to enter into contract with Center Learn for $113,500.00 to continue the Division of Fire's Distance Learning program. Since 2008, the Columbus Fire Division has been contracting with a computer based training content provider for their Distance Learning Project. The Fire Division's Distance Learning project was implemented to provide remote training in all fire stations via computer network. A computer based training content provider is used to continue to provide and implement training, scheduling, and logging of employee training history for the Fire Division.
Bid Information: The Fire Division processed a request for proposal (RFP) for a computer based training content provider via Solicitation SA004131 and received bids on November 21, 2011; upon review of the bids, the Fire Division recommends acceptance of the bid submitted by Centre Learn in the amount of $113,500.00.
Bids were as follows:
Kaplan University - $50.00/person annually
Centre Learn - $44.95/person annually
American Safety & Health Institute - $35.00/person annually
There were three proposals received for this solicitation. The proposal submitted by Iowa College Acquisition Corp. dba Kaplan University did not offer Fire Safety Inspector content, a critical component of the RFP.
The proposal with the lowest cost, American Safety & Health Institute, Inc., offered a system that had limited Paramedic content. Given the major role paramedic EMS plays in the Division of Fire's operations, the lack of appropriate advanced EMS content in the American Safety & Health Institute system greatly reduces it's functionality as the core content management system the Fire Division needs to maintain and expand it's Distance Learning program. Additional costs would also be incurred by the Division of Fire in order to provide services that the vendor does not offer such as student certification compliance, resource management, and advanced qualification specific content as needed by the Division of Fire.
CentreLearn, the remaining eligible proposer in the Division of Fire's evaluation process, offered a system that included Firefighter, Fire Safety Inspector, Basic EMT and Paramedic content. The CentreLearn system offers several features that will dramatically improve efficiency and reduce training costs when implemented. CentreLearn offers powerful tools to assist the end user with the management of certification renewal requirements, resource tracking, and competency testing. CentreLearn offers Paramedic and advanced qualification specific courses (HazMat, WMD) that will allow the Training Academy to more appropriately target training by specialty qualifications. The American Safety & Health Institute system does not offer the same breadth of content as CentreLearn.
The Fire Division's selection committee unanimously agreed the product offered by CentreLearn provided a much better system of tracking certification compliance and a more appropriate and robust learning content, and thus recommends the award recommendation be made to CentreLearn,
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: Centre Learn - 043827563 exp. 10/9/13
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency action is required so that Fire's Distance Learning Program can continue uninterrupted.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $113,500 for the purchase of a computer based training system for the Fire Division. The Fire Division budgeted $114,900.00 in the 2012 General Fund budget for this purpose. The Fire Division spent $114,900 in 2011 and 2010 for these services.
Title
To authorize the Public Safety Director to enter into a contract with Center Learn for a computer based training content for use by the Fire Division's Training Bureau for distance learning purposes, to authorize the expenditure of $113,500.00 from the General Fund, and to declare an emergency.($113,500.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Columbus Fire Division is in need to continue the use of a computer based training content provider for it's Distance Learning Project; and
WHEREAS, a committee consisting of Fire Division personnel analyzed requests for proposal for said computer based training content provider, with Centre Learn submitting the best bid; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the daily operations of the Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Public Safety Director to enter into this contract for the preservation of 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 Safety Director be and he is hereby authorized and directed to enter into a contract with Centre Learn for content provision and management for the Fire Division.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $113,500.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized to be expended from the General Fund 010, Department of Public Safety 30, Division of Fire 30-04, OCA 301549, OL3 Code 3336 to pay the cost thereof.
SECTION 3. 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.