Explanation
BACKGROUND:
Due to inclement weather and historically low temperatures, there were several damages that occurred at the Central Safety Building. Based on our best efforts and knowledge, the City believes it is necessary to immediately engage various contractors/vendors (both UTC and non-UTC) to provide a range of equipment and services related to the repair of damages and replacement of End Of Life (EOL)/obsolete technology-related equipment at the Central Safety Building. The Department of Technology's Metronet Services provides data connectivity that supports various business functions and allows all city agencies and departments to communicate. Currently, the Department of Technology has a need to upgrade Police infrastructure hardware that has reached End Of Life (EOL) support, migration to a Voice Over IP (VOIP) telephony system and Server infrastructure. These upgrades are associated with the purchase and installation of network equipment that provides Power Over Ethernet (POE) which will provide reliable delivery of VOIP, Video, Wireless and Data services within the Police network and across the City to avoid lengthy outages due to network hardware failure.
This legislation authorizes the Finance and Management Department to establish capital blanket purchase orders with current Universal Term Contract (UTC) contractors/vendors to expend monies for technology equipment and services at the Central Safety Building.
This legislation also authorizes the Director of the Department of Technology (DoT) to enter into contracts with various non-UTC contractors/vendors to provide technology equipment and services. This effort is necessary to effectively mitigate the risk of service interruption to the Police network infrastructure which will lessen any risks associated with technology and communications services essential for daily operations. In addition, the replacement/upgrade will minimize disruptions of critical functions as a result of aging infrastructure component failures. Given the emergency situation at the Central Safety Building and the need to establish contracts with contractors/vendors in a timely manner, this ordinance requests a waiver of competitive bidding requirements of the Columbus City Code, in accordance with section 329.27.
The Department of Finance and Management and the Department of Technology both anticipate that seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($750,000.00) will provide sufficient capital funding to address the issues at hand. This legislation will allow the Department of Technology to expedite the replacement and upgrade of current End Of Life (EOL) network, infrastructure, and telephone equipment for the Police Central Safety Building utilizing technology funds allocated within the Police Infrastructure, Police Network equipment upgrade and Telephone equipment and services capital projects.
EMERGENCY ACTION:
Emergency action is requested so that the Finance and Management Department and the Department of Technology can address the emergency services and equipment upgrades/replacements needed at the Central Safety Building to minimize disruptions of critical functions and service interruptions.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funds totaling $750,000.00 for this ordinance are available within the Department of Technology, Information Services Division, Capital Improvement Bond Fund and will come from the Department of Technology Capital Projects for Police Network Equipment Upgrade-470046-100005; Police Infrastructure Project - 470047-100008 and Police Telephone Upgrade - 470052-100052.
Title
To authorize and direct the City Auditor to establish an Auditor's Certificate (Capital Blanket) in the amount of $750,000.00 from the Department of Technology, Information Services Division, Capital Improvement Bond Fund; to authorize the Finance and Management Director to establish capital blanket purchase orders on behalf of the Department of Technology for the Division of Police utilizing current Universal Term Contracts (UTC)/vendors; to authorize the Director of Department of Technology to enter into contracts with various non-UTC contractors/vendors for the provision of technology equipment purchases and services upgrades at the Central Safety Building; to waive the competitive bidding provisions of the Columbus City Code; to authorize the expenditure of $750,000.00 from the Department of Technology, Information Services Division, Capital Improvement Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($750,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, due to inclement weather and historically low temperatures, there were several damages that occurred at the Central Safety Building; thereby it is necessary to immediately engage various contractors/vendors (both UTC and non-UTC) to provide a range of technology equipment and services replacing and upgrading of End Of Life (EOL)/obsolete technology equipment; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Technology has an immediate need to upgrade Police infrastructure and network hardware that has reached End Of Life (EOL) support, migration to a Voice Over IP (VOIP) telephony system and server infrastructure replacement. These upgrades are associated with the purchase and installation of network equipment that provides Power Over Ethernet (POE) which will provide reliable delivery of VOIP, Video, Wireless and Data services within the Police network and across the City to avoid lengthy outages due to network hardware failure; and
WHEREAS, this legislation authorizes the Finance and Management Department to establish capital blanket purchase orders with current Universal Term Contract (UTC) contractors/vendors related to the replacement/ upgrade of technology equipment and services at the Central Safety Building and also authorizes the Director of the Department of Technology to enter into contracts with various non-UTC contractors/vendors for the provision of technology equipment purchases and services and that both departments anticipate that seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($750,000.00) will provide sufficient capital funding to address the current equipment and service needs; and
WHEREAS, given the emergency situation at the Central Safety Building (Mayor's Emergency) and the need to replace and upgrade the Division of Police network, infrastructure, severs and telephony systems utilizing established UTC contracts and/or various non-UTC contractors/vendors in a timely manner, this ordinance requests a waiver(s) of competitive bidding requirements of the Columbus City Code, in accordance with section 329.27; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City of Columbus, in that it is immediately necessary for the Department of Finance and Management Director to establish capital blanket purchase orders utilizing established UTC contracts and for the Director of the Department of Technology to enter into contracts with various non-UTC contractors/vendors in a timely manner to expend monies related to the repair, replacement and upgrade of technology equipment and services at the Central Safety Building, necessary to keep the facility operational, functional, and safe, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety, welfare; now, therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Columbus City Auditor be and is hereby authorized and directed to establish an Auditor's Certificate, in the amount of $750,000.00, from the Department of Technology, Information Service Division, Capital Improvement Fund; that the Director of the Finance and Management Department, be and is hereby authorized to establish capital blanket purchase orders as needed with current Universal Term Contract (UTC) contractors/vendors; and that the Director of the Department of Technology be and is hereby authorized to enter into contracts with various non-UTC contractors/vendors via waiver(s) of competitive bidding requirements of the Columbus City Code, in accordance with section 329 to expend monies related to network, infrastructure, severs and telephony system repairs, replacement and upgrades to the Central Safety Building.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $750,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and is hereby authorized from the Department of Technology, Information Services Division, Capital Improvement Bond Fund to establish capital blanket purchase orders and director's contracts from the Auditor's Certificate for the purpose of paying the cost of these various contracts, the sum of $750,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized to be expended from the Department of Technology, Information Services Division, Capital Improvement Fund as follows:
Div.: 47-02|Fund: 514|Subfund: 002|Project Name: Police Network Equipment Upgrade Project| Project No.: 470046-100005 | Project OCA: 512246| Obj. Level 1: 06|Obj. Level 3: 6649|Amount: $250,000.00 - (Capital Blanket)
Div.: 47-02|Fund: 514|Subfund: 002|Project Name: Police Infrastructure Project| Project No.: 470047-100008 | Project OCA: 514478| Obj. Level 1: 06|Obj. Level 3: 6649|Amount: $250,000.00 - (Capital Blanket)
Div.: 47-02|Fund: 514|Subfund: 002|Project Name: Police Telephone Upgrade Project| Project No.: 470052-100005| Project OCA: 514252| Obj. Level 1: 06|Obj. Level 3: 6649|Amount: $250,000.00 - (Capital Blanket)
TOTAL AMOUNT: $750,000.00
SECTION 3. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
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 the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer the unencumbered balance in a project account to the unallocated balance account within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administering said project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for said project.
SECTION 6. That given the emergency situation at the Central Safety Building and the need to establish contracts with non-UTC contractors/vendors in a timely manner, this ordinance requests a waiver(s) of competitive bidding requirements of the Columbus City Code, in accordance with section 329.27.
SECTION 7. 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 approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.