Explanation
1. BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a professional services agreement with EMA, Inc., for the Advanced Metering System Study and Implementation Project, in an amount up to $369,077.71, for Division of Water Contract No. 2073.
The City of Columbus is requesting professional services to develop and recommend a strategy, roadmap, and plan for implementation of an Advanced Metering System (AMS) for water and electrical meters at the City’s Department of Public Utilities (DPU). The consultant will evaluate state-of-the-art AMS technologies; evaluate and compare cost impacts; develop a detailed implementation schedule that will outline all steps for the City to begin to implement a fully functional AMS program; and assist the City in budgetary planning efforts that are aligned with its capital improvement program.
The entire project consists of four (4) Phases:
Phase 1: Develop an AMS System Roadmap (current)
Phase 2: Prepare an AMS system RFP
Phase 3: Coordinate an AMS System Vendor Selection Process
Phase 4: Provide program management assistance during the implementation.
Work under this project spans the entire City of Columbus’s planning areas.
2. ECONOMIC IMPACT/ADVANTAGES; COMMUNITY OUTREACH; PROJECT DEVELOPMENT; ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS/ADVANTAGES OF PROJECT: An AMS program is favorable to DPU's operations and customer service function as replacing older water and electrical meters will improve service, decrease burden on maintenance operations, reduce water loss, and improve revenue. Moving from quarterly to monthly billing will have a positive impact on customers as the bills will be more manageable in both cost and time.
3. BID INFORMATION: The selection of the firm providing the professional engineering services has been performed in accordance with the procedures set forth in Columbus City Code, Chapter 329, "Awarding professional service contracts through requests for proposal...
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