Explanation
Need: This ordinance is to authorize the Executive Director of the Civil Service Commission to enter into a contract with the Association for Psychotherapy, Inc. for psychological screening of public safety recruits for upcoming classes at the Police Academy and the Fire Academy.
Bid Information: The City of Columbus Civil Service Commission published a Request for Proposals (RFP) for these services and accepted proposals through May 8, 2017. Six proposals were received by the deadline. An evaluation committee reviewed these proposals in accordance with the criteria set forth in the RFP which included quality and feasibility of proposals, cost, competence, ability, past performance and timeliness of reporting results. Although one other offeror proposed lower costs, the committee recommended awarding the contract to a local company. The low bidder, a company in Georgia, proposed evaluating candidates all at one time which differs from the process used by the Department of Public Safety who schedules candidates over several months. The out-of-state company also relied heavily on City personnel and facilities to administer the psychological testing. Since the City does not have personnel to devote to administration, additional costs would be necessary for hiring an administrative employee, as well as computer equipment for testing. Other proposals submitted by local companies involved higher costs. The selected firm is local, consists of highly qualified psychologists, offers flexible scheduling, and did not increase prices from their previous contract. Therefore, the Commission seeks to award the contract to the Association for Psychotherapy, Inc.
Emergency Designation: Emergency legislation is requested in order to establish the contract prior to the expiration of the current contract on July 14, 2017, and to enable the Department of Public Safety to schedule candidates beginning in August.
Contract Compliance Number: 311441549, expires 3/7/2019.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for this service was budgeted in the Civil Service Commission’s general fund budget.
Title
To authorize and direct the Executive Director of the Civil Service Commission to enter into a contract with the Association for Psychotherapy, Inc. for the psychological screening of public safety recruits, and to authorize the expenditure of $55,000.00 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency ($55,000.00).
Body
WHEREAS, in 2017, the City of Columbus Civil Service Commission accepted proposals from qualified companies for psychological screening services; and
WHEREAS, the Civil Service Commission awarded the new contract to the Association for Psychotherapy, Inc.; and
WHEREAS an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Civil Service Commission, in that the current contract will expire on July 14, 2017, and it is necessary to begin scheduling public safety candidates, and thereby preserving the public peace, property, health, safety and welfare; now therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Executive Director of the Civil Service Commission be and is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with Association for Psychotherapy, Inc. for the purpose of administering psychological screenings to public safety recruits for the Department of Public Safety’s entry-level sworn positions.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $55,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 1000 General Fund in object class 03 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
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 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.