Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Public Safety, on behalf of the Division of Support Services, to enter into a contract with Medical Priority Consultants Inc. DBA Priority Dispatch for maintenance and support agreement for ProQa software application for license renewal, service and support for existing licenses and service. Additional new ProQa licenses were purchased last year because the Communication Center is increasing the number of civilian employees who will be 911 call takers, requiring additional certifications.
ProQa is based on the Medical Priority Dispatch System and provides a standardized format for carrying out the practice of priority dispatching. It is an automated system which operates by evaluating incoming information according to logical rules built on expert medical knowledge. The Emergency Medical Dispatcher then uses the information provided to send the appropriate response configuration. ProQa allows the City's Emergency Medical Dispatchers to carry out the following four important activities; structured and rapid caller interrogation and patient evaluation; accurate selection of the appropriate EMS unit response; relay of important patient and scene information to field responders; and the provision of essential Dispatch Life Support. ProQa is currently used in the main dispatch center for all EMS and Fire incidents. Medical Priority Consultants is the sole source supplier of this software and maintenance.
Bid Information: This service contract is executed in accordance with the sole source provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Code; Priority Dispatch is the proprietary software licensing and maintenance contractor for the City's current ProQa system and is linked with the CAD and phone systems.
Contract Compliance: Contract Compliance Number #870447422, expires 4-29-2018
Emergency Designation: Emergency designation is requested to ensure that the City's main and back-up dispatching systems are properly maintained.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $63,683.00 from the Division of Support Service's general fund budget for the support and maintenance of existing and new ProQa software application for the 911 Communications Center. In 2016, $63,683.00 was expended on this contract.
Title
To authorize and direct the Director of Public Safety, on behalf of the Division of Support Services, to enter into a contract with Medical Priority Consultants Inc., DBA Priority Dispatch, for maintenance services required for the City's 911 Emergency Dispatching system in accordance with the sole source provisions of the Columbus City Codes; to authorize the expenditure of $63,683.00 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($63,683.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Safety, Division of Support Services, has a need to provide ProQa software support to the City's 911 Emergency and back-up Dispatching Center(s); and
WHEREAS, Medical Priority Consultants Inc., DBA Priority Dispatch, currently provides ProQa software and Licenses to the City's 911 Emergency and back-up Dispatching Center(s); and
WHEREAS, Priority Dispatch provides Help Desk Support, website support and software updates and maintenance which facilitate the CAD System's daily operations; and
WHEREAS, this acquisition is in accordance with sole source provisions of City Code; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the Department of Public Safety, Division of Support Services, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into said contract with Medical Priority Consultants, Inc. for maintenance agreement of the ProQa software application, to allow the communications center to operate without interruption, thereby preserving the public peace, health, property, safety and welfare; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Public Safety, on behalf of the Division of Support Services, be and is hereby authorized and directed to enter into a contract with Medical Priority Consultants, Inc., DBA Priority Dispatch, for the provision of software maintenance agreement to the 911 Communications Center ProQa software application, in accordance with the sole source provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Code.
SECTION 2. That this agreement is entered into pursuant to the sole source provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Code.
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 purpose stateed in Section 1 hereof, the expenditure of $63,683, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized from Fund 1000 General Fund, Subfund 100010 in object class Contractual Services 03, per the accounting codes in the attachment in this ordinance.
SECTION 5. 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.