Explanation
Background: This legislation authorizes the Director of Development to enter into a contract with Carahsoft Technology Corporation for continuation of the use of Salesforce software licenses, support, and training services. This software is a cloud-hosted platform, most broadly defined as Customer/Constituent Relationship Management (CRM). It is used to track projects, workflow, events, activity, etc., and provide real time reports across all aspects of the department. This contract is for one (1) year to include licenses.
Since this was not formally bid, a waiver of the provisions of Columbus City Code Chapter 329 is required. Salesforce is currently in use at the State and Regional levels including JobsOhio and Columbus 2020. Continuing with Salesforce instead of considering other options will save the city additional expenses for the creation, customization, and compatibility software to share data with the State, JobsOhio, and regional partners.
Emergency action is requested in order to continue use of this program software without interruption.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes the expenditure of $45,000 from the general fund budget.
Title
To authorize the Director of Development to enter into a contract with Carahsoft Technology Corp. for continuation of the use of Salesforce software; to authorize the expenditure of $45,000.00 from the general fund; to waive the competitive bidding requirements of the Columbus City Code; and to declare an emergency. ($45,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Development desires to contract with Carahsoft Technology Corp. for continuation of the use of Salesforce software; and
WHEREAS, Salesforce is currently in use at the State and Regional levels including JobsOhio and Columbus 2020, so purchasing this software will allow the City to share data related to projects with our partners along with tracking, reporting, creating workflows, and logging events and activities that will help us to better manage our economic development projects; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Development has been utilizing Carahsoft services since 2013 and we are continuing to use them for on-going project work and license renewal which will save the city additional expenses for the creation, customization, and compatibility software to share data with the State, JobsOhio, and regional partners; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City of Columbus to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Code to enter into this contract; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into a contract with Carahsoft Technology Corp. in order to continue use of this software, thereby preserving 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 Development Director is hereby authorized to enter into a contract with Carahsoft Technology Corp. for continued use of Saleforce software for the Department of Development.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $45,000 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 1000 General Fund in Object Class 03 Contractual Services per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That this Council finds it is in the best interest of the City to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes to permit the aforementioned purchase.
SECTION 4. 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 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 the passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.