Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Finance and Management Director to establish a Universal Term Contract (UTC) for the option to purchase business and enterprise class services with Charter Communications Holdings, LLC. The Department of Technology is the main user. The term of the proposed option contract would be approximately three (3) years expiring May 31, 2021, with the option to renew for three (3) additional one-year periods. The services include television, telephone and data.
Given the complexity of the City's systems and services needed and the embedded nature of Charter's services, it is not practical to do a competitive bid at this time; therefore, waiver legislation is being submitted. At this time and for the immediate future, the Department of Technology and the Purchasing Office consider Charter Communications Holding, LLC to be the only feasible provider of the services. Pricing and contract terms have been negotiated.
Charter Communications Holdings, LLC. FID# 43-1843179, Vendor Acct. # 018939 (Contract Compliance is in process)
Total Estimated Annual Expenditure: $150,000.00
Emergency Designation: The Finance and Management Department respectfully requests this legislation be considered an emergency ordinance to ensure uninterrupted business class telecommunications and television services for city agencies.
This company is not debarred according to the Federal Excluded Parties Listing or the State Auditor's Findings For Recovery Database.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding to establish this option contract is budgeted in the General Fund. City Agencies will be required to obtain approval to expend from their own appropriations for their estimated annual expenditures.
Title
To authorize the Finance and Management Director to enter into a Universal Term Contract for the option to purchase Business and Enterprise Class services (television services, phone services and data services) with Charter Communications Holdings, LLC; to authorize the expenditure of one $1.00 from the General Fund; to waive the provisions of competitive bidding, and to declare an emergency. ($1.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the business and enterprise class services UTC will provide for the purchase of cable television, phone, and data services; and
WHEREAS, a waiver of competitive bidding is necessary for this purchase in order to receive the best pricing for upcoming planned projects; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Technology and other agencies, in that it is immediately necessary to enter into a Universal Term Contract for the option to purchase business class services (cable TV services, phone services, and data services), 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 Finance and Management Director is hereby authorized to enter into the following contract for an option to purchase business and enterprise class services (cable television services, phone services, and data services) with terms ending May 31, 2021 with the option to extend the contract for three (3) additional one-year periods, subject to mutual agreement, as follows:
Charter Communications Holdings, LLC, All items, Amount: $1.00
SECTION 2. This Council finds 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.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $1.00 is hereby authorized in Fund 1000 General Fund in Object Class 03 Services per the account codes in the attachment of this ordinance to pay the cost thereof.
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 passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.