Explanation
Currently, the Department of Public Safety, Division of Support Services is utilizing the West Viper System “PSAP” to deliver 911 and Non-Emergency services for our citizens. When 911 is dialed, this equipment receives the call and routes to a Police/Fire Call Taker for processing. It is the first point of contact when someone is dialing 911 for assistance. The City of Columbus operates a fully redundant, geo-diverse set of Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) controllers that currently support operations at the Columbus wireless PSAP, the Columbus backup PSAP at Arlingate, and the Worthington non-wireless PSAP. The Division of Support Services, upgraded its existing 911 system in 2012, with an additional upgrade in 2016 for text to 911 compatibility. However, the core system is now almost at the end-of-life and needs upgraded in order to continue services uninterrupted and allow all the required features to be used seamlessly. This upgrade will enable the system to comply with the National Emergency Number (NENA) next generation 911 standards.
Bid Information: This upgrade to the 911 system is being executed in accordance with the sole source provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Code; West Safety Solutions Corp is the proprietary software licensing and maintenance contractor for the City's current 911 System.
Contract Compliance: West Safety Solutions Corp. 58-2381670, expires April 24, 2020.
Emergency Designation: Emergency legislation is necessary to ensure the 911 system is upgraded in the shortest possible time in order to utilize this upgrade immediately and ensure the optimum level of this critical service to the citizens of Columbus.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes the transfer of funds between projects in the Safety Bond Fund. Funding for this expenditure is available in Public Safety's Capital Improvement Fund.
Title
To authorize the City Auditor to transfer funds between projects within the Department of Public Safety's Bond Fund; to authorize the Director of Public Safety to enter into contract with West Safety Solutions, Corp. to upgrade the city's current 911 system pursuant to the sole source provisions of the Columbus City Code; to authorize an expenditure of $865,406.32 from Public Safety's Capital Improvement Funds; and to declare an emergency. ($865,406.32)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to transfer cash between projects within the Department of Public Safety's Bond fund; and
WHEREAS, it is also necessary to upgrade the City of Columbus's 911 controllers to comply with the National Emergency Number (NENA) next generation 911 standards; and
WHEREAS, West Safety Solutions, Corp. is the current vendor and sole source provider of the City's current 911 Viper system; and
WHEREAS, West Safety Solutions, Corp is the only vendor who can upgrade and maintain this system; therefore, this acquisition is being submitted in accordance with the sole source provisions of the Columbus City Code Chapter 329; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual and daily operation of the Department of Public Safety in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into contract with West Safety Solutions to ensure the upgrade of the 911 system in the shortest possible time for the immediate preservation of 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 is hereby authorized to enter into contract with West Safety Solutions, Corp. for the upgrade of the current 911 system.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to transfer funds between projects within the Safety Voted Bond Fund, Fund 7701 per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $865,406.32, or so much thereof as may be necessary in regard to the action authorized in SECTION 1, be and is hereby authorized from Fund 7701 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
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 the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer the unencumbered balance in a project account to the unallocated balance account within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administering such project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for such project; except that no transfer shall be made from a project account funded by monies from more than one source.
SECTION 7. That this agreement is entered into pursuant to the sole source provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Code.
SECTION 8. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part thereof, 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.