Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the Chief Innovation Officer to execute a planned contract modification with Pillar Technology Group, LLC, hereafter referenced as Pillar, in an amount of up to $430,000.00 for the provision of various IT services related to the Smart City Challenge.
The Smart City Challenge is a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) grant program seeking to “create a fully integrated, first-of-its kind city that uses data, technology and creativity to shape how people and goods move in the future.” In 2016, the City of Columbus, acting through the Department of Public Service, applied for and won the Smart City Challenge, receiving a $40 million dollar grant from USDOT and a $10 million grant from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation (Vulcan).
Some aspects of the Smart City Challenge will be performed by an internal, interdepartmental City team coordinated through the Smart Columbus Program Management Office (PMO). The intent of the Smart City Challenge - IT Professional Services project is to provide the PMO with critical technical resources related to the design and implementation of the Smart Columbus Operating System (SCOS), which is envisioned to scale to be the citywide data management platform for public and private data collected during the Smart City Challenge.
Ordinance 1901-2017 authorized the Public Service Director to transfer signature authority to the Chief Innovation Officer or the Chief Innovation Officer's designee for all past, present and future Smart Columbus, USDOT Smart City Challenge, and Paul G Allen Family Foundation (Vulcan) contracts, documents, and projects.
Pursuant to Ordinance 0820-2018, the Department of Public Service initiated a procurement effort that resulted in the award and execution of a professional services contract with Pillar in the amount of up to $2,500,000.00 for the provision of various IT services related to the Smart City Challenge.
The purpose of this planned contract modification is to add funding to the original contract to allow for the continuation of requisite services by Pillar through October 31, 2018 or as budget and scope allows
Original contract amount: $2,500,000.00 (Ord. 0820-2018, PO116406)
This Modification No. 1: $430,000.00
Total Contract amount including all modifications: $2,930,000.00
Searches in the System for Award Management (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against Pillar.
Due to the nature of the USDOT and Vulcan grant reimbursements, professional support for the Smart City Challenge Program will be awarded in annual funding phases. Additional contract modifications are expected on an annual basis throughout the four-year Smart City Challenge grant period. Legislation authorizing the Chief Innovation Officer to execute another planned contract modification with Pillar is projected to be brought before City Council for approval by October 31, 2018
2. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE
The contract compliance number for Pillar is CC022943, which expires on April 12, 2020.
3. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding in the amount of $430,000.00 is available in Fund 7768 USDOT Grant - Smart City for this project expenditure.
4. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to allow for the timely execution of the aforementioned contract modification so as to preclude any disruption in the provision of various IT services related to the Smart City Challenge and to adhere to the terms and conditions of that program.
Title
To authorize the City’s Chief Innovation Officer to execute a contract modification with Pillar relative to the Smart City Challenge; to authorize the transfer of appropriation of up to $430,000.00 from within the USDOT Grant - Smart City Fund; to authorize the expenditure of up to $430,000.00 from the USDOT Grant - Smart City Fund to pay for the contract modification; and to declare an emergency. ($430,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, on December 7, 2015, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced the Smart City Challenge, a collaborative effort by the USDOT and Vulcan, Inc. seeking to “create a fully integrated, first-of-its kind city that uses data, technology and creativity to shape how people and goods move in the future”; and
WHEREAS, on January 11, 2016, Columbus City Council passed Ordinance 0064-2016 supporting the City’s application to the Smart City Challenge; and
WHEREAS, on June 23, 2016, USDOT awarded the City of Columbus up to $40 million in federal funds and up to $10 million in matching funding from Vulcan, Inc., to assist in implementation of the City’s proposal to demonstrate how advanced data and intelligent transportation systems (ITS) technologies and applications that can be used to reduce congestion, keep travelers safe, protect the environment, respond to climate change, connect underserved communities, and support economic vitality; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 1901-2017 authorizes the Public Service Director to transfer signature authority to the Chief Innovation Officer or the Chief Innovation Officer's designee for all past, present and future Smart Columbus, USDOT Smart City Challenge, and Paul G Allen Family Foundation (Vulcan) contracts, documents, and projects; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 0820-2018 authorized the Chief Innovation Officer to enter into a professional services contract with Pillar Technology Group, LLC in an amount of up to $2,500,000.00 for the provision of various IT services related to the Smart City Challenge; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to execute a planned contract modification with Pillar to add additional funding for the provision of various IT services related to the Smart City Challenge; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Smart City Program Office in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Chief Innovation Officer to execute a contract modification with Pillar authorizing the encumbrance and expenditure of requisite engineering and design funding so as to prevent unnecessary delays in the USDOT Smart City Challenge program and to adhere to the terms and conditions of that program, 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 City’s Chief Innovation Officer, on behalf of the Department of Public Service, be and is hereby authorized to execute a professional services contract modification with Pillar Technology Group, LLC, hereafter referenced as Pillar, in an amount of up to $430,000.00 for the provision of various IT services related to the Smart City Challenge.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $430,000.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized in Fund 7768 (USDOT Grant - Smart City Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Division of Design and Construction), Grant G591610 (USDOT Grant - Smart City), in Object Class 03 (Professional Services) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 4. That the transfer of appropriation in the amount of $430,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 7768 (USDOT Grant - Smart City Fund), from Dept-Div 5912 (Division of Design and Construction), Grant G591610 (USDOT Grant - Smart City), Object Class 01 (Personal Services) to Dept-Div 5912 (Division of Design and Construction), Grant G591610 (USDOT Grant - Smart City), Object Class 03 (Professional Services) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
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 said project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for said project.
SECTION 7. 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 10 days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.