Explanation
1. Background
This legislation authorizes the Director of Development to enter into contract with Next Street for professional economic development consultancy services in an amount up to $130,000 to provide a comprehensive assessment and study of opportunities for entrepreneurship-based economic development in Columbus, Ohio.
The project was formally advertised on the Vendor Services web site from July 25, 2018, to August 15, 2018. The city received seven (7) responses. A proposal from Angelou Economics was deemed non-responsive due to it being submitted after the deadline.
The responsive firms were:
|
CONSULTANT |
LOCATION FROM COUNTY AUDITOR'S OFFICE WEB SITE |
|
Council of Development Finance Agencies |
Columbus |
|
CJSD Consulting |
Powell (Delaware Co) |
|
Crane RD |
Columbus |
|
Creative EDC |
North Carolina |
|
Next Street |
Massachusetts |
|
SourceLink |
Missouri |
The department is in the early stages of contract negotiation and anticipates the final fee will not be known before the final deadline to go to Council and encumber funds in 2018. If the final scope results in a fee greater than $130,000, the department will execute a contract with a scope that that does not exceed $130,000 and will return to Council and seek approval to modify the contract to complete the remainder of the scope and add additional funds in early 2019.
By assessing the city-wide ecosystem, the City of Columbus embraces the fact that effective entrepreneurship-based development is more likely to succeed when it is based on research that identifies existing assets and gaps, is inclusive of all stakeholders, driven by collaboration, and is used to develop actionable and measurable strategies. Therefore, it is the intentions of the City, by commissioning this study, to develop and present an entrepreneurial development framework and small business agenda for comprehensive and inclusive entrepreneurship-based economic development. In developing these outcomes, the City wishes to provide a conduit for various groups to provide input by way of the value of their individual and collective experiences in helping to shape a small business agenda for the City that can be supported through public policies and varying budgetary processes over a specific period of time.
The selected firm will be responsible for reviewing and evaluating current small business programs offered by the City with a specific review of the City’s revolving loan fund and other programs that provide direct assistance to small businesses and entrepreneurs. The City anticipates outcomes and deliverables to include a comprehensive framework, a multi-year strategic agenda with annual action plans, and policy and budget recommendations.
The City hopes to explore new opportunities and ways to create and use new and existing resources to support entrepreneurship-based economic development that advances the broader economic development goals of the City.
Emergency action is requested to allow the Department of Development to enter into contract with Next Street to immediately begin exploring new opportunities and ways to create and use new and existing resources to support entrepreneurship-based economic development that advances the broader economic development goals of the City.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Funds in the amount of $130,000 are available for this contract in the Department of Development, Division of Economic Development, general fund budget.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into contract with Next Street for professional economic development consultancy services in an amount up to $130,000.00 to provide a comprehensive assessment and study of opportunities for entrepreneurship-based economic development in Columbus, Ohio; to authorize the expenditure of up to $130,000.00 from the Department of Development, Division of Economic Development's general fund; and to declare an emergency. ($130,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Development has identified the need to enter into a professional services contract for a comprehensive assessment and study of opportunities for entrepreneurship-based economic development in Columbus, Ohio; and
WHEREAS, the project was formally advertised on the Vendor Services web site from July 25, 2018, to August 15, 2018 and the city received seven (7) responses; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the Director of Development to enter into contract with Next Street for professional economic development consultancy services in an amount up to $130,000 to provide a comprehensive assessment and study of opportunities for entrepreneurship-based economic development in Columbus, Ohio; and
WHEREAS, the department wishes to use 2018 funds to fund the contract and if additional funds are needed to complete the scope, the department shall return to Council in 2019 to request approval to expend additional funds; and
WHEREAS, funds in the amount of $130,000 are available in this contract in the Department of Development, Division of Economic Development, general fund budget; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development to authorize the Director to enter into contract with Next Street for professional economic development consultancy services all for the preservation of 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 Director of the Department of Development is authorized to enter into contract with Next Street for professional economic development consultancy services in an amount up to $130,000 to provide a comprehensive assessment and study of opportunities for entrepreneurship-based economic development in Columbus, Ohio.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $130,000.00 is hereby authorized in Dept/Division 44-02, Fund 1000, general fund in Object Class 03 Contractual Services, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
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 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 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.