Explanation
Background
In October of 2018, the City of Columbus received three U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based Program (COAP) awards. COAP funding will enhance and expand critical prevention, intervention and data driven action designed to promote successful implementation of justice strategies outlined in the Franklin County Opiate Action Plan for the period of October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2021. The evaluation components of all three awards will be centralized and managed through the Columbus City Attorney’s Office as part of the City Attorney’s justice reform platform. The City Attorney's Office will enter into three evaluation contracts with Mighty Crow, Inc. - one contract for each grant project. This ordinance authorizes the Columbus City Attorney to enter into these contracts with Mighty Crow, Inc. for program evaluation services related to three U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, COAP funded projects, November 15, 2018 through September 30, 2021.
While no one of the three evaluation contracts will exceed $50,000 annually, a total of $186,000 will be invested in project evaluation services from October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2021. Using a single evaluation consultant implementing a comprehensive evaluation design across all three grant projects allows for more robust impact assessment and supports efficient use of grant funds.
Mighty Crow, Inc. has the expertise and experience necessary to guide evaluation design and support evaluation implementation across projects. Mighty Crow, Inc. has extensive experience working on community assessment and evaluation projects addressing opioid use/abuse and justice-involved individuals. Through these evaluation contracts, the City will work with Mighty Crow, Inc. to assess impact of COAP funded interventions on repeat opioid overdose; connection and adherence to opioid treatment; and repeat interaction with the justice system. ($186,000)
Contract Compliance Number: Mighty Crow Media, LLC, CC027105 expires 11/14/2020.
Fiscal Impact: Funds to support evaluation services were awarded to the City of Columbus through three U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based Program grants. This legislation is contingent on the passage of ordinance 2883-2018 which accepts and appropriates U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based Program grant funds.
Emergency Designation: Emergency legislation is necessary to ensure evaluation work begins in a timely manner to quickly determine baseline measures and develop a system to track impact measures over time.
Title
To authorize the City Attorney’s Office to enter into three service contracts with Mighty Crow, Inc. to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of three U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based Program grant funded interventions; to waive competitive bidding provisions of Chapter 329 of Columbus City Codes; to authorize the expenditure of $186,000.00 from the grant project funds; and to declare an emergency. ($186,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City Attorney’s Office has a need for opioid intervention program evaluation services provided by an expert in the field with experience in opioid use/abuse and justice involved individuals; and
WHEREAS, using a single evaluation consultant implementing a comprehensive evaluation design across all three evaluation contracts allows for more robust impact assessment and supports efficient use of grant funds; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the city to waive competitive bidding to enter into three contracts with Mighty Crow, Inc. for this evaluation service; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the City Attorney’s Office in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the City Attorney, or designee, to enter into three contracts with Mighty Crow, Inc. for Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based Program grant project evaluation to ensure evaluation work begins in a timely manner to quickly determine baseline measures and develop a system to track impact measures over time, thereby promoting public health, peace, safety, and welfare; now, therefore;
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Columbus City Attorney’s Office is hereby authorized to enter into three contracts with Mighty Crow, Inc. to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of three U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based Program grant funded interventions.
SECTION 2. That this Council finds it is in the best interest of the City of Columbus to waive the provisions of Chapter 329 of City Code relating to competitive bidding to permit the aforementioned service contracts.
SECTION 3. That for the aforesaid purpose, the expenditure of $186,000, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized from grant project funds according to the attached accounting document.
SECTION 4. That for 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.