Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) to modify an existing contract with Mason Tillman Associates, LTD for a disparity study. The disparity study will analyze city procurement operations to determine whether there is a disparity between the availability of minority and women-owned business enterprises (MBE/WBEs) and the city's utilization of those businesses. The last disparity study was conducted over a decade ago and Columbus has seen a tremendous amount of growth since then. The findings of this study will guide and inform ODI's work to ensure fairness, equity, and inclusion in the city's procurement practices. This modification is necessary to add additional funds to the contract to provide for an additional data review period to ensure the validity of the underlying data and the resulting conclusions prior to the issuance of a final report.
Mason Tillman Associates, Ltd is a nationally recognized African American owned consulting firm that has conducted disparity studies for numerous cities throughout the country. They have conducted more than 134 studies which represent roughly 30 percent of the disparity studies completed since Croson was decided on January 23, 1989.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $250,000.00 collectively from the Electricity Operating Fund, the Water Operating Fund, the Sanitary Sewer Operating Fund, the Storm Sewer Operating Fund, the Street Construction Maintenance Fund, and the General Fund with Mason Tillman Associates, LTD for the modification to the disparity study contract. Previous ordinance 0075-2017 authorized $435,275.00 for the disparity study. Total for both ordinances is $685,275.00.
Emergency action is requested so that the disparity study can be finalized as soon as possible.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to modify an existing contract with Mason Tillman Associates, Ltd. for conducting a disparity study; to authorize the transfer of $25,000.00 between Departments within the General Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $12,200.00 from the Electricity Operating Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $77,600.00 from the Water Operating Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $87,000.00 from the Sanitary Sewer Operating Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $23,200.00 from the Storm Sewer Operating Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $25,000.00 from the Street Construction Maintenance Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $25,000.00 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($250,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, there is a need to modify the contract for a disparity study conducted for the City of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion advertised and solicited formal bids via RFQ002943 and Mason Tillman Associates, LTD was selected as the contract vendor; and
WHEREAS, ordinance 0075-2017 authorized the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to enter into a contract with Mason Tillman Associates, LTD to conduct a disparity study for the City of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, a contract modification is necessary to add additional funds to the contract to provide for an additional data review period to ensure the validity of the underlying data and the resulting conclusions prior to the issuance of a final report; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to authorize the Director to modify a contract with Mason Tillman Associates, Ltd so that the disparity study can be finalized as soon as possible 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 Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion is hereby authorized to modify a contract in the amount of $250,000.00 with Mason Tillman Associates, Ltd.
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $25,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 1000, General Fund, from Dept-Div 4507 Facilities Management, Object Class 03 - Contractual Services to Dept-Div 4003 Office of Diversity & Inclusion, Object Class 03 - Contractual Services per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
See Attached File: Ord 3372-2018 Legislation Template.xls
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $250,000.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary in regard to the actions authorized in Sections 1, be and is hereby authorized and approved from the Electricity Operating Fund, the Water Operating Fund, the Sanitary Sewer Operating Fund, the Storm Sewer Operating Fund, the Street Construction Maintenance Fund, and the General Fund in Object Class 03 - Contractual Services per the accounting codes in the attachment to the ordinance:
See Attached File: Ord 3372-2018 Legislation Template.xls
SECTION 4. That the monies in the foregoing Sections shall be paid upon order of the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except by voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 5. 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 6. 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 7. 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, nor ten days after passage, if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.