Explanation
BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the Chief Innovation Officer to execute a professional services contract with Fahlgren Mortine to develop consumer-facing microsites to the Smart Columbus website in an amount of up to $75,000.00.
In 2016, the City of Columbus bested six other finalists to be named the winner of the Smart City Challenge, a nationwide competition administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation (Vulcan), which seeks 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.”
Ordinance 1901-2017 authorized the transfer of signature authority from the Director of Public Service to the Chief Innovation Officer, or the Chief Innovation Officer's designee, for all past, present and future contracts entered into by the City of Columbus in connection with Smart Columbus, the Smart City Challenge, and Vulcan projects.
Ordinance 1956-2018 authorized The Columbus Partnership, a grant subrecipient on the Smart City project, to enter into a contract with Fahlgren Mortine. The intent of the contract was to provide The Columbus Partnership with continuing, contractual access to additional resources to provide technical expertise to perform creative development, communications, event coordination, and related tasks for the Smart City project.
It is now necessary for the Smart City Program Management Office to contract directly with Fahlgren Mortine to develop consumer-facing microsites to the Smart Columbus website to aid in the outreach, recruitment, and overall adoption of the following USDOT projects: Linden Self-Driving Shuttle; the Connected Vehicle Environment; and the Multi-Modal Trip Planning/Common Payment System. The microsites will be a place to direct residents to learn more about each project, access resources like FAQs, express interest in participating in a project, download an application, and more. The direct contract is required for the City to meet the cost share requirement of the Smart City grant.
Searches in the Excluded Party List System (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against Fahlgren Mortine.
2. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE
The contract compliance number for Fahlgren Mortine is CC009283 and expires 9/24/21.
3. BID WAIVER
Fahlgren Mortine was competitively selected as a consultant to the Columbus Partnership as part of the Smart City project to perform creative development communications. The City was part of the selection team in the awarding of this contract, and the contract was approved by Council under Ordinance 1956-2018.
The City is contractually obligated with the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) under the Smart City grant to pay for a portion of the Smart City work as a cost share requirement. To help meet this cost share requirement, the Smart City Program Management Office and USDOT have agreed the work on the Smart Columbus website is eligible to be included as part of the City’s cost share requirement. To be included, the City must pay for the work instead of the Columbus Partnership, requiring the work to be shifted to a City contract.
Fahlgren Mortine has performed work on the Smart Columbus website as part of the contract with The Columbus Partnership. Having Fahlgren Mortine continue the work to provide the microsites to the website will prevent unnecessary delays and additional expenses resulting from duplication of work already performed by Fahlgren Mortine. A waiver of the competitive bidding requirements of City Code Chapter 329 is requested to allow services to continue through Fahlgren Mortine.
4. FISCAL IMPACT
The cost for the project is $75,000.00 and will be paid from the Street Construction, Maintenance, and Repair Fund (Fund 2265). Although this purchase was not originally budgeted in the Street Construction, Maintenance, and Repair Fund, the contract is needed and the fund has the available resources to make this purchase. It is necessary to appropriate funds in the amount of $75,000.00 within Fund 2265 for this purpose.
USDOT recently agreed the cost of the microsites being developed for the Smart Columbus website is eligible to be included as part of the City’s cost share requirement. To be eligible, the cost must be paid by the City instead of the The Columbus Partnership. It is necessary for the City to contract directly with Fahlgren Mortine to meet this requirement. Work has already begun on the microsites. The City will take over expenses associated with the microsites work beginning back on October 1, 2019, and will need to pay invoices reflecting work performed on and/or after this date.
5. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to provide for the timely execution of the aforementioned contract to meet deadlines established by the United States Department of Transportation for the Smart City Program.
Title
To appropriate funds within the Street, Construction, Maintenance, and Repair Fund; to waive the competitive bidding requirements of Columbus City Code; to authorize the Chief Innovation Officer to enter into a contract with Fahlgren Mortine for professional services related to the Smart Columbus website; to authorize the expenditure of up to $75,000.00 from the Street, Construction, Maintenance, and Repair Fund for this contract; and to declare an emergency. ($75,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, in 2016, the City of Columbus bested six other finalists to be named the winner of the Smart City Challenge, a nationwide competition administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation (Vulcan), which seeks 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, Ordinance Number 1901-2017 authorized the transfer of signature authority from the Director of Public Service to the Chief Innovation Officer, or the Chief Innovation Officer's designee, for all past, present and future contracts entered into by the City of Columbus in connection with Smart Columbus, the Smart City Challenge, and Vulcan projects; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 1956-2018 authorized The Columbus Partnership, a grant subrecipient on the Smart City project, to enter into a contract with Fahlgren Mortine to provide professional services and technical expertise related to the Smart City project; and
WHEREAS, Fahlgren Mortine has begun work on microsites to the Smart Columbus website; and
WHEREAS, USDOT and the Smart City Program Management Office recently agreed the microsite work is eligible to be included as part of the City’s cost share requirement of the Smart City grant; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to waive the competitive bidding requirements of Columbus City Code and enter into a contract with Fahlgren Mortine for the provision of professional services in the amount of up to $75,000.00 to develop consumer-facing microsites to the Smart Columbus website; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Smart Columbus Program Office in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Chief Innovation Office to execute the aforementioned contract to meet deadlines established by the United States Department of Transportation for the Smart City Project, 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 from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, the sum of $75,000.00 is appropriated in Fund 2265 (Street, Construction, Maintenance, and Repair Fund), Dept-Div 5901 (Director), in Object Class 03 (Services) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. That City Council finds that it is in the best interest of the City of Columbus to waive the formal competitive bidding requirements of Columbus City Code Chapter 329 to enter into contract with Fahlgren Mortine for the provision of microsites to the Smart Columbus website.
SECTION 3. That the City’s Chief Innovation Officer, on behalf of the Director of Public Service, be and is hereby authorized to execute a professional services contract with Fahlgren Mortine, 4030 Easton Station, Suite 300, Columbus, Ohio, 43219, to develop consumer-facing microsites to the Smart Columbus website to aid in the outreach, recruitment, and overall adoption of USDOT Smart City projects.
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of 75,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 2265 (Street, Construction, Maintenance, and Repair Fund), Dept-Div 5901 (Director), in Object Class 03 (Services) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance 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 6. That the City Auditor is authorized to reimburse Fahlgren Mortine for expenses approved for payment by the Smart City Program Management Office associated with the provision of microsites to the Smart Columbus website incurred beginning September 1, 2019, up to a maximum of $75,000.00.
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.