Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the Public Safety Director to waive the competitive bidding provisions of the Columbus City Code and enter into a contract with MCIS Inc. to assess the infrastructure of the City's Neighborhood Safety Cameras (NSC) and correct all performance issues associated with the cameras in preparation for an expansion of the Neighborhood Safety Camera Project. MCIS will replace damaged/defective/inconsistent/non-functional devices and/or components based on their evaluation, assessment and documentation. The City of Columbus manages the Neighborhood Safety Camera Project consisting of wireless communications, cameras networks and associated infrastructure deployed across multiple neighborhoods and the downtown area. The system has evolved, continues to expand, aged and is experiencing network interruptions that have resulted in unacceptable performance issues. MCIS who developed the basis of design for the Neighborhood Safety Cameras at its inception in 2010 will review and identify all performance issues at a system wide level and take corrective actions. MCIS was contracted by Johnson Controls (formerly SimplexGrinnell) at the beginning of the NSC project to engineer and install the wireless network throughout the project areas.
Bid Information: MCIS Inc. developed the basis of design for the NSC project from the inception of the program and have knowledge that no other contractor will have without extensive and time consuming studies. They have proven their ability to provide a quality product since the project inception in 2010 and have been involved in each expansion and had engineered the new link. It is recommended that the competitive bidding requirements of Columbus City Code 329 be waived to allow for the immediate correction of the performance issues of the NSC project.
Emergency action is requested in order to facilitate the review and repairs of the NSC infrastructure and be ready for the expansion of the project.
MCIS Inc. - Vendor Number 009642 Contract Compliance No.
Fiscal Impact: This legislation waives competitive bidding and authorizes the Safety Director to enter into contract with MCIS Inc. for up to $315,000.00 to assess the infrastructure of the City's Neighborhood Safety Cameras (NSC) and correct all performance issues. Funds for this contract are budgeted in Public Safety's Capital Improvement Budget.
Title
To authorize the Public Safety Director to enter into a contract with MCIS Inc. to assess the infrastructure of the City's Neighborhood Safety Cameras and correct all performance issues associated with the project; to waive the competitive bidding provisions of the Columbus City Code; to authorize the expenditure of $315,000.00 from the Department of Public Safety's Voted Bond Funds; and to declare an emergency. ($315,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City has recognized that the Neighborhood Safety Camera Project has evolved, continues to expand, aged and is experiencing unacceptable performance issues; and,
WHEREAS, this has resulted in the necessity to take corrective measures that establishes performance and standards based on the original design and initial deployment and establishing system performance and a performance base-line necessary to prepare the existing system for near term system expansion; and,
WHEREAS, the Safety Director wishes to enter into a contract with MCIS Inc., the company that was hired by Johnson Controls, formerly SimpleGrinnell to engineer and install the wireless network throughout the project areas; and,
WHEREAS, the Public Safety Director has determined that it is in the best interest of the City to waive the competitive bidding provisions of the City of Columbus and award a contract to MCIS Inc. due to expediency and the company's familiarity with all of the neighborhood safety camera setups; and,
WHEREAS, funding for these corrective services are budgeted in Public Safety's Capital Improvement budget; and,
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the Department of Public Safety in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Public Safety Director to enter into a contract with MCIS Inc. to assess the infrastructure of the City's Neighborhood Safety Cameras and correct all performance issues associated with the project as part of a comprehensive approach to keeping the public safe, thereby preserving the public health, property, safety, and welfare; now, therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Public Safety Director is hereby authorized and directed to enter into a contract with MCIS Inc. to assess the infrastructure of the City's Neighborhood Safety Cameras (NSC) and correct all performance issues associated with the project by replacing damaged/defective/inconsistent/non-functional devices and/or components based on their evaluation, assessment and documentation.
SECTION 2. That this Council finds it is in the best interests of the City to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes to enter into this contract, and hereby waives said provisions.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $315,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary in regard to the action authorized in SECTION 1, be and is hereby authorized and approved in object class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. 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 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 ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same