Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The City of Columbus pursued and won a grant from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation (the “Foundation”) (PGAPh) with the goal of laying a practical path to replacing carbon-based fuel consumption and inspiring action across the region to protect and sustain the environment through decarbonization and electrification. With the cooperation of partners such as American Electric Power (AEP), The Ohio State University (OSU) and The Columbus Partnership, Columbus endeavors to use this grant as the catalyst to change the long-term trajectory of carbon emissions in the 7-county Columbus region (Franklin, Delaware, Fairfield, Licking, Pickaway, Madison, Union) and demonstrate the rewards of using clean energy sources in lieu of fossil fuel based sources.
The City of Columbus, along with an extensive network of public and private partners, has aligned around this vision to reduce the region’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through decarbonization of the electric supply and transportation sectors. The City was also awarded the $40 million Smart City Challenge grant from the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT), which has the potential to greatly amplify the results from the Foundation grant and vice-versa.
Pursuant to Ordinance 0535-2019, the Department of Public Service initiated a procurement effort that resulted in the award and execution of a professional services contract with GreenSpot JC LLC, hereafter referenced as GreenSpot, in the amount of $80,800 to install, own, and maintain two (2) DCFC charging units at one of two (2) “charger ready” sites in Downtown Columbus, Ohio, and to make the site entirely “EV ready”, as a pilot project for the Smart Columbus Public Access Charging Initiative.
This modification is the first contract modification for this project and is needed to complete repairs and to cover any future repairs and/or make any necessary upgrades to charging infrastructure.
The contract dollar amount to date is as follows:
Original contract amount: $80,800.00 (Ord. 0535-2019, PO180715)
This Modification No. 1: $9,000.00 (Ord. 2697-2020)
Total Contract amount including all modifications: $89,800.00
Ordinance 1901-2017 authorized the Public Service Director to transfer signature authority to the Chief Innovation Officer or the Chief Innovation Officer's designee for all past, present and future Smart Columbus, USDOT Smart City Challenge, and Paul G Allen Family Foundation (Vulcan) contracts, documents, and projects.
GreenSpot is not debarred according to the System for Award Management Excluded Party Listing System of the Federal Government or prohibited from being awarded a contract according to the State of Ohio Unresolved Findings for Recovery Certified Search.
2. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE
The contract compliance number for GreenSpot is CC028579 and expires 07/08/2021.
3. FISCAL IMPACT
Funds in the amount of $9,000.00 are available and appropriated within Fund 7708, the Public Service Taxable Bonds Fund. An amendment to the 2020 Capital Improvement Budget is required to establish sufficient budget authority for the project.
4. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Chief Innovation Officer to execute a contract modification with GreenSpot authorizing the encumbrance and expenditure of requisite engineering and design funding so as to prevent unnecessary delays in the Smart City Challenge deployment schedule.
Title
To amend the 2020 Capital Improvement Budget; to authorize the City’s Chief Innovation Officer to execute a contract modification with GreenSpot relative to the Smart City Challenge - Public Access Charging Project; to authorize the expenditure of up to $9,000.00 from the Public Service Taxable Bonds Fund to pay for the contract modification; and to declare an emergency. ($9,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, on December 7, 2015, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced the Smart City Challenge, a collaborative effort by the USDOT and Vulcan seeking 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, on June 23, 2016, the City of Columbus bested six other finalists to be named the winner of the Smart City Challenge; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 0535-2019 authorized the Chief Innovation Officer to enter into a professional services contract with GreenSpot JC LLC in an amount of up to $80,800.00 to install, own, and maintain two (2) DCFC charging units at one of two (2) “charger ready” sites in Downtown Columbus, Ohio, and to make the site entirely “EV ready”, as a pilot project for the Smart Columbus Public Access Charging Initiative; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to execute a contract modification with GreenSpot to complete repairs and to cover any future repairs and/or make any necessary upgrades to charging infrastructure in the amount of up to $9,000.00; and
WHEREAS, funding for this contract modification is available in Fund 7708, the Public Service Taxable Bonds Fund; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend the 2020 Capital Improvement Budget to establish budget authority in the proper project for this contract modification; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to expend funds to pay for work performed as part of the contract modification; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance Number 1901-2017 authorized the Public Service Director to transfer signature authority to the Chief Innovation Officer or the Chief Innovation Officer's designee for all past, present and future Smart Columbus, Smart City Challenge, Paul G. Allen Family Foundation contracts, documents, and projects; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Smart Columbus PMO in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Chief Innovation Officer to execute a contract modification with GreenSpot authorizing the expenditure of requisite funding so as to prevent unnecessary delays in the Smart City Challenge deployment schedule, 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 2020 Capital Improvements Budget, authorized by Ordinance 2521-2020, be and is hereby amended as follows to establish sufficient budget authority for this project:
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current C.I.B. / Change / Amended C.I.B.
7708 / P530163-100000 / Smart City Challenge (Voted Carryover) / $428,873.00 / ($9,000.00) / $419,873.00
7708 / P530163-100026 / Smart City Challenge - Public Access Charging Project (Voted Carryover) / $0.00 / $9,000.00 / $9,000.00
SECTION 2. That the Chief Innovation Officer be and is hereby authorized to execute a professional services contract modification with GreenSpot, LLC, 155 2nd Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302, in an amount of up to $9,000.00, for currently needed repairs and future repairs and upgrades to charging infrastructure related to the Smart City Challenge.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $9,000.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and is hereby authorized in Fund 7708 (Public Service Taxable Bonds Fund), in Dept-Div 5912 (Division of Design and Construction), in Project P530163-100026 (Smart City Challenge - Public Access Charging Project), 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 Chief Innovation Officer 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 10 days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.