Explanation
Ordinance number 0645-2020, approved by City Council on April 20, 2020, authorized the Board of Health to enter into a contract with Access 2 Interpreters for in-person interpretation services for an amount not to exceed $151,000.00 for a period through March 31, 2021. Ordinance 1465-2020, approved by City Council on July 6, 2020, authorized the Board of Health to modify and increase the contract for interpretation services with Universe Technical Translation Inc. by $48,000.00 for an amount not to exceed $68,000.0000 and Vocalink Inc. by $100,000.00 for an amount not to exceed $130,000.00, through December 30, 2020. Ordinance 2438-2020 authorized the Board of Health to modify and increase the contract for interpretation services with Vocalink Inc. by $110,000.00 for an amount not to exceed $240,000.00 through December 30, 2020.
This ordinance is needed to modify by extending the following contracts: Vocalink contracts PO250852 and PO250896 for telephone interpretation services; Universe Technical Translation Inc. contracts PO234340 and PO251373 for documentation translation services; and Access 2 Interpreters contract PO225667 for in-person translation services and PO226250 for ASL services, for a period through March 31, 2022. This modification is needed to continue in-person, documentation, and telephone translation services to CPH clients.
Columbus Public Health provides interpretation services for persons with limited English proficiency who receive public health services from Columbus Public Health. These services will be provided at Columbus Public Health’s facility located at 240 Parsons Avenue, and throughout the City of Columbus in conjunction with public health services when required. The COVID-19 pandemic has also resulted in an increased need for telephone and document interpretation services.
Emergency action is requested for this contract modification in order to ensure Columbus has in-person, telephone, and document translation services, and to continue to save lives.
FISCAL IMPACT: Additional funds for these contracts are not needed at this time.
Title
To authorize and direct the Board of Health to modify by extending existing contracts with Vocalink, Universe Technical Translation, and Access 2 Interpreters, to continue to provide in-person, telephone, and document translation services for Columbus Public Health, through March 31, 2022; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to modify by extending: Vocalink contracts PO250852 and PO250896; Universe Technical Translation Inc. contracts PO234340 and PO251373; and Access 2 Interpreters contract PO225667 and PO226250, for a period through March 31, 2022; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance is being submitted as an emergency measure so that timely services can proceed without interruption; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of Columbus Public Health in that it is immediately necessary to modify, by extending, the contracts with Vocalink, PO250852 and PO250896; Universe Technical Translation Inc., PO234340 and PO251373; and Access 2 Interpreters, PO225667 and PO226250, for the immediate preservation of 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 Board of Health is hereby authorized to modify, by extending, Vocalink contracts PO250852 and PO250896; Universe Technical Translation Inc. contracts PO234340 and PO251373; and Access 2 Interpreters contract PO225667 and PO226250, for a period through March 31, 2022.
SECTION 2. 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 3. 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 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.