Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Service to enter into a professional services contract with TranSystems Corporation of Ohio in the amount of up to $4,500,000.00 for the Roadway - LinkUS - Northwest Corridor Phase 2 project.
The intent of this project is to provide the City of Columbus, Department of Public Service, in partnership with the Central Ohio Transit Agency (COTA), additional resources to advance planning and engineering for a fixed-guideway Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) for the LinkUS Northwest Corridor. This project will build upon and advance the recommendations of the Northwest Corridor Mobility Study (NWCMS). The consulting team will perform services to advance the design of the Locally Preferred Alternative for transit mode and alignment as identified in the NWCMS for submission of the project into Project Development (PD) as defined by the Final Interim Policy Guidance of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Capital Investment Grants Program (CIG), including production of all required elements necessary to request entry into PD as specified by the FTA.
The Department of Public Service, Office of Support Services, issued a Request for Proposals for the Roadway - LinkUS - Northwest Corridor Phase 2 project. The project was formally advertised on the Vendor Services web site and Bonfire from April 9, 2021, to April 29, 2021. The City received five (5) responses. A proposal from Kimley-Horn was deemed non-responsive due to a conflict of interest with one of the sub-consultants. The remaining four (4) responses were evaluated when the Evaluation Committee met on May 4, 2021. Two (2) finalists were asked to prepare a presentation to answer followup questions for the committee. On May 10, 2021, the Evaluation Committee viewed the presentations and completed the evaluation process. The responsive firms were:
Company Name City/State Majority/MBE/MBR/F1/AS1/PHC
AECOM Techncial Services, Inc. Columbus, OH MAJ
HDR Engineering, Inc. Columbus, OH MAJ
Transystems Corporation of Ohio Columbus, OH MAJ
WSP USA Columbus, OH MAJ
TranSystems Corporation of Ohio received the highest score given by the Evaluation Committee and will be awarded the Roadway - LinkUS - Northwest Corridor Phase 2 contract.
Searches in the Excluded Party List System (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against TranSystems Corporation of Ohio.
2. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE
TranSystems Corporation of Ohio’s contract compliance number is CC007988 and expires 07/02/2021.
3. FISCAL IMPACT
This project is funded in part by a contribution in the amount of $3,750,000.000 from COTA, pursuant to the Contribution Agreement executed between the Department of Public Service and COTA. Those funds will need to be appropriated in Fund 7766, the Street and Highway Improvement Fund.
The remaining balance in the amount of $750,000.00 is available within Fund 7704, the Streets and Highways Bond Fund, for this contract. A transfer of cash and appropriation and an amendment to the 2020 Capital Improvement Budget are required to align budget authority with the proper project.
4. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to expedite this contract in a timely manner, to ensure the safety of the traveling public.
Title
To amend the 2020 Capital Improvement Budget; to authorize the transfer of funds and appropriation within the Streets and Highways Bond Fund; to appropriate funds within the Street and Highway Improvement Fund; to authorize the Director of Public Service to enter into a professional services contract with TranSystems Corporation of Ohio for the Roadway - LinkUS - Northwest Corridor Phase 2 project; to authorize the expenditure of up to $750,000.00 from the Streets and Highways Bond Fund and up to $3,750,000.00 from the Street and Highway Improvement Fund to pay for this contract; and to declare an emergency. ($4,500,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, there is a need to enter into a professional services contract to provide for planning and engineering for a fixed-guideway Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) for the LinkUS Northwest Corridor; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service, Office of Support Services, solicited proposals for the Roadway - LinkUS - Northwest Corridor Phase 2 project; and
WHEREAS, TranSystems Corporation of Ohio submitted the best overall proposal for this project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to enter into a contract in the amount of up to $4,500,000.00 with TranSystems Corporation of Ohio for the provision of professional engineering consulting services described above; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service requires funding to be available for the Roadway - LinkUS - Northwest Corridor Phase 2 project for professional services; and
WHEREAS, funding is available for this project in Fund 7704, the Streets and Highways Bond Fund; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend the 2020 Capital Improvement Budget to establish authority within the correct project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize a transfer of funds and appropriation within Fund 7704, the Streets and Highways Bond Fund, to establish sufficient cash to pay for the project; and
WHEREAS, funds wi1l need to be appropriated within Fund 776, the Street and Highway Improvement Fund to pay for the project; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of Public Service to enter into contract with TranSystems Corporation of Ohio in order to provide funding for the Roadway - LinkUS - Northwest Corridor Phase 2 so that planning and engineering for a fixed-guideway Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) for the LinkUS Northwest Corridor my proceed as soon as possible, to ensure the safety of the travelling public 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 Improvement Budget authorized by Ordinance 2521-2020 be amended as follows to establish sufficient authority for this project:
Fund / Project / Project Name / C.I.B. / Change / C.I.B. as Amended
7704 / P531012-100000 / Roadway Improvements - Medina Ave from Hudson to Briarwood (Voted 2019 SIT Supported) / $1,000,000.00 / ($750,000.00) / $250,000.00
7704 / P531024-100001 / Roadway - LinkUS - Northwest Corridor Phase 2 (Voted 2019 SIT Supported) / $0.00 / $750,000.00 / $750,000.00
7766 / P531024-100001 / Roadway - LinkUS - Northwest Corridor Phase 2 (Street & Highway Imp Carryover) / $0.00 / $3,750,000.00 / $3,750,000.00 (to match cash)
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $750,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund), from Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P531012-100000 (Roadway Improvements - Medina Ave from Hudson to Briarwood), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) to Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P531024-100001 (Roadway - LinkUS - Northwest Corridor Phase 2), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. 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, 2021, the sum of $3,750,000.00 is appropriated in Fund 7766 (Street and Highway Improvement Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P531024-100001 (Roadway - LinkUS - Northwest Corridor Phase 2), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the Director of Public Service be, and hereby is, authorized to enter into a professional services contract project in an amount up to $4,500,000.00 with TranSystems Corporation of Ohio, located at 400 W. Nationwide Blvd., Suite 225, Columbus, Ohio 43215, for the Roadway - LinkUS - Northwest Corridor Phase 2.
SECTION 5. That the expenditure of $750,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P531024-100001 (Roadway - LinkUS - Northwest Corridor Phase 2), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That the expenditure of $3,750,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7766 (Street and Highway Improvement Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P531024-100001 (Roadway - LinkUS - Northwest Corridor Phase 2), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 7. Funds 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 8. 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 9. 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 10. The Central Ohio Transit Agency (COTA) is contributing funds to help pay for this project. Any funds contributed by COTA that are not needed to complete the project can be refunded to COTA upon completion of project final accounting or upon certification by the Department of Public Service that the remaining funds are not needed to pay project expenses.
SECTION 11. 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.