Explanation
Background:
This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to waive the request for proposal requirements of Columbus City Code Chapter 329 and enter into a professional services contract with Fahlgren Inc., in an amount up to $19,500.00, for the purpose of creating and delivering a report and corresponding materials to the Recovery and Resiliency Committee.
Due to the impact of COVID-19, the Department of Development desires to work with a firm that it has previous experience with and has demonstrated the ability to generate a report in a short timeline. The recommendations that the report identifies will benefit the community as we will be able to quickly take action to establish programs that will assist economic and human service recovery.
Contract Compliance: the vendor number is 009283 and expires on 9/24/21.
Waiver of Request for Proposal Requirements: A waiver of the request for proposal requirements outlined in Columbus City Code Chapter 329 is being requested to contract with a firm that specializes in marketing and graphic design that has the capacity to build upon existing relationship with the City and turn around the product on the short project timeline.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available in the 2021 General Fund Budget.
Emergency Designation: Emergency legislation is requested in order to begin the process of crafting the Recovery and Resiliency report to share with the community to begin implementing recommendations without delay.
Title
To authorize the Director of Development to execute a professional services contract with Fahlgren, Inc. in an amount up to 19,500.00 for the purpose of marketing, design, and reporting services; to waive the competitive bidding requirements of Columbus City Code Chapter 329; to authorize expenditure up to $19,500.00 from the General fund; to authorize the payment of expenses starting June 28, 2021; and to declare an emergency. ($19,500.00)
Body
WHEREAS, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Development desires to work with a firm that it has previous experience with and has demonstrated the ability to generate a report in a short timeline; and
WHEREAS, the department has identified Fahlgren, Inc. as a firm capable of providing marketing, design, and reporting services for the purpose of creating a report and corresponding materials to provide to the Recovery and Resiliency Committee in a short time frame; and
WHEREAS, the recommendations that the report generates will benefit the community as we will be able to quickly take action to establish programs that will assist economic and human service recovery; and
WHEREAS, it is in the City's best interests to waive the competitive bidding requirements of City Code Chapter 329 because the firm specializes in marketing and graphic design, has the capacity to build upon existing relationship with the City, and will be able to turn around the product on a short project timeline; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of Development to enter into contract with Fahlgren, Inc. in order to begin the process of crafting the Recovery and Resiliency report to share with the community and begin implementing recommendations, thereby preserving public health, peace, property and safety; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1: That the Director of the Department of Development is authorized to enter into a contract with Fahlgren, Inc. in an amount up to $19,500.00 for the purpose of creating the final report and corresponding materials for the Recovery and Resiliency Committee and reimburse for expenses starting June 28, 2021.
SECTION 2. That this Council finds that is in the best interest of the City to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Chapter 329 of Columbus City Code to enter into this contract.
SECTION 3. That for the purpose as stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $19,500.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized in fund 1000 (General Fund), Dept. 44-01 (Administration), in Object Class 03 (Services) 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 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 approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.