Explanation
Background: This legislation authorizes the Director of Development to enter into a contract with Benevate, Inc. for the purchase of Neighborly software, support, and training services in an amount up to $46,200.00.
The Department of Development, Housing Division is in need of a cloud based software package that will enable safe and secure intake of applications, facilitate work from any location, and provide prompts to applicants to assure that a complete application is submitted. Neighborly software addresses these issues and is specific to the community development field. In addition to the electronic submission and review of applications, the program will also provide data needed for annual reporting in a concise format.
Contract compliance number is 039660 and expires 09/15/2023.
Emergency action is requested in order to expedite the implementation of this software and swiftly improve the current application process.
Waiver Request: As Neighborly is the only hosted software currently available for purchase that can address all of the City of Columbus, Department of Development, Housing Division’s needs in one solution, a request to waiver of the provisions of Columbus City Codes Chapter 329 is being requested.
Fiscal Impact: This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $46,200.00 within the Development Department, General Fund.
Title
To authorize the Director of Development to enter into a contract with Benevate, Inc. for the purchase of Neighborly software, support, and training services; to authorize the expenditure of $46,200.00 from the General Fund; to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Columbus City Code Chapter 329; and to declare an emergency. ($46,200.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Development, Housing Division is in need of a cloud based software package that will enable safe and secure intake of applications, facilitate work from any location, and provide prompts to applicants to assure that a complete application is submitted; and
WHEREAS, Neighborly software addresses these issues and is specific to the community development field; and
WHEREAS, in addition to the electronic submission and review of applications, the program will also provide data needed for annual reporting in a concise format; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Development desires to contract with Benevate, Inc. for the purchase of Neighborly software, support, and training services; and
WHEREAS, Neighborly is the only hosted software currently available for purchase that can address all of the City of Columbus, Department of Development, Housing Division’s needs in one solution, therefore, it is in the best interest of the City of Columbus to waive competitive bidding provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Code; 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 to enter into a contract with Benevate, Inc. in order to expedite the implementation of this software in order to improve the current application process, 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 Development Director is hereby authorized to enter into a contract with Benevate, Inc. for the purchase of Neighborly software, support, and training services for the Housing Division.
SECTION 2. That this Council finds it in the best interests of the City to waive competitive bidding provision of Chapter 329 of City Code to enter into this contract.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $46,200.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 1000 (General Fund), Dept-Div 4410 (Housing), object class 03 (Services) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. 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 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.