Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Service to enter into a professional services contract with HNTB Ohio, Inc., in an amount of up to $1,200,000.00 for the Signals - Downtown Signal Conduit Investigation project.
Underground conduit is an important component of our traffic signal network infrastructure. The conduit houses cables that allow our traffic signal network to function and communicate effectively. Over time, the conduit ages and is subject to collapse - which complicates maintenance and potentially compromises signal communications. Also, permits that require underground work within the public right-of-way must be reviewed to ensure that there are no conflicts with the conduit and other underground infrastructure. Currently, much of the information needed to complete these reviews requires retrieving and reading through record plans to gather some of the needed information.
This project aims to address these issues through multiple efforts. The work will consist of performing thorough field investigations to gather information on the condition of the existing conduit in the Downtown Business District, developing a simplified plan set for any needed repairs, and creating a GIS map database of the conduit locations. The resulting GIS database will reduce the time and effort to gather background information that may be needed by our teams that review information for Capital Improvement Projects, permits and maintenance operations by consolidating some of the information in one place. The conduit repairs will improve maintenance operations by making repairs more efficient when operations teams need to respond.
The Department of Public Service, Office of Support Services, solicited Requests for Proposals for the Signals - Downtown Signal Conduit Investigation contract. The project was formally advertised on the Vendor Services website and Bonfire from September 7, 2021, to September 28, 2021. The City received one response. The proposal was deemed responsive and was fully evaluated by the evaluation committee. The responding firm was:
Company Name City/State Majority/MBE/MBR/F1/AS1/PHC
HNTB Ohio, Inc. Columbus, Ohio Majority
HNTB Ohio, Inc. received 90.33 points from the Evaluation Committee out of a possible 100 and will be awarded the Signals - Downtown Signal Conduit Investigation contract.
Searches in the Excluded Party List System (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against HNTB Ohio, Inc.
2. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE
The contract compliance number for HNTB Ohio, Inc. is CC008025 and expires 04/01/2022.
3. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for this contract is budgeted, available, and appropriated within Fund 2265, the Street Construction Maintenance and Repair Fund.
4. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested so design of these safety improvements can be started as soon as possible.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Service to enter into a professional services contract with HNTB Ohio, Inc. for the Signals - Downtown Signal Conduit Investigation project; to authorize the expenditure of up to $1,200,000.00 from the Street Construction Maintenance and Repair Fund to pay for this contract; and to declare an emergency. ($1,200,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, there is a need to enter into a professional services contract to provide engineering and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) services to assist in the investigation of the Downtown District existing signal conduits; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service solicited Requests for Proposals for the Signals - Downtown Signal Conduit Investigation project; and
WHEREAS, HNTB Ohio, Inc. submitted the best overall proposal for this project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to enter into a contract with HNTB Ohio, Inc. for the provision of professional engineering consulting services described above in the amount of up to $1,200,000.00; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to pay for the contract work; 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 HNTB Ohio, Inc. so design of these safety improvements can be started as soon as possible, 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 Director of Public Service be, and hereby is, authorized to enter into a professional services contract with HNTB Ohio, Inc. at 88 E Broad Street, Suite 1600, Columbus, OH 43215, for the Signals - Downtown Signal Conduit Investigation project in an amount of up to $1,200,000.00.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $1,200,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 2265 (Street Construction Maintenance and Repair Funds), Dept-Div 5913 (Traffic Management), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. 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 4. 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.