Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the Director of Finance and Management to renew a contract, on behalf of the Facilities Management Division, with Barclay Water Management for water treatment and remediation services. During the Covid-19 pandemic, occupancy levels in various facilities were significantly reduced due to remote working by employees and reduced visitation from the general public. These reduced occupancy levels drastically lowered the throughput of water through various building’s water systems. A lower volume of water flow throughout a facility’s water system can provide an environment conducive to the growth of various water contaminants.
In response, the Facilities Management Division partnered with the Human Resources Department, Division of Occupational Safety & Health to establish a program for the safe testing, treatment and remediation of City owned water systems. Barclay Water Management’s expertise and partnership with local health care systems, as well as their skills, equipment, and experience determined that they were best positioned to meet the City’s needs. Barclay Water Management is currently under contract with the Department of Finance and Management, Facilities Management Division in such capacity. While occupancy levels have increased as the pandemic has waned, the Facilities Management Division has determined that it is still best practices to continue with the water treatment services to safeguard the health and safety of employees and visitors.
This ordinance seeks authority to renew an existing contract with Barclay Water Management and to provide for the option to renew this contract for two (2) successive annual terms.
Barclay Water Management, Inc. FID: 04-2558176, CC029151.
Emergency Designation: Emergency action is requested so that these water testing, treatment, and remediation services can continue without delay to safeguard the health and wellness of City employees and visitors alike. The current contract, ORD 1185-2022, PO332817, is set to expire May 2023 and the current funds will be depleted before that date.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes the expenditure of $231,741.67 from the General Fund with Barclay Water Management for the treatment and remediation of various building water systems under the purview of the Facilities Management Division.
Title
To authorize the Finance and Management Director to renew and modify a contract with Barclay Water Management, Inc. for the treatment and remediation of water systems under the purview of the Facilities Management Division; to authorize the expenditure of $231,741.67 within the General Fund; to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Columbus City Code; and to declare an emergency. ($231,741.67)
Body
WHEREAS, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, occupancy levels in various facilities have been lowered due to remote working by employees and reduced visitation from the general public; and
WHEREAS, these reduced occupancy levels have in turn lowered the throughput of water through various building’s water systems, which can create an environment conducive to the growth of various water contaminants; and
WHEREAS, Barclay Water Management is currently under contract with the Department of Finance and Management, Facilities Management Division and they have the necessary expertise to conduct these continued water treatment and remediation services; and
WHEREAS, the continued testing, treatment, and remediation will ensure a safe and healthy water supply to various buildings, thus ensuring the health and safety of City employees and visitors; and
WHEREAS, a waiver of the competitive bidding provisions of Columbus City Code is necessary as Barclay Water Management, Inc. has the expertise to conduct these water treatment and remediation services, and is currently under contract with the Department of Finance, Facilities Management Division in such capacity; and Barclay Water Management (BWM) currently provides treatment and remediation services for the City of Columbus. Due to Barclay Water Management’s expertise and partnership with local healthcare systems, as well as their skills, equipment, and experience it was determined that they best positioned to meet the City’s needs. Barclay Water Management is a provider for the iChlor® program. iChlor® utilizes proprietary state of the art technology that offers multiple code/programming safety layers, that controls alarms and the ability to shut down the unit immediately for any out of spec condition until resolved. BWM is the responsible party for responding to alarms; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Finance and Management Department, Facilities Management Division, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Finance and Management Director to renew and modify an existing contract with Barclay Water Management, Inc. so that water testing, treatment, and remediation services can continue without delay since the currently existing contract, ORD 1185-2022, PO332817, is set to expire May 2023; and the current funds will be depleted before that date to safeguard the health and wellness of City employees and visitors alike, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; and now therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Finance and Management Director is hereby authorized to renew and modify a contract, on behalf of the Facilities Management Division, with Barclay Water Management, Inc. and to provide for the option to renew this contract for two (2) successive annual term for the testing, treatment and remediation of water systems under the purview of the Facilities Management Division.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of up to $231,741.67, or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1, is hereby authorized in the General Fund 1000, in Object Class 03 - Contractual Services, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That this Council finds it is in the best interests of the City to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes, and such are hereby waived.
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 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.