Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Interim Director of Public Service to enter into a professional services contract with Evans, Mechwart, Hambleton & Tilton, Inc. (EMH&T) in the amount of up to $600,000.00 for the Intersection Improvements - Refugee Road at Hines Road project.
The intent of this project is to provide the City of Columbus, Department of Public Service, additional resources to design a new railroad-coordinated traffic signal and widen the north and west approaches to the intersection of Refugee Road and Hines Road. Hines Road will be widened on the approach to the intersection to include two lanes (dedicated southbound right- and left-turn lanes). Refugee Road west of the intersection will be widened to include three lanes (eastbound through, eastbound left turn, and westbound through.) Striping on Refugee Road east of the intersection will be adjusted to accommodate the eastbound left turn lane. A mast arm traffic signal system with LED heads will be installed, with a mast arm on both north and east approach.
Ord. 2394-2023 authorized the Director of Public Service to submit ODOT Highway Safety Improvement Program project applications and to execute project agreements for awarded projects for the Department of Public Service for the Intersection Improvements - Refugee Road at Hines Road project.
The Department of Public Service, Office of Support Services, solicited Requests for Proposals for the Intersection Improvements - Refugee Road at Hines Road contract. The project was formally advertised on the Vendor Services and Bonfire web sites from February 21, 2024, to March 20, 2024. The City received three (3) responses. All proposals were deemed responsive and were fully evaluated when the Evaluation Committee met on March 27, 2024. The responding firms were:
Company Name City/State Majority/MBE/WBE/VET/EBE/LGBTBE/SLBE
EMH&T Columbus, OH MAJ
A. Morton Thomas and Associates, Inc. Columbus, OH MAJ
CHA Consulting, Inc. Columbus, OH MAJ
EMH&T received the highest score by the evaluation committee and will be awarded the Intersection Improvements - Refugee Road at Hines Road contract.
Searches in the Excluded Party List System (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against EMH&T.
The certification of EMH&T and all associated subcontractors was in good standing at the time the bid was awarded.
As part of their bid EMH&T has proposed the following 4 subcontractors to work on the project:
|
Company Name |
City/State |
Majority/ODI Certification |
|
VS Engineering, Inc. |
Columbus, Ohio |
MBE |
|
Barr Engineering Incorporated |
Columbus, Ohio |
MBE |
|
Advanced Engineering Concepts, Inc. |
Columbus, Ohio |
MBE |
|
Rio Grande Pacific Technology, Inc. |
Columbus, Ohio |
MAJ |
2. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE
EMH&T’s contract compliance number is CC004214 and expires 11/08/2025.
3. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for this contract is budgeted, available and appropriated within Fund 7704, the Streets and Highways Bond Fund.
4. MINORITY AND WOMAN OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE & SMALL LOCAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM
This contract was bid with a City of Columbus MBE/WBE Program goal of 15% as assigned by the City’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI). Failure by the contractor to meet this goal subjects the contractor to the Penalties for Non-Compliance as described in the “City’s Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise & Small Local Business Enterprise Program Manual” and in the “City of Columbus MBE/WBE Program Special Provision” that were part of the bid documents for this contract.
5. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested in order to complete needed improvements at the earliest possible time and meet the requirements of the start date for the Ohio Department of Transportation funding award to avoid penalty and to ensure the safety of the traveling public.
Title
To authorize the Interim Director of Public Service to enter into a professional services contract with EMH&T for the Intersection Improvements - Refugee Road at Hines Road project; to authorize the expenditure of up to $600,000.00 from the Streets and Highways Bond Fund to pay for this contract; and to declare an emergency. ($600,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, there is a need to enter into a professional services contract to provide for additional resources to design a new railroad-coordinated traffic signal and widen the north and west approaches to the intersection of Refugee Road and Hines Road; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service, Office of Support Services, solicited Requests for Proposals for the Intersection Improvements - Refugee Road at Hines Road project; and
WHEREAS, EMH&T submitted the best overall proposal for this project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to enter into a contract with EMH&T for the provision of professional engineering consulting services described above in the amount of up to $600,000.00; and
WHEREAS, this contract opportunity was submitted to the City’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) for review and assignment of an MBE/WBE goal prior to bidding; and
WHEREAS, this contract was bid with a City of Columbus MBE/WBE Program goal of 15% as assigned by the City’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI); and
WHEREAS, failure by the contractor to meet this goal subjects the contractor to the Penalties for Non-Compliance; 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 Interim Director of Public Service to enter into contract with EMH&T in order to provide funding for the Intersection Improvements - Refugee Road at Hines Road, to ensure the safety of the traveling 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 Interim Director of Public Service be, and hereby is, authorized to enter into a professional services contract with EMH&T at 5500 New Albany Road, Columbus, Ohio 43054, for the Intersection Improvements - Refugee Road at Hines Road project in an amount up to $600,000.00.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $600,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund), Dept-Div 5913 (Traffic Management), Project P530086-100037 (Intersection Improvements - Refugee at Hines), 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 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 5. 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 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 passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.