Item Coversheet

CITY OF HOUSTON - CITY COUNCIL

Meeting Date: 12/3/2024
ALL
Item Creation Date:

T28695.A1 - Pay or Play Administration System (ASKREPLY, INC. dba B2GNOW) - ORDINANCE

Agenda Item#: 28.


 
                               
Summary:

ORDINANCE amending Ordinance No. 2019-0545 to increase maximum contract amount for contract between City of Houston and ASKREPLY, INC dba B2GNOW - $537,073.00 - General and Other Funds

Background:

S38-T28695.A1 - Approve an amending ordinance to Ordinance No. 2019-0545, passed on August 2, 2019, to increase the spending authority from $485,000.00 to $1,022,073.00 for the contract (4600015548) between the City of Houston and ASKREPLY, INC. dba B2GNOW for a pay or play administration system and related services for various departments.

 

SPECIFIC EXPLANATION:

The Chief Procurement Officer recommend that City Council approve an amending ordinance to increase spending authority from $485,000.00 to $1,022,073.00 for the contract (4600015548) between the City of Houston and ASKREPLY, INC. dba B2GNOW (B2GNOW) for a Pay or Play Administration System and related services for the Office of Business Opportunity and Houston Public Works.

 

This contract was awarded on August 2, 2019, by Ordinance No. 2019-0545, for a five-year term, with two (2) one-year options in the original amount $485,000.00. Expenditures as of September 11, 2024, totaled $460,707.94. 

 

The funding on this contract was exhausted sooner than anticipated because an additional department - Houston Public Works (HPW) - began using the services provided by this contract.  The additional funding is necessary to allow OBO and HPW to continue using the services of this contract through the expiration of the contract term in 2026. 

 

The purpose of the Pay or Play Administration System is to provide a channel to carry out the objectives of the Pay or Play (POP) Program as outlined in City of Houston Executive Order 1-7 through an electronic citywide system.  The system is used to bring efficiencies to the existing policies and procedures through streamlining monitoring, reconciliation, reporting, and auditing of the POP Program for all departments. 

 

The scope of work requires that the contractor to provide the following services, including, but not limited to:  a web-based application with remote access and mobile device responsiveness for system users; granular settings and permissions for multiple users; user dashboards with the ability to flag accounts of non-compliance/outstanding reports; standardized online forms; the ability to generate program-compliant invoices; reporting functionality to track payments made (checks and balance); payment integration for ACH deposits, checks, credit cards; system integration of new Pay or Play System with existing City of Houston systems (SAP, B2G, LCP Tracker); and data security.

 

M/WBE Participation:

The contract was awarded with an 24% M/WBE participation goal. B2GNOW is making Satisfactory Good Faith Efforts toward meeting the goal.

 

Fiscal Note:

Funding for this item is included in the FY 2025 Budget. Therefore, no Fiscal Note is required as stated in the Financial Policies.

 

 

 

________________________________________                

 Jedediah Greenfield, Chief Procurement Officer         

Finance/Strategic Procurement Division

 

Estimated Spending Authority

Department

FY25

Out Years

Total

Office of Business Opportunity

$189,579.00

$194,307.00

$383,886.00

Houston Public Works  $74,726.00  $78,461.00   $153,187.00
TOTAL   $264,305.00  $272,768.00    $537,073.00
Prior Council Action:
Ordinance 2019-0545; approved by City Council July 16, 2019
Amount and Source of Funding:

$170,207.00 General Fund (1000)

$213,679.00 - Contractor Responsibility Fund (2424)

$153,187.00 - Project Cost Recovery Fund (1001)

$537,073.00 - Total

Contact Information:

Lena Farris Division Manager 832-393-8729

Candice Gambrell Assistant Director 832-393-9127

Jedediah Greenfield Chief Procurement Officer 832-393-9126

ATTACHMENTS:
DescriptionType
Signed CoversheetSigned Cover sheet