Cleveland Renewing Contract for Underground Utility Locating Services
Cleveland is moving to ensure underground infrastructure remains safely marked during excavation projects through a contract renewal with One Call Concepts Locating Services, Inc. City Council has passed emergency ordinance 596-2026, which allows the Director of Public Utilities to exercise the first option to renew the existing agreement for professional locating and marking services.
What's in the file
The legislation authorizes a one-year renewal of Contract No. PS2024-299 to provide services necessary for locating and marking underground utility infrastructure. According to the 596-2026 Legislative Summary, these services are required by Ohio’s Damage Prevention Law to ensure utilities are marked—typically with flags or spray paint—within 48 hours of an excavation request.
The scope of work includes:
- Responding to approximately 170,000 annual ticket requests from the Ohio Utilities Protection Service (OUPS).
- Reviewing maps, documents, and GIS information.
- Physically locating and marking underground utility infrastructure.
The estimated cost for this first option year is $1,874,000, distributed across the following departments:
| Department | Funding Amount |
|---|---|
| Division of Water | $1,500,000 |
| Cleveland Public Power | $124,000 |
| Water Pollution Control | $250,000 |
The record notes that the vendor has agreed to the original contract fee table and continues to meet the 10% Cleveland School District Business (CSB) participation goal.
Who may be affected
- Department of Public Utilities: The order specifically supports the divisions of Water, Cleveland Public Power, and Water Pollution Control.
- One Call Concepts Locating Services, Inc.: The vendor contracted to perform the marking and locating work.
- Excavators: Those intending to dig in the public right-of-way rely on these markings to prevent damage to city infrastructure.
Status and timeline
- May 7, 2026: The ordinance was introduced to City Council.
- September 19, 2026: The current contract is scheduled to expire.
The ordinance has passed, providing the authority needed to avoid a lapse in service.
Residents can verify these details and review the full text of the legislation by visiting the Cleveland City Council website.
Source record
- File
- 596-2026
- Type
- Emergency Ordinance
- Status
- Passed
- Committee
- City Council
- Introduced
- May 6, 2026
Official documents
- 596-2026 Exercise option to renew CT 2002 PS2024-0299 w One Call Concepts Locating Services Inc
- 596-2026 Legislaitve Summary
- 596-2026 Amend 596-2026
- 596-2026-as amended-desk copy-Final
- FINAL VERSION City Record July 24, 2026 - Page 25