| Small Contracting Program for Professional and Technical Services |
|
|
 |
|
|
The Small Contracting Program for Professional and Technical Services is aimed at creating opportunities for small firms to serve as prime contractors for ODOT contracts valued at $75,000 or less. Initially focused on the Portland area, the new program simplifies the procurement process for small businesses.
The program is part of ODOT’s Small Business Initiative, the agency’s ongoing activities to increase economic opportunities for Oregon businesses. From Oct. 2 to Oct. 31, firms are encouraged to complete a streamlined procurement process to pre-qualify for the pilot. Any professional and technical services firm may participate in the new Request for Qualifications, designed after gathering input from small businesses, the American Council on Engineering Companies and other stakeholders.
|
| Program Overview |
|
The Oregon Department of Transportation is implementing a comprehensive plan to increase economic opportunities for Oregon workers and businesses through innovative efforts to boost participation in transportation projects.
Several components make up the agency’s overall plan:
- Workforce Development Plan – focuses on individual workers
- Small Business Opportunities Outreach through the OTIA III State Bridge Delivery Program – focuses on design and construction
- Small Business Initiative – focuses on contracting
- Professional and technical service
- Construction
Under ODOT’s Small Business Initiative, the agency has developed the Professional and Technical Services Small Contracting Program to increase the number of small businesses that are awarded ODOT contracts. Initially, the program will be implemented through a pilot program in ODOT’s Region 1, the Portland metropolitan area.
A simplified procurement process will pre-qualify firms to participate in the pilot program
and have the opportunity to be selected as prime contractors for ODOT contracts valued at $75,000 annually or less. The selection process will give preference to firms that have no existing contracts as a prime with ODOT, while continuing to use the qualification-based selection process.
A Request for Qualifications to participate in the pilot program will be posted on ORPIN, the Oregon Procurement Information Network web site, at http://orpin.oregon.gov beginning Oct. 2, 2006. The RFQ consists of a short pre-qualification registration form that requests basic information about the firm, its employees and its experience.
Firms that pre-qualify by completing the RFQ process during the month of October 2006 will be eligible for selection for the initial contract awarded under the pilot program. The targeted contract award date for the first project is January 2007.
Firms that do not pre-qualify during October may still enroll at any time to be included in the selection pool for future pilot program contract awards. ODOT will continue to select additional projects and award additional contracts under the pilot program. ODOT will review the pilot program results, gather input from participants, make adjustments as needed and roll out the Small Contracting Program to a greater audience in 2007.
For more information about the Professional and Technical Services Small Contracting Program, contact ODOT’s Procurement Office at www.oregon.gov/ODOT/contracting.shtml or call (503) 986-2710. Visit the State of Oregon’s contracting and procurement web site at http://orpin.oregon.gov, or call (503) 731-3254 to request a copy of the RFQ materials.
|
| Frequently Asked Questions |
|
What is the Small Contracting Program?
Under the Oregon Department of Transportation’s Small Business Initiative, the agency has developed the Professional and Technical Services Small Contracting Program to increase the number of small businesses that are awarded ODOT contracts.
A simplified procurement process will create opportunities for small firms to be selected as prime contractors for ODOT contracts valued at $75,000 annually or less. The process continues to apply qualification-based selection criteria.
This effort is part of the agency’s ongoing series of activities to increase economic opportunities for Oregon workers and businesses.
How does the program work?
Initially, the Small Contracting Program will be implemented through a pilot program in ODOT’s Region 1, the Portland metropolitan area. A streamlined procurement process will pre-qualify firms to participate in the pilot program.
What makes this program different?
ODOT is simplifying its contracting program so that small businesses have more opportunity to do business with the agency. The major change is that for contracts of $75,000 or less, competitors will have an easier process to complete.
Who can participate?
Any professional or technical services firm may participate in the pilot program.
How do I participate?
Beginning Oct. 2, 2006, a Request for Qualifications will be posted on the Internet on ORPIN, the Oregon Procurement Information Network, at http://orpin.oregon.gov. The RFQ consists of a short pre-qualification registration form that requests basic information about the firm, its employees and its experience.
To request assistance with ORPIN, please call Sandra Kalin at (503) 378-3583. Resources are available to help firms register on the system and access the Request for Qualifications.
Those without access to ORPIN may request the RFQ from the ODOT Procurement Office. Contact Gail Samura at (503) 731-3254 or gail.samura@odot.state.or.us, or fax a request to (503) 731-8259.
What is the timeline to participate in the pilot program?
The pre-qualification timeline for the first contract under the pilot program is Oct. 2-31, 2006. Firms may enroll at any time to participate in subsequent pilot program projects.
Why is the pre-qualification period limited to one month?
Managing the number of initial respondents is an efficient and cost-effective way for ODOT to test this new process. It also allows small businesses to receive work sooner than under traditional procurement methods.
Can I still participate if I miss the Oct. 31 deadline for the RFQ?
Firms that pre-qualify by completing the RFQ process during the month of October 2006 will be eligible for selection for the first contract awarded under the pilot program. Firms that did not pre-qualify during October may still enroll at any time to be included in the selection pool for future pilot program contract awards.
Are certain disciplines more likely to be selected than others?
The specific discipline areas will be determined by the available projects that fit the criteria and timeframe for this pilot program.
Will there be more than one contract awarded?
The initial contract award in January 2007 will be for one project to test the process and address any issues that may arise before opening the program to a wider audience. ODOT will continue to select additional projects and award additional contracts under the pilot program.
Why is the selected project limited to the Portland area?
The Portland area has the most transportation project opportunities and a high concentration of small businesses. ODOT wants to test this new contracting process with as many participants as possible and draw from a large pool of potential projects.
Once my firm is pre-qualified, am I guaranteed work?
Pre-qualification is not a guarantee of a contract award, but it does ensure that you are eligible to participate in the pilot program, depending on your firm’s capabilities and the discipline selected.
How does the selection process work?
Once ODOT has determined a small business outsourcing need that fits the pilot program criteria, the region will notify ODOT’s Procurement Office (OPO).
If fewer than 10 contractors are qualified in the specific discipline, OPO will invite all 10 firms to respond. If more than 10 firms are qualified in the specific discipline, the region, with OPO oversight, will create a short-list of at least five firms.
Preference will be given to firms that have no existing contracts as a prime contractor with ODOT. Other criteria include responsiveness to initial invitation, reference check results, small business certification status, and written and in-person interview responses to work order-specific questions.
OPO will award the work to the contractor selected by the ODOT Region 1 staff.
Who will make the project selection?
ODOT’s Region 1 Technical Services Manager will work with region project delivery staff to identify small business outsourcing needs on projects that fit the pilot program criteria.
When will the work be awarded?
The targeted contract award date for the first project under the pilot program is January 2007.
What are the next steps?
ODOT will review the pilot program results, gather input from participants, make adjustments as needed and roll out the Small Contracting Program to a greater audience in 2007.
Where can I get more information?
For more information about the Professional and Technical Services Small Contracting Program, contact ODOT’s Procurement Office at www.oregon.gov/ODOT/contracting.shtml or call (503) 986-2710. For questions about the pilot program, call (503) 731-3254.
Visit the State of Oregon’s contracting and procurement web site at http://orpin.oregon.gov.
For assistance with the ORPIN system, call Sandra Kalin at (503) 378-3583.
|
| Helpful Links |
|
ODOT Consultants Portal
ODOT Procurement Office
ODOT Office of Civil Rights
General information about contracting with ODOT
|
|
| |
|
|
