OAR 125-247-0690
Policy; Appearance of Contractor Advantage


(1) As provided in ORS 279B.205 (Specifications to encourage reasonable competition) and consistent with 279A.015 (Policy), specifications must seek to promote optimal value and suitability for the purposes intended and to reasonably encourage competition in satisfying an Agency’s needs. Subject to 279B.405 (Protests and judicial review of solicitations), the specification content must be determined in the sole discretion of the Agency.
(2) Contractor Advantage; General.
(a) Policy. As provided in ORS 279B.210 (Policy), it is the policy of the State of Oregon to encourage the development of clear, precise and accurate Specifications in Solicitations for Public Contracts. To that end, in developing Specifications, Agencies may consult, under contract or otherwise, with technical experts, suppliers, prospective contractors and representatives of the industries with which the Agencies contract, as set forth in ORS 279B.210 (Policy).
(b) Application. In the event of conflict or ambiguity arising from the general requirements of section (2) of this Rule and the specific requirements of section (3) of this Rule, the specific requirements take precedence over the general requirements.
(3) Contractor Advantage; Services Contract; Exception. An Authorized Agency must comply with ORS 279B.040 (Prohibition on accepting bid or proposal from contractor that advised or assisted contracting agency to develop specifications or solicitation documents), including but not limited to the following:
(a) No Appearance of Contractor Advantage. If an Agency enters into a contract with a contractor to advise or assist the Agency in developing specifications, a scope or statement of work, an invitation to bid, a request for proposals or other solicitation documents and materials (Solicitation Materials) related to a procurement (Procurement), the Agency may not accept an Offer from that contractor or its affiliate that is related to the Procurement, if a reasonable person would believe that, by giving the advice or assistance, the contractor or affiliate would have or would appear to have an advantage in the Procurement.
“Affiliate” means a person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with a contractor described in this section.
(b) Exception.
(A) Before awarding a contract for the advice or assistance of a contractor described in subsection (3)(a), the Agency must request an exception from the State Chief Procurement Officer, if the Agency wishes to later accept an Offer from the Provider.
(B) The Agency’s request for the exception must include sufficient findings of fact and justifications that will enable the State Chief Procurement Officer to make an independent judgment.
(C) The State Chief Procurement Officer must determine whether:
(i) The Agency needs advice or assistance from a contractor to develop the Solicitation Materials;
(ii) Accepting an Offer from the contractor that gives the advice or assistance is the only practicable way in which the Agency can conduct the Procurement successfully; and
(iii) Approving the exception:
(I) Is unlikely to encourage favoritism in awarding public contracts or to substantially diminish competition for public contracts; and
(II) Is reasonably expected to result in substantial cost savings to the Agency; or the public or otherwise substantially promotes the public interest in a manner that could not be practicably realized by complying with the prohibition described in subsection (3)(a).
(D) If the State Chief Procurement Officer approves the Agency’s request, the State Chief Procurement Officer must prepare Written findings and justifications for the approval.
(E) If the State Chief Procurement Officer disapproves the Agency’s request, the State Chief Procurement Officer must:
(i) State the State Chief Procurement Officer’s reasons for the disapproval in a Written notice to the Agency, and
(ii) Indicate whether the disapproval extends only to the Agency’s acceptance of an Offer from a contractor described in Subsection (3)(a) or whether the State Chief Procurement Officer also disagrees with the Agency’s stated need for advice or assistance from a contractor.
(F) The State Chief Procurement Officer’s approval or disapproval is final.

Source: Rule 125-247-0690 — Policy; Appearance of Contractor Advantage, https://secure.­sos.­state.­or.­us/oard/view.­action?ruleNumber=125-247-0690.

125‑247‑0010
Policies
125‑247‑0100
Applicability
125‑247‑0110
Feasibility Determination, Cost Analysis and Department Report
125‑247‑0165
Practices Regarding Electronic Goods Procurement
125‑247‑0170
Life Cycle Costing
125‑247‑0185
Approval of Information Technology or Telecommunications Procurements
125‑247‑0200
Buy Decision and Methods of Source Selection
125‑247‑0255
Competitive Sealed Bidding
125‑247‑0260
Competitive Sealed Proposals
125‑247‑0265
Small Procurements
125‑247‑0270
Intermediate Procurements
125‑247‑0275
Sole-Source Procurements
125‑247‑0280
Emergency Procurements
125‑247‑0285
Special Procurements
125‑247‑0286
Special Procurements
125‑247‑0287
Special Procurements
125‑247‑0288
Special Procurements
125‑247‑0295
Special Procurements: General or Special Counsel Authorized by the Attorney General
125‑247‑0296
Price Agreements and Mandatory Use Contracts
125‑247‑0300
Procurement Process
125‑247‑0305
Public Notice of Solicitation Documents
125‑247‑0310
Bids or Proposals are Offers
125‑247‑0320
Facsimile Bids and Proposals
125‑247‑0330
E-Procurement
125‑247‑0340
Reverse Auctions
125‑247‑0400
Offer Preparation
125‑247‑0410
Offer Submission
125‑247‑0420
Pre-Offer Conferences
125‑247‑0430
Addenda to Solicitation Document
125‑247‑0440
Pre-Closing Modification or Withdrawal of Offers
125‑247‑0450
Receipt, Opening, and Recording of Offers
125‑247‑0460
Late Offers, Late Withdrawals, and Late Modifications
125‑247‑0470
Mistakes
125‑247‑0480
Time for Authorized Agency Acceptance
125‑247‑0490
Extension of Time for Acceptance of Offer
125‑247‑0500
Responsibility of Offerors
125‑247‑0525
Qualified Products Lists
125‑247‑0550
Prequalification of Prospective Offerors, Pre-negotiation of Contract Terms and Conditions, and Request for Qualifications (RFQ)
125‑247‑0575
Debarment of Prospective Offerors
125‑247‑0600
Offer Evaluation and Award
125‑247‑0610
Notice of Intent to Award
125‑247‑0620
Documentation of Award
125‑247‑0630
Availability of Award Decisions
125‑247‑0640
Rejection of an Offer
125‑247‑0650
Rejection of All Offers
125‑247‑0660
Cancellation of Procurement or Solicitation
125‑247‑0670
Disposition of Offers if Solicitation Cancelled
125‑247‑0690
Policy
125‑247‑0691
Brand Name or Equal Specification
125‑247‑0700
Protests and Judicial Review of Special Procurements
125‑247‑0710
Protests and Judicial Review of Sole-Source Procurements
125‑247‑0720
Protests and Judicial Review of Multiple-Tiered and Multistep Solicitations
125‑247‑0730
Protests and Judicial Review of Solicitations
125‑247‑0731
Protests and Judicial Review of Qualified Products List Decisions
125‑247‑0740
Protests and Judicial Review of Contract Award
125‑247‑0750
Judicial Review of Other Violations
125‑247‑0760
Review of Prequalification and Debarment Decisions
125‑247‑0805
Amendments to Contracts and Price Agreements
125‑247‑0810
Termination of Price Agreements
Last Updated

Jun. 8, 2021

Rule 125-247-0690’s source at or​.us