OAR 137-049-0620
Use of Alternative Contracting Methods
(1)
Competitive Bidding Exemptions. ORS Chapter 279C (Public Improvements and Related Contracts) requires a competitive bidding process for Public Improvement Contracts, unless a statutory exception applies, a class of Contracts has been exempted from the competitive bidding process, or an individual Contract has been exempted from the competitive bidding process, in accordance with 279C.335 (Competitive bidding) and any applicable Contracting Agency administrative rules. Use of Alternative Contracting Methods may be directed by the Contracting Agency if that use is within the competitive bidding process, if feasible, or through an available statutory exception to the competitive bidding process. Use of Alternative Contracting Methods must be directed through a Contracting Agency’s Contract Review Authority, however, when use of the Alternative Contracting Method requires an exemption to the prescribed competitive bidding requirement of 279C.335 (Competitive bidding). In any of these circumstances, use of Alternative Contracting Methods must be justified in accordance with any applicable Code and Contracting Agency requirements and, if required, these OAR 137-049-0600 (Purpose) to 137-049-0690 (Construction Manager/General Contractor Services (“CM/GC Services”)) rules. See 137-049-0630 (Findings, Notice and Hearing) regarding required Findings and restrictions on exemptions from the competitive bidding requirement under ORS 279C.335 (Competitive bidding).(2)
Energy Savings Performance Contracts. ESPCs are excepted from the competitive bidding requirements for Public Improvement Contracts pursuant to ORS 279C.335 (Competitive bidding)(1)(f), if the Contracting Agency complies with the procedures set forth in OAR 137-049-0600 (Purpose) to 137-049-0690 (Construction Manager/General Contractor Services (“CM/GC Services”)) or parallel administrative rules meeting the requirements of ORS 279A.065 (Model rules generally) related to the solicitation, negotiation and contracting for ESPC Work. If those procedures are not followed, an ESPC procurement may still be exempted from competitive bidding requirements by following the general exemption procedures within 279C.335 (Competitive bidding).(3)
Post-Project Evaluation. ORS 279C.355 (Evaluation of public improvement projects not contracted by competitive bidding) requires that the Contracting Agency prepare a formal post-project evaluation of Public Improvement projects in excess of $100,000 when the Contracting Agency does not use the competitive bidding process required by 279C.335 (Competitive bidding). The purpose of this evaluation is to determine whether it was actually in the Contracting Agency’s best interest to use an Alternative Contracting Method outside the competitive bidding process. The evaluation must be delivered to the Contracting Agency’s Contract Review Authority within 30 Days of the date the Contracting Agency “accepts” the Public Improvement project, which event is typically defined in the Contract. In the absence of such definition, acceptance of the Project occurs on the later of the date of final payment or the date of final completion of the Contract Work. ORS 279C.355 (Evaluation of public improvement projects not contracted by competitive bidding) describes the timing and content of this evaluation, with three required elements:(a)
Financial information, consisting of cost estimates, any Guaranteed Maximum Price, changes and actual costs;(b)
A narrative description of successes and failures during design, engineering and construction; and(c)
An objective assessment of the use of the Alternative Contracting Method as compared to the exemption Findings.
Source:
Rule 137-049-0620 — Use of Alternative Contracting Methods, https://secure.sos.state.or.us/oard/view.action?ruleNumber=137-049-0620.