ORS 279C.335
Competitive bidding requirement

  • exceptions
  • exemptions

(1)

A contracting agency may award a public improvement contract only in response to competitive bids, except for:

(a)

A public improvement contract with a qualified nonprofit agency that provides employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities under ORS 279.835 (Definitions for ORS 279.835 to 279.855) to 279.855 (Entities that may obtain goods and services through Oregon Department of Administrative Services).

(b)

A public improvement contract that is exempt under subsection (2) of this section.

(c)

A public improvement contract with a value of less than $10,000.

(d)

A public improvement contract with a contract price that does not exceed $100,000 made under procedures for competitive quotes in ORS 279C.412 (Competitive quotes for intermediate procurements) and 279C.414 (Requirements for competitive quotes).

(e)

A contract to repair, maintain, improve or protect property the Department of Veterans’ Affairs obtains under ORS 407.135 (Authority of department) and 407.145 (Purchase and control of property) (1).

(f)

An energy savings performance contract that a contracting agency enters into in accordance with rules of procedure adopted under ORS 279A.065 (Model rules generally).

(g)

A public improvement contract with an estimated contract price of $250,000 or less that a contracting agency awards to an emerging small business certified under ORS 200.055 (Certification as disadvantaged business enterprise, minority-owned business, woman-owned business, business that service-disabled veteran owns or emerging small business) and funds with moneys from the Emerging Small Business Account established under ORS 200.180 (Emerging Small Business Account). A contracting agency that awards a public contract exempted from competitive bidding under this paragraph shall solicit competitive quotes as provided in ORS 279C.414 (Requirements for competitive quotes) before making the award.

(2)

Subject to subsection (4)(b) and (c) of this section, the Director of the Oregon Department of Administrative Services, a local contract review board or, for contracts described in ORS 279A.050 (Procurement authority) (3)(b), the Director of Transportation may exempt a public improvement contract or a class of public improvement contracts from the competitive bidding requirement of subsection (1) of this section after the Director of the Oregon Department of Administrative Services, the Director of Transportation or the local contract review board approves the following findings that the contracting agency submits or, if a state agency is not the contracting agency, that the state agency that is seeking the exemption submits:

(a)

The exemption is unlikely to encourage favoritism in awarding public improvement contracts or substantially diminish competition for public improvement contracts.

(b)

Awarding a public improvement contract under the exemption will likely result in substantial cost savings and other substantial benefits to the contracting agency or the state agency that seeks the exemption or, if the contract is for a public improvement described in ORS 279A.050 (Procurement authority) (3)(b), to the contracting agency or the public. In approving a finding under this paragraph, the Director of the Oregon Department of Administrative Services, the Director of Transportation or the local contract review board shall consider the type, cost and amount of the contract and, to the extent applicable to the particular public improvement contract or class of public improvement contracts, the following:

(A)

How many persons are available to bid;

(B)

The construction budget and the projected operating costs for the completed public improvement;

(C)

Public benefits that may result from granting the exemption;

(D)

Whether value engineering techniques may decrease the cost of the public improvement;

(E)

The cost and availability of specialized expertise that is necessary for the public improvement;

(F)

Any likely increases in public safety;

(G)

Whether granting the exemption may reduce risks to the contracting agency, the state agency or the public that are related to the public improvement;

(H)

Whether granting the exemption will affect the sources of funding for the public improvement;

(I)

Whether granting the exemption will better enable the contracting agency to control the impact that market conditions may have on the cost of and time necessary to complete the public improvement;

(J)

Whether granting the exemption will better enable the contracting agency to address the size and technical complexity of the public improvement;

(K)

Whether the public improvement involves new construction or renovates or remodels an existing structure;

(L)

Whether the public improvement will be occupied or unoccupied during construction;

(M)

Whether the public improvement will require a single phase of construction work or multiple phases of construction work to address specific project conditions; and

(N)

Whether the contracting agency or state agency has, or has retained under contract, and will use contracting agency or state agency personnel, consultants and legal counsel that have necessary expertise and substantial experience in alternative contracting methods to assist in developing the alternative contracting method that the contracting agency or state agency will use to award the public improvement contract and to help negotiate, administer and enforce the terms of the public improvement contract.

(c)

As an alternative to the finding described in paragraph (b) of this subsection, if a contracting agency or state agency seeks an exemption that would allow the contracting agency or state agency to use an alternative contracting method that the contracting agency or state agency has not previously used, the contracting agency or state agency may make a finding that identifies the project as a pilot project for which the contracting agency or state agency intends to determine whether using the alternative contracting method actually results in substantial cost savings to the contracting agency, to the state agency or, if the contract is for a public improvement described in ORS 279A.050 (Procurement authority) (3)(b), to the contracting agency or the public. The contracting agency or state agency shall include an analysis and conclusion regarding actual cost savings, if any, in the evaluation required under ORS 279C.355 (Evaluation of public improvement projects not contracted by competitive bidding).

(3)

In making findings to support an exemption for a class of public improvement contracts, the contracting agency or state agency shall clearly identify the class using the class’s defining characteristics. The characteristics must include a combination of project descriptions or locations, time periods, contract values, methods of procurement or other factors that distinguish the limited and related class of public improvement contracts from the agency’s overall construction program. The agency may not identify a class solely by funding source, such as a particular bond fund, or by the method of procurement, but shall identify the class using characteristics that reasonably relate to the exemption criteria set forth in subsection (2) of this section.

(4)

In granting exemptions under subsection (2) of this section, the Director of the Oregon Department of Administrative Services, the Director of Transportation or the local contract review board shall:

(a)

If appropriate, direct the use of alternative contracting methods that take account of market realities and modern practices and are consistent with the public policy of encouraging competition.

(b)

Require and approve or disapprove written findings by the contracting agency or state agency that support awarding a particular public improvement contract or a class of public improvement contracts, without the competitive bidding requirement of subsection (1) of this section. The findings must show that the exemption of a contract or class of contracts complies with the requirements of subsection (2) of this section.

(c)

Require a contracting agency or state agency that procures construction manager/general contractor services to conduct the procurement in accordance with model rules the Attorney General adopts under ORS 279A.065 (Model rules generally) (3).

(5)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

A contracting agency or state agency may hold a public hearing before approving the findings required by subsection (2) of this section and before the Director of the Oregon Department of Administrative Services, the Director of Transportation or the local contract review board grants an exemption from the competitive bidding requirement for a public improvement contract or a class of public improvement contracts.

(b)

Notification of a proposed exemption under subsection (2) of this section must be published in at least one trade newspaper of general statewide circulation a minimum of 14 days before the date on which the contracting agency intends to take action to approve or disapprove the exemption.

(c)

The notice must state that in response to a written request, the contracting agency or state agency will hold a public hearing for the purpose of taking comments on the draft findings for an exemption from the competitive bidding requirement.

(d)

If the contracting agency or state agency conducts a public hearing, the contracting agency or state agency shall offer an opportunity for any interested party to appear and comment.

(e)

If a contracting agency or state agency must act promptly because of circumstances beyond the agency’s control that do not constitute an emergency, notification of the proposed exemption may be published simultaneously with the agency’s solicitation of contractors for the alternative public contracting method, as long as responses to the solicitation are due at least five days after the agency intends to take action to approve or disapprove the proposed exemption.

(6)

The purpose of an exemption is to exempt one or more public improvement contracts from competitive bidding requirements. The representations in and the accuracy of the findings, including any general description of the resulting public improvement contract, are the bases for approving the findings and granting the exemption. The findings may describe anticipated features of the resulting public improvement contract, but the final parameters of the contract are those characteristics or specifics announced in the solicitation document.

(7)

A public improvement contract awarded under the competitive bidding requirement of subsection (1) of this section may be amended only in accordance with rules adopted under ORS 279A.065 (Model rules generally).

(8)

A public improvement contract that is excepted from the competitive bidding requirement under subsection (1)(a), (c), (d), (e), (f) or (g) of this section is not subject to the exemption requirements of subsection (2) of this section. [2003 c.794 §103; 2003 c.794 §§104,105a; 2005 c.103 §§12,13,14; 2005 c.625 §§58,59,60; 2007 c.70 §§69,70,71; 2007 c.764 §§14,15,17; 2013 c.522 §8; 2021 c.127 §1; 2021 c.630 §49a]

Source: Section 279C.335 — Competitive bidding requirement; exceptions; exemptions, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors279C.­html.

279C.005
Definitions
279C.010
Applicability
279C.100
Definitions for ORS 279C.100 to 279C.125
279C.105
Contracts for architectural, engineering, photogrammetric mapping, transportation planning or land surveying and related services
279C.107
Public disclosure of contents of proposals for architectural, engineering, photogrammetric mapping, transportation planning or land surveying services
279C.110
Selection procedures for consultants to provide services
279C.115
Direct contracts for services of consultants
279C.120
Selection procedure for related services
279C.125
Architectural, engineering, photogrammetric mapping, transportation planning and land surveying services selection process for local public improvements procured through state agency
279C.300
Policy on competition
279C.305
Least-cost policy for public improvements
279C.306
Administrative enforcement of least-cost policy for public improvements
279C.307
Limitations in procurement of personal services
279C.308
Community benefit contract
279C.310
Limitation on contracting agency constructing public improvement
279C.315
Waiver of damages for unreasonable delay by contracting agency against public policy
279C.320
Contracts for construction other than public improvements
279C.325
Limitation on contracting agency awarding contract to nonresident education service district
279C.330
“Findings” defined
279C.332
Definitions for ORS 279A.065, 279C.307, 279C.335, 279C.337 and 279C.380
279C.335
Competitive bidding requirement
279C.337
Procurement of constructions manager/general contractor services
279C.340
Contract negotiations
279C.345
Specifications for contracts
279C.350
Exemption procedure
279C.355
Evaluation of public improvement projects not contracted by competitive bidding
279C.360
Requirement for public improvement advertisements
279C.365
Requirements for solicitation documents and bids and proposals
279C.370
First-tier subcontractor disclosure
279C.375
Award and execution of contract
279C.380
Performance bond
279C.385
Return or retention of bid security
279C.390
Exemption of contracts from bid security and bonds
279C.395
Rejection of bids
279C.400
Competitive proposals
279C.405
Requests for information, interest or qualifications
279C.410
Receipt of proposals
279C.412
Competitive quotes for intermediate procurements
279C.414
Requirements for competitive quotes
279C.430
Prequalification of bidders
279C.435
Effect of prequalification by Department of Transportation or Oregon Department of Administrative Services
279C.440
Disqualification from consideration for award of contracts
279C.445
Appeal of disqualification
279C.450
Appeal procedure for decision to deny, revoke or revise prequalification
279C.460
Action by or on behalf of adversely affected bidder or proposer
279C.465
Action against successful bidder
279C.470
Compensation for contractor on contract declared void by court
279C.500
“Person” defined
279C.505
Conditions concerning payment, contributions, liens, withholding, drug testing
279C.510
Demolition contracts to require material salvage
279C.515
Conditions concerning payment of claims by public officers, payment to persons furnishing labor or materials and complaints
279C.520
Condition concerning hours of labor
279C.525
Provisions concerning environmental and natural resources laws
279C.527
Inclusion of amount for green energy technology or woody biomass energy technology in public improvement contract
279C.528
State Department of Energy requirements and specifications
279C.530
Condition concerning payment for medical care and providing workers’ compensation
279C.533
Condition concerning employment of apprentices to perform percentage of work hours that workers in apprenticeable occupations perform on public improvements
279C.534
Advisory committee for monitoring implementation of apprenticeship condition in public improvement contracts
279C.535
Condition concerning steel material
279C.537
Condition concerning use of diesel engines in motor vehicles used in performing certain public improvement contracts
279C.540
Maximum hours of labor on public contracts
279C.545
Time limitation on claim for overtime
279C.550
“Retainage” defined
279C.555
Withholding of retainage
279C.560
Form of retainage
279C.565
Limitation on retainage requirements
279C.570
Prompt payment policy
279C.580
Contractor’s relations with subcontractors
279C.585
Authority to substitute undisclosed first-tier subcontractor
279C.590
Complaint process for substitutions of subcontractors
279C.600
Right of action on payment bond or public works bond of contractor or subcontractor
279C.605
Notice of claim
279C.610
Action on contractor’s public works bond or payment bond
279C.615
Preference for labor and material liens
279C.620
Rights of person providing medical care to employees of contractor
279C.625
Joint liability when payment bond not executed
279C.650
“Labor dispute” defined
279C.655
Extension and compensation when work suspended
279C.660
Compensation when contract terminated due to public interest
279C.665
Contractual provisions for compensation when contract terminated due to public interest
279C.670
Application of ORS 279C.650 to 279C.670
279C.800
Definitions for ORS 279C.800 to 279C.870
279C.805
Policy
279C.807
Workforce diversity for public works projects
279C.808
Rules
279C.810
Exemptions
279C.815
Determination of prevailing wage
279C.817
Determination of applicability of prevailing wage rate
279C.820
Advisory committee to assist commissioner
279C.825
Fees
279C.827
Division of public works project
279C.829
Agreement with other state to pay less than prevailing rate of wage
279C.830
Provisions concerning prevailing rate of wage in specifications, contracts and subcontracts
279C.835
Notifying commissioner of public works contract subject to prevailing wage
279C.836
Public works bond
279C.838
Applicability of state and federal rates of wage
279C.840
Payment of prevailing rate of wage
279C.845
Certified statements regarding payment of prevailing rates of wage
279C.850
Inspection to determine whether prevailing rate of wage being paid
279C.855
Liability for violations
279C.860
Ineligibility for public works contracts for failure to pay or post notice of prevailing rates of wage
279C.865
Civil penalties
279C.870
Civil action to enforce payment of prevailing rates of wage
279C.875
Criminal liability for intentional failure to pay prevailing wage
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