Project eNewsletter  |  December 2019

OregonBuys: One unified system — modernizing state procurement

Project update

Throughout December, the project team was busy preparing for activities related to agency wave enrollments, agency core team engagement, and replacing the Oregon Procurement Information Network (ORPIN). We also kicked off a grants management subcommittee to explore the state's need for tracking grants.

As we look back over 2019, we know there's lots of ground to cover in the new year! We look forward to working with each of you in the coming months.

To learn more about the OregonBuys Project, visit our project website.

Core team information needed

We’ll soon be scheduling kickoff meetings for agencies in the large and medium-sized categories. Agencies in the small category will be convened as a group at a later date.   We need large and medium-sized agencies to help identify names and contact information for their core team members: project coordinator, business analyst, procurement subject matter experts, accounting/budget subject matter experts, and organization administrator.   Use the button below to go to our online form and enter your agency's core team information:

Learn more by viewing the agency size category list and by reading this PowerPoint description of core team roles. 

ORCPP members — start preparing now

OregonBuys will replace ORPIN in mid-2020. At that time, ORPIN will transition to read-only status and Oregon Cooperative Procurement Program (ORCPP) members will use OregonBuys to search statewide price agreements and post solicitation notices moving forward.   We'll provide more details about timing and training in the new year. In the meantime, ORCPP members can start preparing for the transition by changing references in affected procurement code or policies from ORPIN to “the state's eProcurement system”.

Outreach to suppliers

Our vendor, Periscope Holdings, is actively engaging with suppliers asking them to register in OregonBuys. Every supplier needs an account to continue doing business with the state after ORPIN is replaced. Periscope has already sent a series of email messages asking suppliers to register and will now transition to contacting suppliers by phone.   In the coming weeks, Statewide Price Agreement holders will also be asked to upload their inventory catalogs into the system. These catalogs will allow state agencies to shop the Price Agreements online in the new OregonBuys Marketplace.

Register for a forum

State agency staff can stay informed by registering and attending an OregonBuys forum. Forums provide targeted topics, a system demo, and a hosted Q&A session:

Tell us what you're interested in

We're listening — send us an email and tell us what you want you learn more about: oregonbuys.info@oregon.gov.

Visit our project website for more information: https://oregonbuys.oregon.gov.