Got questions about procurement, small business resources, or building your own business?

Ask Jenine!

Jenine Gomez is a professional connector within Oregon State Procurement Services' Office of Procurement Equity. 'Ask Jenine' is the central hub for all questions related to the office's work. Fill out the Form (link below) and Jenine will get back to you. Your question may even be featured in a future newsletter! Jenine may not have all the answers but, will connect you to resources like partner state agency staff who can guide you through processes to build your small business and grow your capability to ultimately qualify for state contracts.

The Oregon Department of Administrative Services is thrilled to announce the Oregon Small Business Summit! This is the first of 10 statewide summits designed to connect small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs with the tools and resources they need to thrive.

What to Expect:

• Get expert Insights on starting, growing, and strengthening your business.
• Collaborate with local, state and federal partners.
• Find information on technical assistance, small business programs and state contracting opportunities.

Whether you’re just starting your business or looking to expand, this summit is the perfect chance to connect with fellow entrepreneurs and discover available resources.  Additionally, four Oregon Construction Contractor’s Board (CCB) continuing education credits will be offered to attendees. Registration is free, but space is limited. 

Event Details:

• Date: Wednesday, February 19, 2025
• Time: 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
• Location: Umpqua Small Business Development Center at 522 SE Washington Ave, Roseburg, OR 97470
• Cost: Free (Registration required)
• Includes: Refreshments, presentations, lunch and workshops

For more information about Roseburg and the other summits click the button below or visit the OPE website outreach page.

Years ago, I was introduced to the book Savage Inequalities by Jonathan Kozol. This book prompted one of the most important journeys of my life: living and teaching in East St. Louis, Illinois, and later teaching in St. Louis, Missouri. There I taught Advanced Placement (AP) Physics and AP Statistics at KIPP St. Louis High School, a public charter school focused on serving students from communities that are often overlooked.

Savage Inequalities examines the historical factors that have led to unequal educational opportunities in the United States. The issues Kozol observed in East St. Louis in the late 1980s included government structures and barriers, funding mechanisms, cultural changes, social movements, generational wealth disparities, biases, both overt and unconscious discrimination, and the simplistic nature of proposed solutions all contributing to inequity. I first arrived in East St. Louis near the end of the pandemic, initially working in Ferguson, Missouri, where I taught calculus (very poorly, by the way) and AP Statistics at McCluer High School. From there, I transitioned to a middle school and eventually to KIPP St. Louis High School.

All of these schools shared one commonality: they were home to some of the most exceptional students I have ever taught. Most, if not all, of my students were either planning to attend college or had already been accepted into the colleges of their choice. These students came from some of the toughest neighborhoods I have ever encountered—places that the internet often warns you against visiting due to safety concerns and other factors that oversimplify reality. The truth about East St. Louis is that it is beautiful and full of love, with people striving toward their goals, starting businesses and working to make their lives and their families a success.

Understanding the history of East St. Louis and how it differs from St. Louis was one of the key lessons that prepared me for my current work at the Office of Procurement Equity. When we engage with communities in Oregon, we do so with the intent to learn and to be informed by local experiences. We are open to understanding the unique challenges that businesses in those communities face.

In the coming months, we will be reaching out to the community through small-business summits, collaborating with our partners to restructure various outreach activities, and conducting listening sessions to better understand the barriers that small businesses continuously encounter.

Reflecting on my experiences in East St. Louis, I am reminded of the importance of approaching challenges with curiosity and compassion. The lessons I learned from my students and their communities remain at the heart of my work, driving me to create equitable opportunities for all.

Sincerly,

Prof Chris

Solicitation

While "solicitation" is not defined in Oregon Revised Statute § 279B.050, where it is first mentioned in the procurement sense, it is further expanded upon in Oregon Administrative Rule §125-246-0110.

Solicitation means: 

(a) A request by an Authorized Agency for the purpose of soliciting Offers. This request may take the form of an Invitation for Bid, a Request for Proposal, a Request for Quotation, a Request for Qualifications or a similar document; or 

(b) The process of notifying prospective Offerors that the Authorized Agency requests such Offers; or 

(c) The Solicitation Document itself.