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 July 2025
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Issued in 2022, Executive Order 22-15 calls on state agencies to make state purchasing more fair, inclusive and transparent.
As part of this work, we are excited to share the first iteration of the statewide Equity in Public Procurement dashboard.
The dashboard fulfills directive 4.b.ii of EO 22-15, which requires the creation of a dashboard on procurements awarded to Certification Office of Business Inclusion & Diversity (COBID)-certified businesses. It will also assist agencies in understanding how their COBID-awarded dollars compare to the 11% COBID award target set by DAS under the direction of the Governor’s Office.
Currently, the dashboard uses readily available OregonBuys data to show the types of businesses receiving state procurement dollars and highlights participation from COBID-certified firms. While the dashboard does not yet reflect dollars spent or SPOTS purchasing data, it serves as a starting point to help agencies better understand purchasing patterns and identify opportunities to advance equity.
We recognize that improving equitable outcomes is a process, and this tool is meant to support that journey. We hope to enhance the dashboard in future updates as we continue building a more inclusive procurement process together.
You can access the dashboard on the Procurement Equity Contracts Dashboard website.
Please email all questions and feedback to the Office of Procurement Equity at das.procurementequity@das.oregon.gov
You're Invited! Oregon Small Business Summits in Medford and Klamath Falls
We are excited to announce the final two stops in our statewide Oregon Small Business Summit series!
These events are designed to empower small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs with the tools, resources and connections they need to succeed.
As an attendee, you'll get:
- Expert-led insights on launching, growing and sustaining your business
- Opportunities to connect with local, state and federal resource partners
- Guidance on technical assistance programs, small business certifications and public contracting opportunities
- Four continuing education credits from the Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB)
Whether you’re just starting out or ready to scale, these summits offer a unique opportunity to network with peers and connect with subject matter experts—all under one roof.
Medford Event Details:
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Date: Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025
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Time: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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Location: RCC/SOU Higher Education Center – 101 S Bartlett St, Medford, OR 97501
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Cost: Free (Registration required)
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Includes: Refreshments, presentations, lunch and workshops
Please visit the Office of Procurement Equity Website to register for the event.
Klamath Falls Event Details:
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Date: Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025
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Time: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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Location: Klamath Community College, Building 7 - 7390 S 6th St, Klamath Falls, OR 97603
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Cost: Free (Registration required)
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Includes: Refreshments, presentations, lunch and workshops
Please visit the Office of Procurement Equity Website to register for the event.
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Join a Disparity Study Roadmap Workgroup!
Community Partners Welcome!
We invite you to participate in the committees and workgroups addressing the recommendations from the 2023 State of Oregon Disparity Study. Your expertise and insights can help drive meaningful change in Oregon’s procurement and economic equity strategies!
We are seeking individuals who have experience bidding on government work, utilizing subcontractors, or working in procurement, policy, business equity, or economic development. We value all perspectives from all industries that are passionate about advancing equitable business opportunities in Oregon.
Available Opportunities:
Advisory Committee: Quarterly Meetings
Subgroup 4: Subcontractor Data and Issues
Subgroup 5: Minimums and Goals
- Lead: Noelle Scott (noelle.scott@das.oregon.gov)
- Dates: August – November
- Scope: Setting minimum requirements and goals for procurement.
Subgroup 6: Insurance and Bonding
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The following is an actual question submitted to the 'Ask Jenine' form. Names have been changed for anonymity.
Hey Jenine,
I have a janitorial business and can't get a state contract.
What can I do?
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Specialize, Supplement, Subcontract.
It can be difficult to know where to go when your business provides a product or services currently provided through an existing State of Oregon program. One existing State of Oregon program is Oregon Forward.
The Oregon Forward Program is part of the “Buy Decision Priority.” The Oregon Forward Program is designed to empower individuals with disabilities through employment and assuring an expanded and constant market for products and services produced by qualified nonprofit agencies for individuals with disabilities. Oregon Forward Program contractors are nonprofit organizations and provide specialized vocational services for Oregon citizens with disabilities.
I encourage you to register with OregonBuys to receive notifications when a public agency solicits for janitorial services. Public agencies solicit for janitorial services when an Oregon Forward Program Contractor is not available or can’t fulfill the requirements of a contract.
Counties in Oregon that do not have Oregon Forward services might also be areas for you to market your services. You can search the Oregon Forward Program Procurement List to find contractors and their locations.
Some ideas for your janitorial business might include specialized cleaning tasks that generally fall outside the realm of what's typically considered standard janitorial work. Acquire any necessary certifications and training requirements (i.e., property services contractor license from DCBS required for janitorial and OSHA requirements for bloodborne pathogens). Examples could be homicide cleanup, biohazard cleanup, or even restoration cleaning (like fire or water damage).
Other ideas to supplement your service offerings might include technology cleanroom cleaning, high-rise window cleaning, industrial cleaning of machinery and manufacturing equipment, restoration cleaning (fire, water damage) or job site clean-up. Be creative by expanding your skill set!
Consider becoming a subcontractor for project work. Large construction or public improvement projects often hire subcontractors with specialized skill sets. As a private janitorial business, there are ways to broaden your business offerings. For example: HVAC servicing, janitorial vehicle maintenance/repair, raw material or product inputs, training or consulting, floor stripping/waxing or carpet extraction.
You can specialize, you can supplement, you can be a subcontractor.
-Jenine
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Disability Pride Month: Honoring Innovation, Equity and the ADA.
This July, we honor Disability Pride Month and the 35th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). On July 26, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed the ADA into law, marking a watershed moment in American civil rights. More than a policy, the ADA has been a catalyst for innovations that have improved quality of life for all of us.
From voice-activated remotes and screen readers to accessible public spaces and thoughtful design standards, the ripple effects of the ADA have reached beyond compliance. These tools, originally developed to ensure equity for individuals with disabilities, now serve many. This reflects a deeper truth: equity-based design uplifts everyone.
At the Office of Procurement Equity, we recognize that disability—whether visible or not—is part of the human experience. In celebrating this month, we also acknowledge the need to build more systems that work for more people, more of the time.
This month’s book recommendation is "Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness" by Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein. This seminal work explores the concept of "choice architecture," which refers to how the design of options can influence outcomes. While rooted in behavioral economics, the book also invites us to consider how thoughtful design—like that inspired by the ADA—can lead to better decisions, broader inclusion and stronger communities.
As artificial intelligence and emerging technologies evolve, the principles of the ADA remain relevant. Equity requires intention, inclusion demands design and progress depends on remembering who systems are built for.
To those living with disabilities, seen and unseen: we see you, we celebrate you, and we continue to work toward a procurement ecosystem where innovation, access and dignity are non-negotiable.
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'Strategic Sourcing'
Definition: Strategic sourcing is “a systematic, continuous improvement process that directs supply managers to assess, plan, manage and develop a supply base in line with an entity’s stated objectives” (National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, n.d.).
Strategic Sourcing is more than just a cost-saving tool. It is a value-oriented approach to procurement that aligns purchasing decisions with broader goals of equity, sustainability and public accountability. It embeds public priorities like supporting local economies and employing people with disabilities into the procurement planning process through programs like Buy America and the OregonForward Program.
For small businesses not included in the early stages of a buy decision, strategic sourcing can still create meaningful pathways to Oregon contract participation. Once the buy decision has been evaluated and the buyer moves to the open market, they continue to look for vendors who deliver value across the board on things like total life cycle cost, sustainability, innovation and local impact. Small and emerging businesses often shine here with flexible solutions, faster response times, environmentally conscious practices and personalized services. By leaning into these strengths, small businesses not only compete but thrive in a sourcing environment that rewards value, not just volume.
National Institute of Governmental Purchasing. (n.d.). "Strategic sourcing." In NIGP Dictionary of Procurement Terms, page 14 under "S."
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Oregon Small Business Summits
July 16, 2025 - Newport
Small Business Development Center, Oregon Coast Community College
400 SE College Way, Newport, OR 97366
Aug. 20, 2025 - Medford
SOU Small Business Development Center Medford
101 S Bartlett St, Medford, OR 97501
Aug. 21, 2025 - Klamath Falls
Klamath Community College Small Business Development Center
83 Main St, #200, Klamath Falls, OR 97601
Partner Events
OAME Coffee & Issues
July 25, 2025, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.
University of Oregon Portland Library and Learning Center, located at: 2800 NE Liberty St, Portland, OR 97211
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