Wildfire Response and Recovery/COVID-19 Information and Resources

Wildfire Response and Recovery Information

The 2020 Labor Day weekend wildfires affected so much of our lives including our transportation system. Most people know that roads close due to flames and smoke when fires are in the immediate area, but many people may not know that debris such as downed trees can create hazards long after the fire is out. The State of Oregon is working with federal, state and local partners to safely address ash and debris from the 2020 Oregon wildfires. Removing fire debris is a three-step cleanup process.

• Step 1 - clearing properties of household hazardous waste to minimize exposure of hazardous materials to the public.
• Step 2 – removal of hazard trees.
• Step 3 - removal of ash and debris.

Currently, prime contracts to remove hazard trees, ash, and debris are in place and subcontractor opportunities are available directly with those primes. Please contact Katie Kroenlein Hubler to be added to the interested contractor list, which gets updated to the prime contractors every week. ODOT will also send out direct contact and registration information for subcontracting with the primes to interested local firms.

For more information on ODOT’s wildfire response and recovery efforts, visit our Wildfire web page 

COVID-19 Information and Resources

The COVID-19 outbreak has created uncertainty for Oregonians and Oregon businesses. The Office of Civil Rights wants businesses to know that we are here for them in this difficult time and there are resources available to provide assistance to businesses that are impacted by the unprecedented outbreak.

• ODOT contracting bidding and awarding services are still available during this time.
• Existing ODOT A&E and construction contracts are continuing to move forward as scheduled. If issues come up, these will be handled on a case-by-case basis with the project’s contract administrator.
• ODOT Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) projects will continue in accordance with the respective project’s contract along with the guidance provided by Governor Brown’s Executive Order 20-12.

Business Oregon Financial Programs

Business Oregon is the state's economic development agency and operates several direct loan and loan guarantee programs for small businesses:

Oregon Business Development Fund

The Oregon Business Development Fund (OBDF) is a revolving loan fund that provides term fixed-rate financing for land, buildings, equipment, machinery and permanent working capital. Participants must create or retain jobs and must typically be a traded-sector business in manufacturing, processing or distribution. The program gives preference to projects located in rural and distressed areas and to small businesses with fewer than 100 employees. » More information is available here.

Entrepreneurial Development Loan Fund

The Entrepreneurial Development Loan Fund (EDLF) provides direct loans to help start-ups, micro-enterprises and small businesses expand or become established in Oregon. This fund fills a niche not provided through traditional lending markets. More information is available here.

For more on Business Oregon’s Financial Assistance programs and other state and federal resources and financial assistance programs that are available, visit their Small Business Navigator here.

OUTREACH & SPONSORSHIPS RECAPS

On December 16th, ODOT sponsored the National Association of Minority Contractors of Oregon (NAMC)’s holiday event and listening session, which focused on ending racism in the construction industry. Over 400 attendees tuned in to the listening session. A panel of industry leaders led the discussion and important issues were covered, including diversity, inclusion, equity, and the importance of eliminating racism and discrimination. The listening session marked the first time in the city of Portland’s history that the construction industry convened as a whole to address these important issues. A recording of the listening session can be found HERE.

Virtual Doing Business with ODOT

in Region 1 Workshop

Last fall, ODOT hosted a full day virtual workshop that covered “Doing Business with ODOT” in the Portland area. ODOT personnel presented in sessions that provided an overview of ODOT’s Procurement Office (price agreements, procurement documentation and submittal process, direct/intermediate/formal contract processes, risk management considerations for ODOT projects, bid and award information, and personal service contracts), ODOT’s construction project cycle, Region 1 and the Urban Mobility Office’s current and upcoming project highlights and opportunities, Small and Disadvantaged Business Opportunities with ODOT’s Office of Civil Rights, and Understanding COBID certifications with COBID staff.

More than 80 participants joined the workshop. ODOT plans on implementing additional workshops that will apply to the other areas of the state. A recording of the workshop and PDF copies of all presentations are available HERE.

ODOT SPONSORED EVENTS & TRAINING

New Online Training for ADA Curb Ramp Certification

Registration will be available on February 1, 2021, for training online through iLearn.

ADA Curb Ramp Certification is required for anyone who would like to become certified as a Certified ADA Inspector or Certified ADA Contractor. The self-guided online certification training covers the use of the ADA curb ramp inspection forms, the use of tools, best inspection practice, and measurement guidance. It also covers when to submit the forms and where to send them. This self-guided online course will provide a one-year ADA curb ramp certification. The certification course is the same for inspectors and contractors, and will provide certification for one-year from the date of completion.

» Learn More

» Click here for additional information about ODOT Inspector Certifications

Online Construction Contract Civil Rights and Labor Compliance Training

Access the training on your schedule.

Who should participate?

Prime and sub-contractors, consultants, and ODOT personnel that interact with or are interested in learning more about the programs listed below are welcome to join any of these events.

Brush up on your contract compliance skills.

All sessions will provide insight into ODOT/FHWA Civil Rights Programs, ODOT/BOLI Labor Compliance Programs, TERO, OJT/Apprenticeships, DocExpress, and more.

Whether you're interested in more information about daily record keeping, monthly reporting, or anything from notice to proceed to final note - we will talk about what needs to be done, and more importantly, why these steps are necessary.

Register via iLearn    You must create an iLearn account to access this training. Select iLearn Support from the homepage if you need assistance creating an account. This training has been divided into modules. Take each module one at a time or all at once. It's up to you. Train when and how you like. Simply sign into iLearn when you are ready to start learning and select any module to begin.  If you have any questions or need assistance, contact us at OCRInfoRequest@odot.state.or.us

SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Corpac Construction

Corpac Construction Builds

a Legacy of Excellence

Trisha Cauthorn, President of Corpac Construction Co., a highway and heavy construction contractor, founded her business to carry on the legacy of the construction industry modeled for her by her father. She founded Corpac almost nine years ago, intending to become a leading heavy civil construction contractor. The company now has anywhere from 20-30 employees depending on the season and works with clients such as the City of Salem, the City of Portland, Washington County, and ODOT. They recently worked with ODOT and the City of Cascade Locks on the ADA enhancements for WaNaPa Street, the main thoroughfare through the city.

In the past, Trisha and her team worked as a subcontractor on the Sandy River Bridge Project, DJC’s Top Project of the Year Winner 2015. On this project, they built the freeway ingress and egress and managed a large detour during traffic switches that the prime contractor, Hamilton Construction, needed to utilize to build the bridge.

Corpac Construction was just selected as the prime contractor for the Lombard Multimodal Safety Project— securing projects like this as a prime has been Trisha's goal since founding Corpac in 2012. She has aligned all of her decisions for the company to meet this goal. When asked what advice she could share with those also aiming to be prime contractors, she said, "There are a bunch of things that you need to work on over the years. Some have a focus on prime contracts, and some people don't. You have to decide what you want to do. It's a multistep process. It's about having the administrative capability and the resources, and the financial capability."

The Pursuit of Excellence

Not every contractor starts out wanting to pursue excellence in the way Trisha has. The business's core values are safety first, family, passion in leadership, and workmanship integrity. Baked into those values is a pursuit of excellence. Trisha shares, "I believe [excellence] is a practice. It's not somewhere you arrive at any one time. It's always rolling out in front of you." She recollects that when the company was young, every interaction was an opportunity to create a positive reputation. "So much of this industry is relationship-based…We can shape how we interact with the world and decide what impact we impart to it." By asking her team every day if they've made their level best effort in every interaction, Trisha's team has been able to build the kind of reputation that brings business in the door.

"I believe [excellence] is a practice. It's not somewhere you arrive at any one time.

It's always rolling out in front of you."

Trisha also emphasized the importance of having your business in order. From the get-go, Trisha went out of her way to find good CPAs and financial advisors and attributes the foundation of her success to those early decisions. "I couldn't stress well enough the importance of finding an excellent set of CPAs and financial advisors," she said.

But it hasn't always been smooth sailing for Corpac, and Trisha has learned valuable lessons along the way. A while back, Trisha recollects that the business went through a bit of a rough patch, and she had to take her foot off the gas pedal to strategize and improve her business' processes. She shared that, "Growing too fast is often more of a problem than not growing at all." By slowing down and thinking outside of the box, Corpac was able to grow at a sustainable place and are continually improving their business processes.

Serving as a Bridge

Trisha is a second-generation contractor and finds herself a rare breed in the industry because she is both young and a woman. It's the people in the construction industry, people like her father, who inspired her to found Corpac Construction. She recalls, "The people in this industry were a huge driving force behind my choices then and even what I do now. I've had so many great mentors. I've watched them over the years, and their leadership was a grand life lesson, but many of the people I've known since I was a child are retiring, and the face of the industry is changing. It's my role and obligation to honor their legacy."

Trisha envisions Corpac as a bridge between that legacy and what the future holds. "We need younger people to step into this space who know about the generation before and can start to mentor and role model the next generation."

PARTNER NEWS

OregonBuys Registration is Open!

Hello ODOT vendors and suppliers!

We are reaching out to encourage you to register in OregonBuys soon. The e-purchasing system, developed by Periscope Holdings, Inc (PHI), will go live soon and we want to make sure all in our business communities have continued opportunity to work on state-funded projects.

To register, visit the OregonBuys webpage and you will be taken through the process in a step-by-step instruction. Additionally:

• See the ODOT OregonBuys newsletter for additional information and registration help.
• To get the latest updates on the system, sign up for the DAS newsletter visit the ORBuys webpage.
• For registration assistance, contact the ORBuys Vendor Support Desk or call 1-855-800-5046.

CERTIFIED FIRMS

Welcome Newly COBID Certified Firms!

Firms certified 11/1/2020 – 1/1/2021

This data is provided to ODOT’s Office of Civil Rights by COBID. 

Search by business name and/or vendor ID in COBID’s certified vendor directory to obtain additional details and contact information for any of the newly certified firms. The COBID certified vendor directory is available here.

View newly certified COBID firms

BID OPPORTUNITIES

ODOT’s open bidding opportunities are listed through ORPIN or EBids. To get registered to bid through ORPIN, go to http://orpin.oregon.gov/open.dll/ from the main page, click on Supplier Registration and follow the prompts.  Once you are registered, you can browse by Organization to pull up all of ODOT’s listings. Check back every few days for new opportunities to bid on. It’s that easy! Get Registered for EBids OregonBuys is a new web-based eProcurement system that will automate the state’s eProcurement process and will soon replace ORPIN. ODOT is still using ORPIN for the time being, but registration is open for OregonBuys. In preparation for the change from ORPIN to OregonBuys, you can register for the OregonBuys system here: https://oregonbuys.gov/bso/

Current Bids on ORPIN

BID: 730-34652-21  Closing Date: 03/02/2021 2:00 PM
Title: The Dalles Salt Shed

BID: 730-34520-21  Closing Date: 03/10/2021 2:00 PM
Title: Disparity Study

BID: 730-34626-21  Closing Date:03/15/2021 2:00 PM
Title: West Coast Electric Highway

BID: 730-B34817-17  Closing Date: 12/31/2022 11:59 PM
Title: Trip Permit Agent Agreement

BID: 730-33638CTS-20  Closing Date: 12/31/2020 4:00 PM
Title: ODOT Class 7 and 8 Truck Body Repairs - Ongoing Request for Apps

BID: 730-25905ONGOING-14  Closing Date: 12/31/2023 5:00 PM
Title: Hot Mixed ASphalt Concrete and Tack Coats

BID: 730-SCP091A-15  Closing Date: 4/11/2025 4:00 PM
Title: Request for Qualified Firms: ODOT Small Contracting Program

BID: 730-15801-20  Closing Date: 07/15/2025 5:00 PM
Title: RFQ for Right of Way Appraisal Services

BID: 730-SP1116-19  Closing Date: 05/31/2029 2:00 PM
Title: Employer Based CDL Testing for Transit Providers

OCR PROGRAMS

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)

In order to be part of the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program, your firm must be certified as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise. Disadvantaged Business Enterprises include small businesses that are at least 51% owned by Minorities (Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asian-Pacific Americans, Subcontinent Asian Americans, and Women) Other individuals on a case-by-case basis.

Learn More

Emerging Small Business (ESB)

The Emerging Small Business Program creates contract opportunities for Oregon’s small businesses. The program also helps remove some of the barriers which prevent small businesses from contracting with ODOT. The ESB program objectives are to: 

• ​Ensure ODOT is following Oregon laws and requirements.
• Assist and encourage other state and local agencies to have Emerging Small Business programs.
• Ensure that opportunities are available statewide to a diverse pool of businesses.
• Ensure that Emerging Small Businesses can compete fairly for ODOT funded projects.
• Ensure that only eligible firms can participate in the Emerging Small Business program.
• Help develop firms so that they can compete outside of the Emerging Small Business program. 

Learn More

Title VI 

ODOT complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and other federal nondiscrimination statutes which prohibit discrimination based on race, color, national origin, age, disability or gender in ODOT’s programs, activities, services, operations, delivery of benefits or opportunities to participate. 

In an effort to provide equitable access, ODOT provides accessibility aids, translation and interpretation services for public ODOT events and vital documents upon request. The public can get these services by providing reasonable advanced notice, at no charge to the individual.

Request a Program List

Intermodal Civil Rights

The Intermodal Civil Rights Program makes sure that public transportation and passenger rail programs comply with civil rights laws and executive orders that prevent discrimination in programs that receive federal money. The Intermodal Civil Rights Program works with other programs in the Office of Civil Rights to keep ODOT following civil rights laws and policies. Learn about our program objectives. 

Learn More 

Equal Employment Opportunity Contractor Compliance 

The Oregon Department of Transportation is committed to equal opportunity in hiring and awarding contracts. ODOT promotes equal opportunity within its own workforce and with the workforce of contracted employers who provide services for the agency.

Find Out More  

Workforce Development 

ODOT is training future highway workers that will fill vacancies in the construction industry. By partnering with local nonprofits and Pre-Apprenticeship Programs, we’re poised to meet today current demands. Get a list of programs ready to work with you.

Get the List  

OCR’s Equity Line E-Newsletter Sign Up

ODOT Mission Statement |  We provide a safe and reliable multimodal transportation system that connects people and helps Oregon’s communities and economy thrive. 

ODOT is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer.  The content in this email is available by alternate means.  Please contact our office at (503) 986-4350, or call statewide relay at 711 or via email at OCRINFOREQUEST@odot.state.or.us for assistance.

Oregon Department of Transportation Office of Civil Rights - MS 23 3930 Fairview Industrial Dr SE, Salem, OR  97302 Phone: 503-986-4350 OCRINFOREQUEST@odot.state.or.us www.oregon.gov/ODOT/Business/OCR