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January/February 2024
ODOT’s Office of Equity and Civil Rights’ newsletter, Equity Line, brings to you the newest content relevant to your business and business needs. Whether you work in transportation-related fields, construction, or just drive Oregon’s roads and have an interest in what ODOT is doing for the Oregon economy, OECR’s Equity Line is a newsletter you will want to read.
 ODOT Launches Community Workforce Agreement Pilot to Diversify and Strengthen Private Sector Workforce
On September 23rd, the Oregon Transportation Commission approved a motion to allow the Department of Transportation to implement a Community Workforce Agreement Pilot Program. After more than a year of collaboration and development work, on December 6, 2023, Federal Highway Administration approved ODOT’s Community Workforce Agreement and the agency began administering the approved, executed CWA on the identified pilot projects.
These types of agreements are new to DOT’s and we’re embracing this opportunity to be a leader in the implementation of CWA’s on projects. The transportation system depends on the private industry and a private workforce to build our integrated multimodal system and these agreements provide additional benefits such as workforce requirements for apprenticeship utilization, workforce diversity, and prioritizing the hiring from residents who live in economically distressed areas.
We hope that these agreements allow us to be intentional in how we invest in the needs of the heavy highway construction industry by working to build the workforce pipeline. We also want to see that transportation investments are benefiting the communities in which these projects are located in.
If you’re a contractor and would like to learn more about these agreements, we invite you to visit our website.
A New Way of Doing Business:
e-Construction at ODOT
The Oregon Department of Transportation is moving to a "paperless" way of conducting construction projects to align with Federal Highway Administration initiatives and industry best practices.
The Construction section of the Oregon Department of Transportation is achieving what seemed impossible…the collection, review, approval, and distribution of highway construction contract documents in a paperless environment. We are conducting business to align with Federal Highway Administration initiatives and industry best practices.
Through the e-Construction program, we have increased the efficiency of our construction staff. We are streamlining communications with our internal and external partners through the automation of document processing using digital technology. There are 3 parts to this program:
- Document management system: Doc Express
- Mobile field tools
- Data management system: AASHTOWare Project (AWP)
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 AASHTOWare (AWP) & OregonBuys for Certified Local Public Agencies
If you are a Local or Certified Local Public Agency, you may be wondering how AASHTOWare applies to you.
The ODOT Local Agency Certification Program is a federally-authorized program that allows the state to certify Local Public Agencies, or LPAs, in federal-aid highway project delivery processes, ensuring that FHWA delivery and expenditure requirements are met.
When a local project is receiving state or federal funds through ODOT on a construction project, ODOT has required reporting to provide back to the State of Oregon and Federal government. ODOT has two new systems that work together to gather the required data: OregonBuys and AASHTOWare Project (AWP).
What is OregonBuys?
OregonBuys is a new web-based eProcurement system that automates the State of Oregon’s procurement process. All vendors doing business with the State of Oregon or that have a project with state and/or federal funds, will need to register in OregonBuys.
What is AASHTOWare?
OregonBuys provides contractor information to a system called AASHTOWare. The AASHTOWare Project (AWP) takes the contract data with other information gathered throughout the administration of a construction project and provides the required state and federal reporting for civil rights and construction projects in Oregon.
We are excited to have this modernization for those working on transportation projects throughout the state.
As we get closer to deployment of AWP, more information will be available for your company.
Questions? Email us.
Changes in the Office of Equity & Civil Rights
On November 28, Director Kris Strickler announced the departure of Assistant Director for Social Equity Erika McCalpine. “Erika has brought passion, energy and diligence to our agency-wide focus on diversity and equity, and her contributions will be missed,” Strickler highlighted in his announcement. He also reassured the agency that all the accomplishments Erika led in the Office of Equity & Civil Rights “don’t leave with her, as she has had a lasting effect on how we do business.” Recruitments to fill this critical role have already begun.
The Office of Equity & Civil Rights continues to progress on accomplishing work critical to those who do business with ODOT. Within the last several months, OECR has filled several critical roles, and we’re excited to have these new folks onboard and welcome them to the team!
David Morrisey was promoted from the Title VI program manager to the Equity Manager.
Brenda Gessner joined OECR from Commerce & Compliance as the new Title VI Program Manager.
Kate Dworak, who's new to ODOT, was hired as the Labor Equity Program Manager overseeing Community Workforce Agreement implementation.
Omar Alvarado, who’s also new to ODOT, was hired as a Small Business Programs Navigator.
Patrick Sanders joined OECR from DMV as team support.
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Projects Open for Bids
ITB - Alkali Lake New Employee Housing Duplex
BID: S-73000-00008431 Opening* Date: 01/03/2024 03:00PM
ProjectWise Contractor Price Agreement
BID: S-73000-00008812 Opening* Date: 01/09/2024 10:00AM
Toll Program Enrollment Marketing and Communications
BID: S-73000-00007888 Opening* Date: 01/25/2024 02:00PM
Wolf Mtn. Communication Site Build
BID: S-73000-00008156 Opening* Date: 02/27/2024 10:00AM
* Opening date refers to the date that bids are due for each project. All of these projects and more are
accepting bids.
ASK ODOT: Question? Comment? Concern?
Ask ODOT is your first point of contact for finding information, services or needing to resolve issues with ODOT. Staffed by experienced employees, Ask ODOT representatives answer questions on the spot or refer you to a broad range of contacts within the agency. Our goal is to provide a response within five business days. During times with high volumes of requests, we may need more time. We will respond in the order requests are received. Please note: Certain issues may need extended time for research or investigation such as those involving traffic signals, signage or lane configuration. We will contact you with the results of any investigation
ODOT's Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)
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