(1)(a) An enterprise or business may apply to the Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity for certification as:

Terms Used In Oregon Statutes 200.055

  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • United States: includes territories, outlying possessions and the District of Columbia. See Oregon Statutes 174.100

(A) A disadvantaged business enterprise;

(B) A minority-owned business;

(C) A woman-owned business;

(D) A veteran-owned business; or

(E) An emerging small business.

(b) An enterprise or business shall submit a separate application for each category of certification the enterprise or business seeks under paragraph (a) of this subsection.

(c) If an enterprise or business qualifies under ORS § 200.005 to 200.075 and if the office approves an application from the enterprise or business, the office shall certify the enterprise or business under one or more of the categories described in paragraph (a) of this subsection.

(d) For purposes of awarding a public contract, a contracting agency shall recognize an enterprise or business with a certification from the office as the category of enterprise or business described in the certification and as having met the requirements set forth in ORS § 200.005 to 200.075. For purposes of awarding a subcontract in connection with a public contract, a contractor may recognize a subcontractor with a certification from the office as the category of enterprise or business described in the certification and as having met the requirements set forth in ORS § 200.005 to 200.075.

(2) In consultation with public universities listed in ORS § 352.002 and the Department of Transportation, and with the approval of the Governor’s Policy Advisor for Economic and Business Equity, the Oregon Business Development Department by rule shall adopt a uniform standard form and procedure to provide complete documentation of an enterprise’s or a business’ status as a disadvantaged business enterprise, a minority-owned business, a woman-owned business, a veteran-owned business or an emerging small business. The department shall compile and make available a list of enterprises and businesses that the Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity certifies under this section.

(3) If the Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity denies a certification as, or decertifies, a disadvantaged business enterprise, an affected business enterprise may appeal directly to the United States Department of Transportation.

(4) If the Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity denies, revokes or refuses to renew a business’s certification as a minority-owned business, a woman-owned business, a veteran-owned business or an emerging small business, the business may request a contested case hearing as provided in ORS Chapter 183.

(5) The Oregon Business Development Department, through the Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity, is the sole agency that may certify enterprises and businesses as disadvantaged business enterprises, minority-owned businesses, woman-owned businesses, veteran-owned businesses and emerging small businesses that are eligible to perform public contracts in this state.

(6) The Oregon Business Development Department by rule may establish a fee not to exceed $100 for a copy of the list described in subsection (2) of this section and may assess contracting agencies for services under ORS § 200.005 to 200.075.

(7) The Department of Transportation may collect a fee, not to exceed $200, from a bidder or proposer at the time the bidder or proposer prequalifies to perform public contracts to cover the costs of the Oregon Business Development Department in administering ORS § 200.005 to 200.075. The Department of Transportation shall transfer fees that the Department of Transportation collects under this subsection to the credit of the account established under subsection (8) of this section.

(8) The Oregon Business Development Department shall establish a special account in which to deposit fees and assessments. The special account is continuously appropriated to the Oregon Business Development Department to meet the Oregon Business Development Department’s expenses in administering ORS § 200.005 to 200.075. [1987 c.893 § 8; 1989 c.1043 § 4; 1993 c.500 § 8; 1997 c.145 § 3; 2003 c.794 § 216; 2009 c.830 § 137; 2015 c.148 § 1; 2015 c.565 § 5; 2015 c.767 § 61; 2023 c.497 § 5]

 

Section 4, chapter 127, Oregon Laws 2023, provides:

The Oregon Department of Administrative Services shall promote and apply a policy of diversity, equity and inclusion in public contracting by engaging in efforts to increase public contracting opportunities for businesses and enterprises that the Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity has certified under ORS § 200.055. The department shall undertake the following actions:

(1) Review and evaluate the recommendations of a statewide study of disparities in awarding public contracts;

(2) Develop a plan to implement the priority recommendations set forth in the study described in subsection (1) of this section;

(3) Implement the priority recommendations set forth in the study described in subsection (1) of this section; and

(4) Report to the Governor’s Policy Advisor for Economic and Business Equity concerning the department’s plan and implementation every six months until the earlier of the date on which the department has fully implemented the priority recommendations or June 30, 2025. The department shall submit the first report not later than 90 days after the completion of the study described in subsection (1) of this section. [2023 c.127 § 4]

 

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