137-049-0630 Findings, Notice and Hearing (1) Cost Savings and Other Substantial Benefits Factors. When Findings are required under ORS 279C.335 to exempt a Contract or class of Contracts from the competitive bidding requirements, the "substantial cost savings and other substantial benefits" criteria at 279C.335(2)(b) require consideration of the type, cost and amount of the Contract and, to the extent applicable, the other factors set forth in 279C.335(2)(b). If a particular factor has no application whatsoever to the particular Public Improvement Contract or class of Public Improvement Contracts, the Director of the Oregon Department of Administrative Services, the Director of Transportation or the local contract review board does not need to consider that factor, and the Contracting Agency is not required to address the factor, other than to explain why the factor has no application whatsoever to the particular Public Improvement Contract or class of Public Improvement Contracts.. (2) Required Information. The statutory definition of "Findings" at ORS 279C.330(2), which applies to exemptions from competitive bidding under ORS 279C.335, means the justification for a Contracting Agency or State Agency conclusion regarding the factors listed in both ORS 279C.335(2)(a) and 279C.335(2)(b) or, in the alternative, both 279C.335(2)(a) and 279C.335(2)(c). For an exemption granted by the Director of the Oregon Department of Administrative Services or the Director of Transportation under ORS 279C.350 by order, however, the order must also include the Findings listed in ORS 279C.330(1). (3) Addressing Cost Savings. Accordingly, when the Contract or class of Contracts under consideration for an exemption contemplates the use of Alternative Contracting Methods, the "substantial cost savings and other substantial benefits" requirement may be addressed by a combination of: (a) Specified Findings that address the factors and other information specifically identified by statute, including, but not limited to, an analysis or reasonable forecast of present and future cost savings and other substantial benefits; and (b) Additional Findings that address industry practices, surveys, trends, past experiences, evaluations of completed projects required by ORS 279C.355 and related information regarding the expected benefits and drawbacks of particular Alternative Contracting Methods. To the extent practicable, such Findings shall relate back to the specific characteristics of the project or projects at issue in the exemption request. (c) As an alternative to the "substantial cost savings and other substantial benefits" requirement in ORS 279C.335(2)(b), if an Alternative Contracting Method has not been previously used, the Contracting Agency or State Agency may make a Finding that identifies the project as a "pilot project" under ORS 279C.335(2)(c). Nevertheless, the Contracting Agency or State Agency must still make the Findings required in ORS 279C.335(2)(a). (4) Favoritism and Competition. The criteria at ORS 279C.335(2)(a) that the exemption "is unlikely to encourage favoritism" or "substantially diminish competition" may be addressed in contemplating the use of Alternative Contracting Methods by specifying the manner in which an RFP process will be utilized, that the Procurement will be formally advertised with public notice and disclosure of the planned Alternative Contracting Method, competition will be encouraged, Award made based upon identified selection criteria and an opportunity to protest that Award. (5) Descriptions. Findings supporting a competitive bidding exemption must describe with specificity any Alternative Contracting Method to be used in lieu of competitive bidding, including, but not limited to, whether a one-step (request for Proposals), two-step (beginning with a Request for Qualifications, followed by a request for Proposals) or other solicitation process will be utilized. The Findings may also describe anticipated characteristics or features of the resulting Public Improvement Contract. However, the purpose of an exemption from competitive bidding is limited to a determination of the Procurement method. Any unnecessary or incidental descriptions of the specific details of the anticipated Contract within the supporting Findings are not binding upon the Contracting Agency. The parameters of the Public Improvement Contract are those characteristics or specifics that are announced in the Solicitation Document. (6) Class Exemptions. In making the Findings supporting a class exemption the Contracting Agency shall clearly identify the “class” with respect to its defining characteristics, pursuant to the requirements of ORS 279C.335(3). The class must meet the following requirements: (a) The class cannot be based on a single characteristic or factor, so that an Agency directly or indirectly creates a class whereby the Agency uses, for example, the CM/GC Method for all Agency construction projects or all Agency construction projects over a particular dollar amount, unidentified future Agency construction projects of a particular work category, or all Agency construction projects from a particular funding source such as the sale of bonds; and (b) The class must include a combination of factors, be defined by the Agency through characteristics that reasonably relate to the exemption criteria set forth in ORS 279C.335(2) and must reflect a detailed evaluation of those characteristics so that the class is defined in a limited way that effectively meets the Agency’s objectives while allowing for impartial and open competition, and protecting the integrity of the exemption process. An example of a class that might be permitted under the statute is a series of projects, such as a specific group of building renovation projects, that (A) Involve renovations for a common purpose; (B) Require completion on a related schedule in order to avoid unnecessary disruption of Contracting Agency operations; (C) Share common characteristics, such as historic building considerations, the presence of asbestos or other hazardous substances, or the presence of agency staff during construction; (D) Otherwise possess characteristics that meet the requirements of ORS 279C.335(2); and (E) Otherwise meet the requirements of the Director of the Oregon Department of Administrative Services, the Director of Transportation or the local contract review board, as applicable. (7) Public Hearing. Before final adoption of Findings exempting a Public Improvement Contract or class of Contracts from the requirement of competitive bidding, a Contracting Agency or State Agency must provide public notice of the proposed exemption under ORS 279C.335(2), as required by ORS 279C.335(5). The notice must state that, in response to a written request, the Contracting Agency or State Agency will hold a public hearing for the purpose of taking comments on the draft Findings for an exemption from the competitive bidding requirement. The notice may include specific information about the date, time and location of the public hearing that may be held, or the Contracting Agency or State Agency may issue a secondary public notice with the date, time and location of the public hearing, after a written request for a public hearing is made. Any written request for a public hearing must be submitted to the Contracting Agency or State Agency within seven (7) calendar days of the publication date of the original public notice. If the Contracting Agency or State Agency does not receive a written request from an interested party to hold a public hearing, the Contracting Agency or State Agency may hold a public hearing, but is not required to hold a public hearing. The public hearing, if held, shall be for the purpose of receiving public comment on the Contracting Agency’s or State Agency's draft Findings. (8) Prior Review of Draft Findings. State Contracting Agencies shall submit draft Findings to their Contract Review Authority for review and concurrence prior to advertising any public hearing that is required by ORS 279C.335(5). State Contracting Agencies shall also submit draft Findings to the Department of Justice for review and comment prior to submitting the final form of the Findings to the Contract Review Authority and prior to advertising any public hearing that is required by ORS 279C.335(5). Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 279A.065 Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 279C.335 & 279A.065 History: DOJ 27-2023, amend filed 12/27/2023, effective 01/02/2024 DOJ 2-2015, f. & cert. ef. 2-3-15 Reverted to DOJ 19-2007, f. 12-28-07, cert. ef. 1-1-08 DOJ 10-2014(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 7-1-14 thru 12-26-14 DOJ 19-2007, f. 12-28-07, cert. ef. 1-1-08 DOJ 20-2005, f. 12-27-05, cert. ef. 1-1-06 DOJ 11-2004, f. 9-1-04, cert. ef. 3-1-05