| More About the Advocate's Office |
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Authority for the Advocate for Minority, Women and Emerging Small Business is established under ORS 200.025. The advocate is a member of the governor´s staff and is appointed by the governor. The advocate is responsible for advising the governor on activities and initiatives that promote the economic integration of minorities, women and emerging small businesses into the business sector; developing opportunities for certified firms by working with government agencies and the private sector to promote economic growth; preparing an annual report to the governor and Legislative Assembly on the status of minorities and women in the marketplace, accomplishments and resolution of issues of concern to minority and women´s enterprises and recommendations for executive and legislative actions.
Within the Advocate´s Office is the Oregon Opportunity Register and Clearinghouse (ORS 200.035). Managed by a program coordinator, the purpose of the Clearinghouse is to develop opportunities for certified firms by working with state agencies. The administration and management of the Oregon Opportunity Register and Clearinghouse involves in excess of $200,000,000 in annual purchases made by the State of Oregon; ensuring that Oregon´s minority, women and emerging small businesses receive information about the contracting opportunities with the state; monitoring state agencies' compliance to statutory requirements of notification to the advocate and the Clearinghouse of contracting opportunities in excess of $5,000 and managing the method and manner by which 75 state agencies with numerous contracting officers provide notification of contracts.
The Advocate and the Clearinghouse Program Coordinator are available to meet with groups of people who would like to hear more about the office.
Finding contracting opportunities with the state
The State of Oregon has an electronic purchasing system called the Oregon Procurement Information Network (ORPIN). This system enables state agencies to list their contracting opportunities electronically and allow you, the user, to access ORPIN by Internet connection 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
ORPIN can be reached through the Internet: orpin.oregon.gov
As of 1996, many state agencies advertise their contracting opportunities in excess of $5,000 (in compliance with ORS 200.035) on ORPIN. To find out more about this program,
call: (503) 378-3976 or visit the above web site.
For certification process for Minority, Women, and Emerging Small Businesses
The Office of Minority, Women, and Emerging Small Business (OMWESB) can help. OMWESB is housed within the Oregon Business Development Department. OMWESB is responsible for the certification for the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program; Minority and Women Business Enterprise (MBE/WBE) Program and the Emerging Small Business (ESB) program. For more information on the benefits of certification:
Call: (503) 986-0075
Fax: (503) 373-7041
Visit: OMWESB
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