C2026105_IPUC_RFP_Addendum01.pdf

775 Summer St. NE, Ste. 300 • Salem, OR 97301 • 503–986–0123 • fax 503 5815115 • biz.oregon.gov

Date: 04 02 2026

To: Potential Proposers

From: Nengi Diriyai, Procurement and Contract Specialist

Oregon Business Development Department Oregon

Addendum 01 to Request for Proposals:

Innovation Plan Update Consultant RFP

OBDD RFP no. C2026105 OregonBuys no. S-12300-00016313

The Oregon Business Development Department received questions prior to the RFP deadline for official questions. These questions and responses are incorporated into the RFP as appropriate by their nature. Thank you to all who asked for clarifications, and for your continued interest.

1. Is Attachment G (10-Year Innovation Plan) the only background document, or will additional Oregon InC reports, audit committee findings, and Oregon Innovation Index data be made available to the successful proposer?

Response: The Oregon Innovation Index is available on Business Oregon’s website here (https://www.oregon.gov/biz/reports/Pages/innovation.aspx).

Oregon InC meeting materials are available on Business Oregon’s website here (https://www.oregon.gov/biz/aboutus/boards/oregoninc/Pages/schedule.aspx). Audit Committee reports will be provided to the successful Proposer, if needed.

2. Is there an incumbent consultant associated with the original 2021 Plan?

Response: TEConomy Partners, LLC facilitated and coordinated the original Innovation Plan process.

3. Will OBDD facilitate introductions to Oregon InC members and key stakeholders, or is stakeholder identification the sole responsibility of the proposer?

Response: Yes, OBDD will facilitate introductions to Oregon InC members and key stakeholders, but additional stakeholder identification may be recommended by the successful Proposer, if needed.

https://www.oregon.gov/biz/reports/Pages/innovation.aspx https://www.oregon.gov/biz/reports/Pages/innovation.aspx https://www.oregon.gov/biz/aboutus/boards/oregoninc/Pages/schedule.aspx

4. Does COBID certification as a woman-owned small business confer any preference under this solicitation?

Response: No. At this time, it does not.

5. Are travel costs within Oregon expected as part of this engagement, and if so, will OBDD reimburse at state rates or should costs be embedded in the fixed-price proposal?

Response: It is up to the Proposer whether or not travel costs are included in their proposal. If they are, they should be embedded in the fixed-price proposal

6. Form D (question 2 on that form) asks for a list of certified firms we have worked with in the past two years, and question 3 asks for other specific firms we have worked with. Does this only pertain to Oregon projects, or nationwide subcontractors we have worked with?

Response: Proposer may include firms outside of Oregon.

7. Since the release of the 2021 plan, what key outcomes or milestones have been achieved across the four strategic pillars?

Response: We have launched at least one program/initiative in each of the four strategies. Outcomes of those programs are included in Oregon InC meeting materials which can be accessed here (https://www.oregon.gov/biz/aboutus/boards/oregoninc/Pages/schedule.aspx).

8. Which of the original strategies or programs (e.g., Innovation Hubs, Centers of Excellence) have seen the most traction, and which have underperformed?

Response: The selected consultant, in coordination with Business Oregon, will be responsible for conducting the necessary analysis that addresses this question.

9. Has the agency internally identified any areas of the plan that may no longer be relevant or need rethinking?

10. How has Oregon’s innovation ecosystem evolved post-2021, particularly in response to:

a. AI and automation

b. Remote/distributed workforce models

c. Changes in venture capital and funding access

11. Are there specific industries or sectors that have emerged as priority areas since the original plan?

Response: We selected Centers of Innovation Excellence (CIEs) that focus on five key industry sectors for the past two biennia. Going forward, we are open to other priority areas as either CIEs or the focus in other programs.

(https://www.oregon.gov/biz/programs/Centers_of_Innovation_Excellence/Pages/defa ult.aspx)

12. Which stakeholder groups are most critical for this update (e.g., startups, universities, investors, rural communities)?

Response: The Oregon Innovation Council is the overarching critical stakeholder for this effort. Specific stakeholder groups will vary in importance depending on the strategy. While all groups listed are relevant to the overall update, prioritization of stakeholder engagement will be determined collaboratively between the agency and the selected consultant at project initiation.

13. Has there been any prior stakeholder feedback collected since 2021 that we should review before initiating new engagement?

Response: No, there has not been formal stakeholder feedback related to the 10-Year Innovation Plan collected since 2021.

14. What level of involvement is expected from Oregon InC during the engagement process?

Response: Oregon InC will inform the development of the 10-Year Innovation Plan update throughout the process by reviewing information gathered from the consultant, providing input and feedback, and providing guidance on the final update document.

https://www.oregon.gov/biz/programs/Centers_of_Innovation_Excellence/Pages/default.aspx https://www.oregon.gov/biz/programs/Centers_of_Innovation_Excellence/Pages/default.aspx

15. What data sources are currently being used to track innovation performance (e.g., Innovation Index)?

Response: Data sources for the Innovation Index are included in the document. The primary data sources for innovation programs are from project reports and stakeholders.

16. Are there any gaps or limitations in the current data that the agency is already aware of?

Response: No response at this time.

17. How is success currently measured, and are those metrics still considered effective?

Response: Success is currently measured differently across individual programs. A key objective of the Plan Update is to take a broader look at how the Plan is implemented and how its metrics function overall, not just program by program.

18. Are there specific peer states or regions the agency would like us to benchmark against?

Response: The selection of peer states will be determined collaboratively by Business Oregon and the selected consultant. In general, peer regions will be chosen based on similarities in population size, economic composition and strengths, and/or levels of investment in innovation-based economic development.

19. Has any benchmarking work already been conducted since the plan was released?

Response: No.

20. What challenges have been faced in implementing the original plan?

Response: Insufficient innovation funding and staff capacity.

21. Are there budgetary, policy, or operational constraints we should factor into the updated recommendations?

Response: The primary constraints relate to limited funding and staff capacity. These considerations will be discussed in detail with the selected consultant during project initiation and we expect they will be incorporated throughout the development of recommendations.

22. How actionable should the updated plan be (high-level strategy vs detailed execution roadmap)?

Response: We anticipate the updated plan will remain primarily high-level in nature.

However, for any proposed new programs or strategies, more detailed and actionable recommendations should be included as part of the Plan Update.

23. How is the agency currently thinking about integrating AI, automation, and digital transformation into Oregon’s innovation strategy?

Response: Please refer to the State Government Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council Final Recommended Action Plan.

(https://www.oregon.gov/eis/Documents/SG%20AI%20Final%20Recommended%20A ction%20Plan%2020250211.pdf)

24. Should the updated plan explicitly include emerging technology frameworks (AI, data ecosystems, etc.)?

Response: The inclusion of emerging technology frameworks will be determined through the consultant’s analysis and stakeholder engagement.

25. What would success look like for this engagement at the end of 6 months?

Response: An Updated 10-Year Innovation Plan that’s been agreed upon by key stakeholders and adopted by Oregon InC.

26. For the final deliverables, is the expectation more policy-oriented, execution-oriented, or a combination of both?

Response: The 10-Year Innovation Plan is a strategic plan for the creation and support of an innovation-based economy, so the expectation is that the Update maintains its strategic focus.

27. How will our response to Attachment D “COBID Certification/Outreach Plan” factor into the evaluation of the proposal?

Response: At this time, there is no Preference for Attachment D – COBID Certification/Outreach Plan

28. What is the state of the Oregon Futures Commission, and would we be able to contact them as part of the Evaluation and Stakeholder Engagement?

Response: The Futures Commission sunset in February 2021 as the 10-Year Innovation Plan was assumed by the Oregon Innovation Council. However, the Futures https://www.oregon.gov/eis/Documents/SG%20AI%20Final%20Recommended%20Action%20Plan%2020250211.pdf https://www.oregon.gov/eis/Documents/SG%20AI%20Final%20Recommended%20Action%20Plan%2020250211.pdf

Commission members are existing innovation stakeholders and/or current Oregon InC members and would be available as part of the Plan update process.

29. Solicitation has language that would be considered fixed price (deliverables-based) and other language that would be considered time & materials (not-to exceed amount at an hourly billing rate + indirect cost rates). Are you expecting a fixed price or time & materials quote? Can you confirm that the Contract Type language stated in the solicitation is the correct Contract Type and that any forthcoming contract resulting from award would include language that aligns with that contract?

Response: The sample contract provided in the solicitation is intended to show proposers the terms and conditions they can expect in any resulting contract.

Proposers may also indicate in their proposal, their preferred compensation method — whether fixed price or hourly rate. This information will help the Agency determine the most suitable contract structure moving forward.