RLA Sole Source Justification.pdf

Sole-Source Justification No. S-16500-00014564 Pilot Project for “Risk Limiting Audit (RLA)” VotingWorks

Date of Request: 7/29/2025

Contractor Name: VotingWorks Time Period Requested: From: September 1, 2025 To: March 31, 2026

Total Estimated Cost: $43,125.00

Supplies and/or Services to be Acquired:

VotingWorks/ARLO will:

• Provide access for Oregon Secretary of State (SOS) and select Oregon counties to use ARLO Risk Limiting Audit (RLA) Software hosted by VotingWorks to perform pilot elections RLA’s of election results.

• Partner with SOS and Multnomah County to perform a special audit of Ranked Choice Voting results.

• Provide remote and onsite training before and during the RLA pilot.

• Perform each RLA with the other select counties (Baker, Harney, Yamhill, Lane, Washington) while providing remote and onsite support

• Assist SOS in updating State of Oregon Election RLA rules by providing subject matter expertise and best practices.

Request Approve request to execute a sole-source contract with VotingWorks for contract services. This sole source is requested under the authority of ORS 279B.075 and OAR 137-047-0275.

Background

With the implementation of new election methods in Oregon, such as Ranked Choice Voting, and in support of our ongoing effort to provide election transparency and instill voter confidence, Secretary of State (SOS) plan to pursue a pilot of RLA. RLA’s can identify ballot inconsistencies if they exist, which allows SOS Elections Divisions the ability to identify and resolve issues. The outcome of this pilot will help determine if ARLO RLA Software will be a viable election result auditing solution moving forward.

Market Research Overall Finding:

The determination that RLA Audit software is only available from VotingWorks/ARLO is the result of months of online research, inquiries to various national and state-level Elections agencies, and collaboration with other states using RLA systems.

There were two primary options taken into consideration.

Docusign Envelope ID: 40194B06-AE01-4858-BFE3-70D660937136

1. CORLA – On-premises open-source RLA software created for Colorado (this was not a viable solution due to customization that would be required by Oregon Secretary of State.

2. Voting Works ARLO – Cloud hosted online SaaS provided commercially via https://www.voting.works/ (the desired option)

Assessment:

• An on-premises solution would require time from internal application development staff who are already engaged in work on other SOS projects. Due to the lack of internal development resources and election application subject matter expertise, this was not a viable solution.

• SOS’s current IT infrastructure is not designed to support on-premises RLA software options and their related databases. Implementing an on-premises solution consistent with security would require significant resources that are beyond our internal capacity or expertise.

Justification

(ORS 279B.075 provides examples of findings that should be addressed. The PCO should select and prepare the determination as it specifically relates to the goods or services being procured.

More than one finding can be addressed. The findings are as follows):

Pursuant to ORS 279B.075 (2)(a): Provide findings supporting your determination that the efficient utilization of existing goods requires the acquisition of compatible goods or services from only one source.

Pursuant to ORS 279B.075 (2)(b): Provide findings supporting your determination that the goods or services required for the exchange of software or data with other public or private agencies are available from only one source.

The determination is the result of failing to identify comparable commercially available alternative products after months of online research, inquiries to various national and state-level Elections agencies, and collaboration with other states using RLA systems.

Pursuant to ORS 279B.075 (2)(c): Provide findings supporting your determination that the goods or services are for use in a pilot or an experimental project.

For the purposes of this contract, the VotingWorks/ARLO RLA software will be used by the counties in a pilot program with limited duration. The outcome of the pilot RLA will inform SOS Elections Division’s next steps for auditing election results.

OR

Pursuant to ORS 279B.075 (2)(d): Any other findings that support the conclusion that the goods or services are available from only one source.

https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.voting.works%2F&data=05%7C02%7CTim.ESAU%40SOS.oregon.gov%7C1e45bf59974d4f0b028308ddba4cd332%7Caa3f6932fa7c47b4a0cea598cad161cf%7C0%7C0%7C638871561294441463%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=bDNTbT9tDz3F1JR08wRBZJ6kw2DtL%2B6DeSMNksBuTcc%3D&reserved=0

The conclusion that the solution requested is the sole source for the services required is the result of months of research, inquiries to various national and state-level Elections agencies, and collaboration with other states using RLA systems.

Risk Limiting Audits.org Congress.gov Risk Limiting Audits Verified Voting RLA National Conference of Risk Limiting Audits

NIST

CORLA

Virginia Elections RLA

Public Notice Information:

Release Date: 8/12/2025 3:00 PM Close Date: 8/19/2026 3:00 PM

Approval Signature: _____________________________________________________ Chief Procurement Officer Date:

Michael A. Williams 8/12/2025 https://risklimitingaudits.org/ https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/IF/PDF/IF11873/IF11873.4.pdf https://verifiedvoting.org/audits/whatisrla/ https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=45cbee2c5793157ca9fd304e8a4962b13656b5291393a92fe172f9bf7cc6d94eJmltdHM9MTc1NDUyNDgwMA&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=4&fclid=1f556d74-1276-6bff-03be-7b3513b16a91&psq=elections+risk+limiting+audit+system&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubmNzbC5vcmcvZWxlY3Rpb25zLWFuZC1jYW1wYWlnbnMvcmlzay1saW1pdGluZy1hdWRpdHM&ntb=1 https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=e57eaa7beb52c78a7cef4a66b69ac3b6132e5cb014f046b9f3ea8ec066e8bd88JmltdHM9MTc1NDUyNDgwMA&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=4&fclid=1f556d74-1276-6bff-03be-7b3513b16a91&psq=elections+risk+limiting+audit+system&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubmlzdC5nb3YvZG9jdW1lbnQvZ2VudGxlLWludHJvZHVjdGlvbi1yaXNrLWxpbWl0aW5nLWF1ZGl0cw&ntb=1 https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/RLA/faqs.html https://www.elections.virginia.gov/media/formswarehouse/risk-limiting-audit/2025_RLA_Manual_FINAL_en.pdf