S-10000-00017850.pdf

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SOLE-SOURCE DETERMINATION MEMO

FOR SUPPLIES AND SERVICES

Date: August 28, 2026 Sole source number: S-10000-00017850 (6310)

To: Kirk N. Rhoades, Designated Procurement Officer ODHS Office of Contracts & Procurement

Requestor: Amy Shaddon Agency/division: Vocational Rehabilitation Services (“VR”) Program/office: VR Office of the Director Contract specialist: Russell Brammer

Agency Sole source rule: Sole source authority:

DHS OAR 125-247-0275 OAR 125-246-0170(2)

Estimated total contract value: $245,000.00

Description of goods or services:

Cornell University will provide data collection, analysis, and final evaluation and performance reports, closing out Oregon's Inclusive Career Advancement Program.

Oregon’s Inclusive Career Advancement Program (ICAP), a Career Advancement Initiative Model Demonstration Project (the “Project”) leverages Oregon’s current statewide success in utilizing career pathways for other populations, including integrated education and wraparound support, to advance educational and economic equity for people with disabilities, including those from marginalized populations. The Project interconnects the supports and services of 17 urban, suburban, and rural community colleges in Oregon, the VR program, and the state’s Self-Sufficiency programs. In addition, the Project collaborates with employers and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) partners.

1. Background: This sole source justification applies to the purchase of:

ODHS-VR received Grant Award Notification H421C210026 from the US Department of Education beginning 10/01/2021. 173438-0, State of Oregon Pass Through Grant Agreement with Cornell University was executed on 11/15/2021.

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173438-1 was executed as of 5/16/2023 to add language to the SOW only. This Pass-Through Grant Agreement is set to expire on 9/30/2026.

VR has now received an anticipated supplemental from DOE for the additional two year period to support the close-out activities of the Project, including data collection and analysis, and completion of the Project’s final evaluation report and final performance report. These close-out activities necessitate an increase in the yearly budget.

The intent has always been for VR to continue with the Project’s original Grantee through to its completion, and Program submitted the appropriate amendment request to OCP. Through no fault of the Grantee, it was determined by OCP that the Work as written into the original Grant Agreement did not fit the legal requirements of being “pass-through,” nor did it meet any granting requirements in general. The Work of the final two-year close-out period of the Project is now being correctly transitioned to a Personal Services Contract.

This sole source request seeks to continue the Work of the Grantee through the Project’s completion phase, to provide data collection, analysis, and to complete the grant’s final evaluation report and final performance report.

2. Prospective contractor/vendor:

Legal entity name: Cornell University, and its Office of Sponsored Programs DBA: 373 Pine Tree Road, Ithaca, New York 14850 Address: Wahiahawi (“Hawi”) Fitch Contact person: (607) 254-3115 Phone: wch46@cornell.edu Email: Cornell University, and its Office of Sponsored Programs

Protests are due by 3:00 PM within seven calendar days after the first date the notice is posted on OregonBuys. Protests must be sent via mail, fax, email, or hand carried to the following address: Protests via telephone will not be accepted.

Oregon Department of Human Services Office of Contracts and Procurement ATTN: Russell Brammer Address: 500 Summer Street NE E03, Salem, Oregon 97301

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Phone: 503-910-5020 (email preferred) Fax: 503-378-4324 Email: Russell.Brammer@odhsoha.oregon.gov

Agency reserves the right to purchase additional services based on the unanticipated needs of the Project’s final close-out activities.

3. Written findings of fact (market research):

The findings below must include factual information supporting the determination that meet the sole source requirement in statute.

Pursuant to ORS 279B.075, Agency must conduct market research that supports the assertion that there is only one source that can provide the goods or services. Market research includes utilization of the internet, trade journals, agency vendor lists, professional organizations, studies, catalogs/industrial periodicals, vendor sources, yellow pages, etc.

Agency must select at least one of the findings and prepare the determination as it specifically relates to the good or service being procured. More than one finding can be addressed. The findings are as follows:

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

Oregon’s Inclusive Career Advancement Program (“ICAP),” the project supported by the underlying federal grant, is a Career Advancement Initiative Model Demonstration Project that meets the priority requirement to provide access to existing career pathways in Oregon for VR clients.

The Project interconnects the supports and services of 17 urban, suburban, and rural community colleges in Oregon, VR, and ODHS’ Self-Sufficiency programs.

The Project leverages Oregon’s current statewide success in utilizing career pathways for other populations, including integrated education and wraparound support, to advance educational and economic equity for people with disabilities, including those from marginalized populations.

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.

Cornell University has already been a five-year partner with Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation for the Career Advancement Initiative Model Demonstration Projects.

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Because of this role, Cornell:

a. Already maintains the national evaluation design, data schema, and analytic framework for all participating states.

b. Is the only institution with direct access to the multi-state baseline data and the state required evaluation instruments, including already having a MOU in place between both parties.

c. Is responsible for providing the final evaluation report that integrates Oregon’s outcomes of this specific innovation grant.

Replacing Cornell would break the continuity of the national evaluation and violate the federal requirement for a unified, comparable dataset. At the point in the Project’s life-cycle, based on the accumulated knowledge and experience from the Projects inception in 2021, it’s both unreasonable – most likely impossible – and fiscally irresponsible for ODHS not to continue with the originating Vendor to provide the Project’s close-out activities.

APPROVED:

By:

Signed by DPO electronically via OregonBuys Kirk N. Rhoades or acting DPO