S-10000-00017987 Sole Source.pdf

SOLE-SOURCE DETERMINATION MEMO

FOR SUPPLIES AND SERVICES

Date: September 28, 2026 Sole source number: S-10000-00017987 (6321)

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

Requestor: Angela Leet Agency/division: Oregon Department of Human Services, herein after referred to as “Agency” Program/office: Office of the Director Contract specialist: Louie Thomas

Agency Sole source rule: Sole source authority:

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

DAS Delegation 649-11, as amended

OHA OAR 137-047-0275 ORS 413.033

Estimated total contract value: $200,000

Description of goods or services: Economic research, fiscal and demographic analysis, data visualization, and legislative communications consulting services

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

Specialized Consultation Services.

In 2022, Agency conducted a competitive three-quote procurement and issued Contract 178280-0 to Economic Consultants Oregon, LTD, doing business as “ECONorthwest,” for economic stability and mobility research. ECONorthwest was selected as the Contractor based on their project approach and methodology, experience and expertise, availability and resource capacity, and cost. Through the resulting work, ECONorthwest analyzed Oregon economic and demographic conditions; reviewed ODHS programs, caseloads, spending, and policy context; and developed recommendations and presentation materials. This work gave ECONorthwest detailed, agency-specific knowledge of ODHS programs, budget structures, data sources, analytical assumptions, and the broader economic conditions affecting people served by ODHS.

Agency now seeks a related next-phase of work that builds on that foundation.

Under this Sole Source, ECONorthwest will develop a landscape-level analysis of the economic and demographic conditions driving demand for human services; map the roles of ODHS, other public systems, community-based organizations, nonprofits, and providers; explain ODHS budget and revenue streams and associated restrictions; and distinguish conditions ODHS can reasonably influence from pressures that require broader state policy responses. The analysis will also examine how human services investments flow to households, providers, and local economies; develop county-level estimates where reliable data support them;

incorporate existing and targeted community perspectives; and include a focused SNAP analysis if feasible.

By the end of December 2026, ECONorthwest will provide slide-ready maps, charts, and other visuals; statewide landscape slides for ODHS leadership; legislative budget talking points; county-level maps or profiles where feasible; priority program slides for Aging and People with Disabilities (APD), the Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS), and the Oregon Eligibility Partnership (OEP); and documentation of data sources, definitions, assumptions, and limitations. The work will begin with a scoping meeting and proceed through biweekly review of tangible interim products.

The primary products are intended for legislative budget presentations rather than a lengthy standalone report.

Agency is seeking a Sole-Source procurement because this assignment is a continuation and translation of the prior competitively procured work, and the compressed December deadline requires the contractor to use the existing analytical foundation immediately. Requiring a new contractor to reconstruct ECONorthwest’s ODHS-specific knowledge, validate prior assumptions, and recreate the underlying program and budget context would duplicate work already purchased by Agency, consume limited staff time, increase cost, and materially risk inconsistent analysis or failure to meet the legislative preparation schedule.

2. Prospective contractor/vendor:

Legal entity name: Economic Consultants Oregon, LTD DBA: ECONorthwest Address: 920 SW 6th Avenue Suite 1400, Portland, Oregon 97204 Contact person: Melissa Rowe

Phone: (503) 200-5093 Email: Econw@econw.com

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: Louie Thomas, Procurement and Contract Specialist Address: 500 Summer Street NE, Salem, Oregon 97301 Phone: (971) 283-4755 (email preferred) Fax: (503) 378-4324 Email: louie.thomas@odhs.oregon.gov

Agency reserves the right to purchase additional related services or extend current services if the complexity of the analysis or issues identified during the work require additional effort, subject to available authority and funding.

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)(d): Any other findings that support the conclusion that the goods or services are available from only one source.

Agency tested the market through RFQ 178280-0 and competitively selected ECONorthwest for closely related economic stability and mobility research based on approach, experience, capacity, and cost.

Through that work, ECONorthwest developed ODHS-specific knowledge of Agency programs and populations, program and spending data, analytical assumptions, economic and demographic context, and the narrative framework developed with Agency staff. The new assignment must connect directly to and expand that foundation while producing presentation-ready materials by December 2026.

ECONorthwest is the only vendor that possesses this combination of prior work and accumulated Agency knowledge.

A different vendor would need to repeat substantial discovery, data review, program mapping, and validation before beginning the requested analysis. That duplication would add cost, require significant ODHS staff time, risk inconsistent assumptions across related products, and jeopardize the December deadline.

ECONorthwest can begin with the existing foundation and is therefore the only source able to perform the required continuation within the schedule without duplicating work already purchased by Agency.

APPROVED:

By:

Signed by DPO electronically via OregonBuys Kirk N. Rhoades, DPO, Oregon Department of Human Services