25/25-01 Jackson County SBDC Outreach Center Business Advising

Lane Community College is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Oregon Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network, seeking qualified independent contractors to provide business advising services in Jackson County, Oregon. The contract solicits professional business advisors to deliver comprehensive, no-cost consulting services to pre-venture and existing for-profit small businesses, focusing on areas including business formation, operational management, financial strategies, marketing, human resources, capital access, and strategic growth planning. Minimum qualifications require an Associate's degree in business-related fields (Bachelor's preferred) and at least five years of practical business experience as an owner, executive, or consultant. Proposers must submit responses by January 20, 2026, at 2:00 pm through the specified online platform. The contract timeline includes scope clarification requests due by February 6, 2026, question responses anticipated by February 13, 2026, potential interviews in March 2026, and a Notice of Intent to Award projected for April 1, 2026. Annual performance expectations include serving 250 unique advising clients, supporting 32 long-term advising engagements, facilitating $1,000,000 in capital formation, completing 14 capital formation transactions, creating 15 jobs, and establishing 6 new businesses.

The opportunity specifically targets independent contractors located in Southern Oregon, with preference given to candidates residing in Jackson County and those with prior SBDC program experience. Veterans, Minority, and Women-Owned Businesses are explicitly encouraged to participate in the procurement process. The contract is structured as an annual agreement with potential for up to three additional yearly renewals, offering compensation on an hourly rate basis not exceeding $100,000 per year plus reimbursable expenses. Proposers must maintain comprehensive general liability and automobile liability insurance with $1,000,000 combined single limit coverage per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate coverage. Successful contractors will be required to submit proposed hourly rates for consideration and will only receive payment through officially issued Purchase Orders from Lane Community College. While no specific set-aside percentages are mentioned, the solicitation demonstrates a commitment to supporting diverse business participation through its encouragement of veteran, minority, and women-owned business engagement.