Business Finance Modernization Consultant

The State of Oregon, through the Oregon Business Development Department (Business Oregon), is soliciting a Business Finance Modernization Consultant via Request for Proposals (RFP S-12300-00016372) to evaluate the effectiveness of the Agency's current lending programs and provide recommendations for modernization to support current business needs and economic development. The consultant must complete two primary tasks: Task 1 involves conducting a comprehensive evaluation of existing direct and indirect business finance lending programs through performance analysis, internal stakeholder sessions, research on comparable state programs, and external listening sessions across multiple Oregon locations, with a deliverable report due September 4, 2026; Task 2 requires assistance preparing business finance programs for the 2027 legislative session, including development of legislative concepts, policy option packages, presentation materials, and formal legislative presentations, with deliverables due December 31, 2026. Qualified proposers must demonstrate knowledge of business lending programs, economic development lending, and commercial loan programs, with a minimum of three projects within the last five years providing similar services, and must be registered as vendors in OregonBuys. Proposals will be evaluated on three criteria: Proposal Narrative, Timeline, and Project Implementation Plan (50 points); Firm and Team Qualifications (35 points); and Price and Value (15 points), for a maximum of 100 points. Proposals are limited to 10 pages and must include required attachments covering proposer information, references, COBID certification, responsibility inquiry, key personnel resumes, work samples, and a detailed price proposal. Questions are due by April 22, 2026, and proposals must be submitted by May 7, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

The State of Oregon applies a 10% price preference for proposers offering all services performed entirely in Oregon pursuant to ORS 279A.128, and encourages participation of certified disadvantaged business enterprises (DBE), minority-owned businesses (MBE), women-owned businesses (WBE), veteran-owned businesses (VOB), and emerging small businesses (ESB) through the Oregon Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID). Proposers must disclose their COBID certification status and submit a Certified Disadvantaged Business Outreach Plan identifying foreseeable subcontracting opportunities and describing solicitation steps to be taken with certified firms if awarded. No incumbent vendor or current contractor information is specified in the solicitation documents. The estimated budget for this engagement is $60,000, with the contract ending December 31, 2026, and the Agency reserves the right to amend or extend the contract up to two months for reasonably related services. The contractor will be classified as an independent contractor responsible for all federal and state taxes and ineligible for state benefits, and must maintain general liability insurance with a combined single limit of not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence and workers' compensation insurance as required by Oregon law. All work product created under the contract becomes the exclusive property of the Oregon Business Development Department, and the State reserves the right to reject any or all proposals or cancel the RFP at its discretion.