ODOT Director Executive Recruitment Services

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is requesting proposals for executive recruitment services to hire an ODOT Director under RFP 73000-00017802, with proposals due September 8, 2026. An Oregon Small Business Enterprise preference of 5% applies to qualifying proposers.

The scope encompasses advertising and marketing via email, phone, and social media; executive search; candidate identification and targeting; and re-engagement services. Key deliverables include a recruitment plan, position overview and pitch, candidate checklist, master candidate list within 20 business days of the kick-off meeting, weekly written search updates, meeting notes, and status reports. The position announcement is anticipated for September 4, 2026, with a kick-off meeting to follow within 10 business days of contract execution. The contractor must direct all prospective candidates through the State of Oregon's Workday recruitment system and cannot accept applications through alternative channels.

The estimated contract value is between $70,000 and $100,000, contingent on Oregon Legislature funding approval as determined by ODOT. The contract term is approximately one year plus an option to renew, with an anticipated effective date of September 2026. Payment is structured as fixed price, fixed price per deliverable, fixed price per milestone, time and materials up to the not-to-exceed amount, or price per unit—ODOT's choice. The pricing must be itemized across project management, kick-off meeting, research and candidate development, and candidate placement fee (the latter contingent on final accepted salary and applicable only if the selected candidate results from the contractor's search efforts).

Evaluation criteria total 210 points: recruitment methodology (50 points), specific experience recruiting executive transportation leaders (50 points), consultant qualifications (40 points), management plan (40 points), price proposal (20 points), and clarity and conformity with requirements (10 points). Optional interviews may add 20 points. Proposals must be submitted electronically through OregonBuys as three separate PDF files with a combined maximum size of six megabytes. Award notifications are estimated three weeks following bid opening. The contractor must maintain professional liability insurance with minimum limits of $1 million per claim and $2 million annual aggregate.