State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) Business Oregon Venture Direct Program

Business Oregon is seeking qualified venture capital firms and investment entities to serve as co-investment partners in the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) Business Oregon Venture Direct Program through this Request for Quotes (RFQ) solicitation. This procurement is administered by Business Oregon, Oregon's economic development agency, on behalf of the State of Oregon and is funded under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 reauthorization of the SSBCI program, which provides federal capital to states for small business credit support. The primary objective is to deploy SSBCI capital through direct venture capital investments in Oregon-based small businesses, with selected co-investment partners responsible for identifying, underwriting, and managing investments collaboratively with the state. Proposers must demonstrate significant investment experience, proven management capability, a well-developed investment strategy aligned with program objectives, and the financial capacity to serve as active co-investors alongside state funds. Business Oregon will evaluate proposals based on investment experience, management capability, proposed investment strategy, and alignment with program objectives to support Oregon's small business ecosystem. The RFQ was posted on April 24, 2026, with a response deadline of December 31, 2031, and proposals must remain valid firm offers for 45 days following the closing date.

Documentation requirements for prospective co-investment partners include completion of multiple certification and disclosure forms, including a Proposer Information and Certification Sheet, Disclosure Exemption Affidavit, and Responsibility Inquiry form that assess financial stability, legal compliance, and organizational capacity. Proposers must certify compliance with Oregon tax law, non-discrimination requirements, wage and hour laws, and must verify they are not listed on the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Specially Designated Nationals list or excluded from the System for Award Management (SAM). Contracts anticipated to exceed $150,000 require proposers to certify implementation of written policies preventing sexual harassment, sexual assault, and discrimination as specified in Oregon Revised Statutes 279A.112, and entities employing 50 or more full-time workers with a contract price exceeding $500,000 must provide a current Pay Equity Certificate from the Department of Administrative Services. While the RFQ documents do not specify explicit set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises or limitations on organizational type, the program structure emphasizes partnership between state-administered funds and experienced private capital providers to maximize investment impact. No incumbent vendors, award values, or specific budget ranges are identified in the available documentation, though the program's scope and the federal SSBCI funding mechanism suggest significant capital deployment potential for selected co-investment partners.