Waiver of ORS 279C. 303 Buy America Requirements - Door Hardware

The State of Oregon Department of Administrative Services (DAS) issued a Notice of Proposed Findings and Order regarding a waiver of ORS 279C.303 Buy America Requirements for door hardware on May 5, 2026. This is not a bidding opportunity but rather a public notice period for commentary on the proposed waiver of Buy America requirements. The waiver applies to door hardware components used in all Public Works and Public Improvement projects managed by DAS across its facilities. The door hardware products in question are those currently included on DAS's standardized construction specifications list, which have been in continuous use for 25 years across approximately 10,000 physical door openings in DAS-managed properties. The primary justification for the waiver centers on DAS's determination that compliance with Buy America standards—which require 55 percent United States-produced components—is inconsistent with the public interest, citing the proven reliability and longevity of existing pre-approved hardware, compatibility constraints with DAS's proprietary secure Medeco keyway system, substantial retrofitting costs, inventory management complications, and the loss of operational efficiencies from staff training and familiarity with current systems. The public comment period runs for seven calendar days from the posting date, with all comments required to be submitted to egs.pscustomercare@das.oregon.gov and Megan.Saunders@das.oregon.gov by the May 20, 2026 deadline.

No set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent types are applicable to this notice, as this is a waiver notification rather than a competitive procurement opportunity. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the provided documentation, and no award values or budget ranges are specified since this proceeding does not constitute a procurement bid. The waiver, if approved, would apply to a class of products rather than to a single contract and remains subject to review, amendment, or rescission by the Director at any time, with mandatory review required at minimum every five years. Following the public comment period, DAS will issue a final Director's Findings and Order, which will be published on the OregonBuys eProcurement system. The notice indicates that no public comments were received during the initial posting period, and the signed Finding and Order has already been executed by the Deputy State Chief Procurement Officer, indicating the waiver's probable approval absent significant intervening circumstances.