OAR 125-055-0010: Policy

(1) As required by ORS 279.850(1), Agencies that intend to procure a product or service that is listed on the Procurement List must procure that product or service, at the Price determined by the Department, from an OFC if the product or service is of specifications appropriate to the Agency's procurement needs and is available within the time required by the Agency. (a) Agencies must not develop specifications that inhibit or tend to discourage Public Contracting with OFC providers for the acquisition of Oregon Forward-produced products or services. (b) Agencies must not enter into lease agreements or other agreements to purposely eliminate the possibility of that Agency entering into an agreement with an Oregon Forward provider. (2) It is the policy of the Department to assist OFCs by administering a program to: (a) Identify contracting opportunities in the public sector for OFCs; (b) Ensure that OFCs meet the standards set forth in the Oregon Forward Program; and (c) Assist and facilitate Agencies in entering into contracts with OFCs for the provision of products and services thereby promoting the requirements of ORS 279.835 to 279.855. (3) In administering the Oregon Forward Program, the Department, Agencies and OFCs must keep in mind the purpose of the law: to encourage and assist Individuals with Disabilities to achieve maximum personal independence in their communities through productive, gainful employment by assuring an expanded and constant market for Oregon Forward products and services. (4) In promoting the policy of this section and ORS 279.850(2), the State Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) may appoint uncompensated volunteer members to serve on an advisory council to make recommendations to the CPO concerning the facilitation and administration of the Oregon Forward Program. The CPO's authority to appoint advisory council members includes the authority to remove and replace members in the CPO’s sole discretion. Meetings of the advisory council are not subject to the public meetings law (ORS 192.610 to 192.710). However, the Department will post notice of the times and places of meetings of the advisory council on a website maintained by the Department. The Department reserves the right to change the meeting time and place after the posting of the meeting notice.