- Home
- Government
- Departments
- Central Services
- Finance
- Purchasing
- Equity in Contracting
Equity in Contracting
The Equity in Contracting (EIC) program functions as a liaison to the business community, working to ensure that the City's interface with the business community is one of access and trust, and conveys the City's values around social equity, collaboration and challenging the standard method of doing business.
The program is interested in understanding and removing barriers to working with the City as a supplier of goods or services, with a focus on increasing the number of projects awarded to small, minority and women-owned businesses (COBID-certified). The program aims to:
- Support the community both socially and economically
- Make connections and build trust
- Encourage innovation and superior solutions
- Increase access to opportunities
- Find and support new markets
- Obtain best price and value
- Connect interested businesses with appropriate opportunities & resources
- Convey that the City is a partner that wants to be engaged
Doing Business with the City of Eugene
Review our guide on doing business with the City: 6 Tips for finding, understanding & responding to solicitations Opens a New Window.
Finding Opportunities
Suppliers interested in doing business with the City can find solicitations and documents on the Oregon Procurement Information Network (ORPIN). Opens a New Window.
COBID Certification
We encourage all eligible suppliers to gain certification as a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Women Business Enterprise (WBE), Emerging Small Business (ESB), and/or a Service Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (SDVBE) through the State of Oregon Certification Office of Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID). Opens a New Window.
Qualified Pools
This is a pool of contractors that can provide Exempt Personal Services, which are services requiring specialized technical, creative, professional or communication skills. Contractors submit a Statement of Qualifications in response to a solicitation, which is then reviewed for a determination of acceptance or rejection. If accepted into a Qualified Pool, City staff may contact you to discuss a project and may directly award a contract of up to $100,000 in a fiscal year. Find out more about the open opportunities.
Business Support Services
EUG Loan Program
Art Loans, Business Growth Loans, Downtown Loans and River Loans - visit www.eugloans.org for more information, or contact:
Aaron Doreen, Business Loan Analyst
541-682-5448
Small Business Resources @ the Public Library
Opportunities for free one-on-one appointments and local support, help with writing business plans, finding funding, conducting market research and marketing your business. Visit https://eugene.libguides.com/friendly.php?s=business/small-business/getting-started for more information.
Confused about Solicitation Acronyms?
Below are some common acronyms regarding solicitation types.
ITB: Invitation To Bid
RFQ: Request for Quotation
These types are used when the agency has a good idea of what is needed for a project, and the specification is well-defined. Contract award is based primarily upon price (as opposed to supplier qualifications or design suggestions)
RFP: Request for Proposal
IRFP: Informal Request for Proposal
These types are used when the agency doesn't know what is needed and is seeking a solution. Contract award is based primarily upon factors other than price (such as merit of solution)
RFI: Request for Information
An RFI is seeking information, which will be used to help craft an accurate solicitation (one that will lead to a contract award). No contract award will come directly from an RFI.
RFQu: Request for Qualification
An RFQu is an invitation to suppliers to become members of a Qualified Pool. A Qualified Pool may be used as resource to find qualified suppliers to contact for a future solicitation (one that will lead to a contract award). No contract award will come directly from an RFQu
Contact Us
-
Purchasing Office
100 W. 10th Ave.
Suite 400
Eugene, OR 97401
Ph: 541-682-5055
Fx: 541-682-6233
Email the Purchasing Office
Equity in Contracting (EIC) Program
Ph: 541-682-5057
Email the EIC Program
Hours
Monday - Friday
8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Please Note
The office is closed Monday - Friday from 12 noon to 1 p.m. While the office is closed, hand-delivered responses to solicitations will not be accepted.