ODOT’s Small Business Development program awards first prime contracts; staff report early successes and challenges

ODOT’s small business development program, enacted under SB 1048 (ORS 184.906), delivered its first contract awards during the Dec. 11 meeting and reported early metrics showing meaningful small‑firm engagement. Elsa Kellum, program manager, said the program has qualified about 41 firms across the state and that ODOT identified candidate STIP projects suitable for small‑prime delivery; the first awarded contracts included a Region 2 curb‑ramp ADA package in Amity that received five responsive bids and was awarded to Interlochen.

Kellum described outreach and the three qualification pathways (existing DBE/COB certification, SBA small‑business designation, or a self‑qualification route created under the statute). "Becoming an ODOT prime is a significant milestone for any small contractor," she said, describing personal outreach the program conducted to ensure prequalified firms knew about mandatory pre‑bid meetings and bid opportunities.

Commissioners and small‑business participants praised staff support. Rachel Bay of Interlochen said onboarding and navigators were "aggressively" supportive and made the process straightforward; company representatives said the program gave them a foothold in ODOT contracting. Staff flagged challenges for 2026 (a reduced STIP pipeline, possible DOJ rule clarifications and the need to train first‑time primes on ODOT systems) and proposed training and region‑level readiness supports and continued outreach to expand awards toward the statutory target of up to $25 million in annual prime awards to small firms.