This site provides information on policies and programs related to minority, women, and emerging small businesses interested in doing business with the Oregon University System. 

MWESB policies and practices are currently under revision and more information on the current work will be posted soon.

For more information, also see the State of Oregon office of Economic and Business Equity.

Contractors MWESB Data Form

• Excel Form to Report MWESB Subcontractor Data
• Instructions to Complete MWESB Subcontractor Data Form

OUS Procurement Rules

• Equity Contracting and Purchasing Policy and Data Reporting Procedures
• Division 60 – Real Property, Facility, and Campus Planning
• Division 61 – OUS Procurement and Contracting Code
• Division 62 – Purchasing and Contracts for Personal or Professional Services and Goods and Services
• Division 63 – Capital Construction and Contracting

Emerging Small Business Program

The Board encourages participation of Emerging Small Businesses by creating an Emerging Small Business Program. The Emerging Small Business Program is limited to businesses that meet the definition in ORS 200.005(3) and that maintain a current certification issued by the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services. When conducting procurements, Institutions may implement the Emerging Small Business Program by methods including, but not limited to:

(a) Priority of Contract Award. In the event of a tie low Bid, when price is the sole determinative factor, give priority to a certified Emerging Small Business;

(b) Exclusive Emerging Small Business Opportunities. Institutions have the authority to create opportunities that are only open to certified Emerging Small Businesses. When an Institution issues a Solicitation Document, the Institution may determine that it is in the Institution’s interest to limit the opportunity to only qualified and certified Emerging Small Businesses.

(c) Evaluation Criteria. An Institution may identify in a Solicitation Document that it will award additional evaluation points based on certified Emerging Small Business status.

For Construction Related Services where price is the determinative factor, if a Responsible Emerging Small Business’ Responsive Bid is within one percent of the lowest Responsible Responsive Bid, the Institution will award the Contract to the Emerging Small Business.

Thank you for your interest in doing business with the institutions of the Oregon University System!

Affirmative Action

The general policy of OUS Institutions will be to expand economic opportunities for Minority Business Enterprises, Women Business Enterprises, and Emerging Small Businesses by offering them the contracting and subcontracting opportunities available through Institution Contracts. Notice of all Contract procured through a Competitive Process will be provided to the Advocate for Minority, Women, and Emerging Small Business, unless otherwise provided, using the OUS procurement website. Institutions are encouraged to unbundle contracts, when appropriate, to expand contract opportunities for Minority, Women, and Emerging Small Businesses and Oregon based businesses. 

OUS will not knowingly contract with or procure goods or services from any Entity that discriminates on the basis of age, disability, national origin, race, marital status, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.

Bidders and Proposers will certify, as part of the Bids or Proposals that such Bidder or Proposer has not discriminated against Minority, Women or Emerging Small Business Enterprises in obtaining any required subcontracts.

OUS also complies with state statutes requiring the use of services and products of Qualified Rehabilitation Facilities (QRFs). 

It is the intent of OUS to acquire the best product at the best price being cognizant of the need to encourage growth of Oregon firms including small businesses and women and minority owned businesses.

NOTICE –  Responsibility to policies prohibiting harassment:
OUS has adopted policies applicable to all Vendors/Contractors that prohibit sexual harassment and that the Vendor's/Contractor's company and employees are required to adhere to institutional policies prohibiting sexual harassment in their interactions with members of the institutional community