The Retainer Program includes a list of pre-approved consultants and contractors who have already entered into a contract to provide services at a fixed rate of compensation and on certain terms.  When Oregon University System (OUS) institutions have a project, they contact those firms on the retainer to quickly procure and execute a supplement to the contract for the specific project. When requesting bids, institutions must contact a certain number of firms in the Retainer Program based on the estimated contract price for the project (OAR Division 63).

The Oregon University System can issue retainer contracts to facilitate cost savings and other efficiencies when performing small capital construction projects. Small projects are defined as construction projects under $1,000,000 for professional consulting services, and under $1,000,000 for construction services (including asbestos abatement and lead and silica abatement).

Each biennia, OUS advertises a Request for Proposal to consultants and contractors, inviting participation in the Retainer Program. We currently have over 700 consultants and contractors participating under the following areas:

• Construction Related Services
• Asbestos, Lead, Mold & Silica Abatement
• Professional Consultants

Current Retainer Agreements:

You may review our databases of current enrollees in Retainer Programs at the following links:

• Consultants Retainer List
• Construction-Related Services Retainer List

The Retainer Program is administered by the Office of the Chancellor, on behalf of the seven state universities. Each university is responsible and accountable for managing their capital construction projects. University facilities staff does so by following the rules as set in Oregon Administrative Rules, Division 63, Capital Construction and Contracting.  Due to time and cost efficiencies, the Retainer Program is heavily used for small construction projects, with projects formally bid out when they exceed the dollar limit allowed in the Retainer Program. The database at capcon.ous.edu is used by university facilities staff to search for and solicit bids from firms eligible for contracts under the Retainer Program.

We encourage you to participate in the Oregon University System Retainer Program. We offer everyone on retainer the opportunity to work for our universities, and wish you success! Your efforts will determine the level of success you achieve. Once your firm has been approved for the Retainer Program, we encourage you to contact the Facilities Staff at each University, and market your firm.

Contact:

• Ian Best, Contracts Manager, 503-725-5770