Oregon procurement pulse: direct-appointment L3Harris radios + two ODOT planning pre-solicitations

Executive takeaway

Two very different plays are showing up in OregonBuys right now:

• Northern Wasco County PUD “L3Harris Radios” is a Notice of Direct Appointment under a statewide price agreement. This is not a typical competitive bid; it reads like a protest window and contract finalization step rather than an open solicitation.
• ODOT is teeing up two future planning procurements (Wasco County TSP Update and Astoria Tongue Point Area Plan). Both are explicitly pre-solicitation notices; you should not submit proposals yet. If you’re not already a TLUP ’21 vendor in the applicable discipline(s), your path is likely teaming (or waiting for a different vehicle).

What the buyer is trying to do

Northern Wasco County PUD: L3Harris Radios (direct appointment)

The District is providing public notice that it intends to award a direct appointment contract to L3Harris for public safety communications equipment through a statewide price agreement (referenced in the notice as PO-10700-00005055). The notice describes a defined protest period and makes clear no contract exists until a written agreement is executed.

ODOT: Wasco County Transportation System Plan (TSP) Update (pre-solicitation)

ODOT anticipates releasing a mini-RFP to TLUP ’21 vendors to update Wasco County’s TSP (last updated in 2009). The synopsis emphasizes a 20-year planning horizon, multimodal coverage, ITS integration, and the need to revisit priorities in an era of declining transportation funding. The County context includes growth, economic development, freight routes, commuting, tourism, and cycling.

ODOT: City of Astoria Tongue Point Area Plan (pre-solicitation)

ODOT anticipates a mini-RFP to TLUP ’21 vendors (Transportation System Planning & Land Use Planning disciplines) to develop a comprehensive land use and transportation plan for the Greater Tongue Point Area—positioned as a key gateway into Astoria from US 30. The plan is expected to support development, identify transportation strategies, and address multimodal access, freight accessibility, safety, connectivity, and traffic flow.

What work is implied (bullets)

• Radio equipment direct appointment (PUD)
  • Provide public safety communications equipment via the stated statewide price agreement (verify exact items/specs in OregonBuys attachments, if any).
  • Execute a written contract after the protest period expires or protests are resolved.
• Wasco County TSP Update (ODOT pre-solicitation)
  • Update a countywide transportation system plan for a 20-year planning period.
  • Assess multimodal needs (freight, agricultural users, residential/commercial, industrial, tourists, cycling, commuters).
  • Incorporate intelligent transportation systems (ITS) to improve safety and efficient movement.
  • Ensure consistency with federal and state transportation planning requirements (details to be confirmed when mini-RFP releases).
• Tongue Point Area Plan (ODOT pre-solicitation)
  • Develop a comprehensive land use and transportation plan for the Greater Tongue Point Area near US 30.
  • Identify strategies supporting economic development, mixed housing, circulation, freight accessibility, safety, and connectivity.
  • Focus on multimodal access improvements that support workforce mobility and new housing development.

Who should bid / who should pass (bullets)

• Good fit to pursue
  • TLUP ’21 vendors in Transportation System Planning for the Wasco County TSP update once the mini-RFP is released.
  • TLUP ’21 vendors in Transportation System Planning & Land Use Planning for the Tongue Point Area Plan once the mini-RFP is released.
  • Firms with demonstrated multimodal planning depth (freight + safety + active transportation) and ITS planning experience (as described in the Wasco County synopsis).
• Consider passing (or switching to teaming)
  • Any firm that is not a TLUP ’21 vendor in the discipline(s) ODOT states it will use—unless you can team with an eligible prime.
  • Vendors looking for an open, competitive hardware bid on the radio purchase: the PUD notice is a direct appointment to a named supplier, not a standard RFP.

Response package checklist (bullets; if unknown say “verify in attachments”)

• Northern Wasco County PUD (direct appointment)
  • Protest submission package (if applicable to your position); verify protest instructions and required format in the notice/attachments.
  • Documentation tied to the statewide price agreement referenced (PO-10700-00005055) verify in attachments.
• ODOT pre-solicitations
  • No proposal package yet; the postings state: do not submit proposals in response to the pre-solicitation notice.
  • Download and review the pre-solicitation notice attachments in OregonBuys (both postings emphasize “See Attachments Tab”).
  • Confirm TLUP ’21 eligibility and discipline alignment (Transportation System Planning; and for Tongue Point, Land Use Planning as well).
• For reference: Clackamas County HEART Family Navigation and Support Services (active RFP)
  • Submission via the stated online portal (BidLocker) by the posted closing date/time.
  • RFP sections include instructions, scope of work, evaluation criteria, and proposal content including certification (details verify in attachments).
  • Track stated deadlines for protests of specifications and clarifying questions.

Pricing & strategy notes (how to research pricing; do not invent pricing numbers)

• Direct appointment radios
  • Start by pulling the referenced statewide price agreement and any associated catalog/pricing structure used for “Public Safety Communications Equipment” (verify exact scope in OregonBuys).
  • Use the protest window (if you’re considering action) to validate whether the purchase aligns with the price agreement’s allowed products and terms, and whether any competitive alternative is even viable under that vehicle.
• ODOT planning mini-RFPs
  • Use OregonBuys attachments to understand anticipated deliverables and evaluation approach once released; until then, build a staffing plan that matches the synopsis (multimodal + freight + safety + ITS for the TSP; land use + transportation integration for Tongue Point).
  • Benchmark rates/level-of-effort using comparable recent TSP updates or area plan engagements you’ve delivered under Oregon public-sector frameworks (keep assumptions ready, but don’t lock pricing until the mini-RFP defines tasks and meeting cadence).
• Human services RFP (Clackamas County)
  • Let the scope and evaluation criteria drive pricing structure (e.g., staffing mix aligned to counseling/social services/case management elements) and confirm any required forms or certifications in attachments.

Subcontracting / teaming ideas (bullets)

• ODOT Wasco County TSP Update
  • Team a prime TLUP ’21 transportation planning firm with subs supporting ITS planning, multimodal safety analysis, and freight considerations (as reflected in the synopsis).
• ODOT Tongue Point Area Plan
  • Pair land use planning capacity with transportation planning capacity (ODOT explicitly lists both disciplines for this project).
  • Add a sub focused on freight access/circulation and another focused on active transportation/workforce mobility concepts (aligned to the described outcomes).
• Clackamas County HEART Family Navigation and Support Services
  • Consider teaming between navigation/case management providers and specialized counseling or family support providers to cover the stated service categories (verify detailed scope in the RFP).

Risks & watch-outs (bullets)

• Do not respond to the ODOT pre-solicitation notices with proposals; the notices state proposals/offers will be rejected.
• Eligibility gating: both ODOT opportunities indicate they will solicit from TLUP ’21 vendors (and Tongue Point calls out the relevant disciplines). If you’re not eligible, plan on teaming or monitoring for a different vehicle.
• Direct appointment limitations: the PUD radio notice is already directed to a named contractor and tied to a statewide price agreement; competitive pursuit is likely limited to protest options described in the notice.
• Attachment dependence: each of these postings references attachments (explicitly for ODOT); key requirements, deliverables, and submission rules may only be in those files—verify before investing bid resources.
• Timeline volatility (ODOT): both pre-solicitation notices state the project may be delayed, cancelled, or revised at any time.

Related opportunities

• L3Harris Radios (Northern Wasco County PUD)
• Pre-Solicitation Notice - Wasco County TSP Update (TGM 4B-24)
• Pre-Solicitation Notice - City of Astoria, Tongue Point Area Plan (TGM 2A-24)
• RFP 2025-92-HEART Family Navigation and Support Services (Clackamas County)
• Approved Preschool Language and Literacy Assessments Departmental MA (Massachusetts DESE)

How to act on this

1. For the PUD direct appointment: pull the notice and referenced price agreement documentation; decide quickly whether a protest is warranted and confirm the protest submission requirements in the notice.
2. For the two ODOT pre-solicitations: download the attachments, confirm TLUP ’21 eligibility in the stated discipline(s), and begin shaping a draft approach/team—without submitting a proposal until the mini-RFP is released.
3. If you need help deciding bid/no-bid—especially around eligibility constraints and teaming paths—route the opportunity through your capture review process early.

Need a fast compliance read and bid strategy on an OregonBuys posting (or want help structuring a TLUP ’21 teaming approach)? Federal Bid Partners LLC can help you triage requirements and build a response plan.