Skip to main content

Oregon State Flag An official website of the State of Oregon »

Oregon.gov Homepage

Alternative Contracting

About Alternative Contracting

By law, ODOT awards highway construction projects to the contractor with the lowest bid. However, Oregon law allows for the use of alternative contracting methods with written approval from ODOT’s director.

Alternative contracting methods use combinations of price, qualifications, experience, schedule, and approach to select a construction contractor.

Select a method to the right to learn more.

FAQs

​When a project is complex, considering price along with other factors to select a contractor can be done through alternative contracting methods. Factors may include the type of work, traffic impacts, and completion schedule. 

Our scoping team assesses a project. We pull together an internal team to talk about concerns and potential opportunities if we used an alternative method. We conduct a formal risk assessment and select a delivery method.​

Conventional Design-Bid-Build method only considers lowest price when awarding a contract. Alternative contracting methods however, use a combination of factors to select a contractor. These include: 

​
​
​​
​Price​​​Time​Contractor Qualifications (means)​Proposed Approach (method)

​Oregon law requires ODOT to award contracts to the lowest priced (low-bid) contractor for highway construction (ORS 279C.300). However, the law allows for an exception if ODOT can provide good reason to use an alternative form of contracting. ODOT's director approves the exemption order (ORS279C.335). All alternative methods require an exemption. 

Contact Alternative Delivery Services

4040 Fairview Industrial Drive SE, MS 2
Salem, Oregon 97302