Metro, along with other local governments, is striving to make sure that the money spent on local public improvements benefits local communities. Several of these efforts are part of the bidding process for large construction projects.
Construction Career Pathways Program
Metro is committed to extending opportunities to underrepresented people in the trades, namely people of color and women. The Construction Career Pathways Program builds economic prosperity through construction careers that provide family-sustaining wages and ensures equitable benefit from public capital project investments for underrepresented communities.
- For contracts anticipated to be between $50,000 and $200,000, bidders will attest that they and applicable subcontractors will track their workforce utilization with LCP Tracker.
- For contracts anticipated to be between $200,000 and $5 million, bidders will attest that they and applicable subcontractors will track their workforce utilization with LCP Tracker and will commit to exert “good faith efforts” to implement their Metro-approved Construction Careers Pathways Plan and to achieve the apprentice and journey level utilization targets as set forth in the Construction Career Pathways Plan Guidance document.
- For contracts anticipated to be over $5 million, bidders will attest that they and applicable subcontractors will track utilization with LCP Tracker and will commit to exert “good faith efforts” to implement their Metro-approved Construction Career Pathways Plan and to achieve the apprentice and journey level utilization targets as set forth in the Construction Career Pathways Plan Guidance documents. Bidders and applicable subcontractors will also consent to the terms of the Construction Career Pathways Regional Workforce Equity Agreement.
Construction firms are encouraged to learn more about the Construction Career Pathways program which aims to increase opportunities for women and people of color in the construction industry. Firms who are responding to a Metro solicitation should use these documents to assist in creating their Construction Career Pathways plan.
Contractors should develop relationships with community based organizations with a workforce development program and state-registered pre-apprenticeship programs. Firms who are not currently registered training agents should reach out the specific Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) for their trade(s). More information about both of these can be found on Oregon's Bureau of Labor and Industries website.
Clean Air Construction Standard
In July 2020, the Metro Council adopted the Clean Air Construction (CAC) Standard to reduce diesel emissions from construction. As such, all diesel non-road equipment over 25 horsepower and all diesel concrete mixers and dump trucks used on these projects will need to meet the CAC requirements. These requirements include engine registration and pollution reduction requirements that must be met by prime contractor, subcontractors, and suppliers before contract execution.
This requirement is for construction contracts larger than $500,000.
Subcontractor Equity Program
Bidders for public improvement projects that are larger than $100,000 must participate in Metro’s Subcontractor Equity Program. Bidders must document a specific subcontractor equity effort to state-certified minority-owned, woman-owned, and service disabled veteran-owned and emerging small businesses (COBID-certified businesses). Certification of compliance with this effort is required within two hours of bid closing and the selected contractor must regularly report on their efforts.