Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 200 § 200.110 — Mentor

Mentor relationship; guidelines; eligibility. (1) The Oregon Business Development Department may recognize a mentor relationship between contractors and disadvantaged business enterprises, minority-owned businesses, woman-owned businesses, veteran-owned businesses and emerging small businesses that are certified under ORS 200.055. In order to qualify for the department’s recognition, the mentor relationship must offer the opportunity for the contractor to foster and encourage disadvantaged business enterprises, minority-owned businesses, woman-owned businesses, veteran-owned businesses and emerging small businesses to expand the capacity of existing enterprises and businesses and to offer the opportunity for less experienced enterprises and businesses to gain training and assistance. (2) To have the department recognize the mentor relationship described in subsection (1) of this section, a disadvantaged business enterprise, a minority-owned business, a woman-owned business, a veteran-owned business or an emerging small business must follow guidelines that include, but are not limited to: (a) Meeting the certification requirements of the U.S. Department of Transportation or ORS 200.055. The Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity may approve an application for certification under ORS 200.055 at the same time the department approves a mentor arrangement. (b) Remaining independent from the contractor and maintaining a minority individual’s, woman’s or veteran’s actual ownership of the enterprise or business. A minority individual, woman or veteran who owns the enterprise or business may have other employment and business interests if the employment or business interests do not conflict with the minority individual’s, woman’s or veteran’s power to direct the management and policies of the disadvantaged business enterprise, minority-owned business, woman-owned business, veteran-owned business or emerging small business and to make day-to-day and major decisions on matters of management, policy and operations. A contractor may provide facilities to the enterprise or business if the contractor and the enterprise or business maintain a separate lease agreement. (c) Complying with 49 C.F.R. 26 as to an individual’s or entity’s part ownership in a disadvantaged business enterprise, a minority-owned business, a woman-owned business, a veteran-owned business or an emerging small business if the individual or entity is not certified under ORS 200.055. The enterprise or business shall report any property, equipment, supplies or other services that the enterprise or business buys, rents or receives as a donation and any investment that an individual or entity makes in the enterprise or business if the individual or entity is not certified under ORS 200.055. The report must include bills of sale, lease agreements or similar documents. (3) A mentor relationship may include an arrangement with an independent third party, such as a bank or accountant, to act as an agent. A third party may receive progress payments for work that a disadvantaged business enterprise, a minority-owned business, a woman-owned business, a veteran-owned business or an emerging small business accomplishes, made out jointly to the third party and the enterprise or business, and may make payments on behalf of the enterprise or business to material suppliers or for federal and state payroll taxes. (4) Types of assistance that a contractor may provide in a mentor relationship to a disadvantaged business enterprise, a minority-owned business, a woman-owned business, a veteran-owned business or an emerging small business include: (a) Financial assistance; (b) Technical and management assistance; (c) Equipment rental and use of personnel; and (d) Bonding assistance. [1991 c.559 §2; 2009 c.830 §140; 2015 c.565 §9; 2023 c.497 §9]