Each year, the City of Portland enters into nearly $1 billion in procurement contracts with vendors and contractors for city operations – from major infrastructure projects to technology and office supplies. In addition, the City has awarded $77 million in grants this fiscal year.
As of September 2025, some contracting opportunities and grant programs are paused to ensure compliance with federal anti-discrimination law, as interpreted by the courts and required by Mayor Keith Wilson's executive order. This approach helps preserve the federal funding Portland relies on for housing, transportation and other community priorities.
Read more about Portland's federal grants
Procurement Questions and Answers
How has Mayor Wilson’s executive order affected city procurement at the City of Portland?
Mayor Wilson’s executive order requires all City programs, services and contracts to comply with federal civil rights and anti-discrimination laws, as interpreted by the courts. This prevents the City from giving preference to specific groups based on protected-class characteristics such as race or gender.
To implement this direction, Procurement Services has paused some activities while city staff work on immediate, interim approaches to live up to the City’s equity values and comply with federal anti-discrimination laws as interpreted by the courts. City staff will continue to work on both short-term and long-term approaches to meet these goals, including consideration of a disparity study to provide legally defensible race- and gender-based preferences in contracting.
What should local businesses and organizations expect if they have applied for a contracting opportunity or want to do so?
Businesses and organizations that have applied for a city contracting opportunity may experience delays while the City reviews solicitations, evaluation criteria and contract language. In some cases, a solicitation may be temporarily halted to ensure compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws as interpreted by the courts. If that happens, vendors will have the opportunity to reapply under the updated solicitation. Future opportunities will also be adjusted to align with these compliance requirements.
The City’s Procurement Services Division will provide regular updates on progress with the community partners.
What about contracts that have already been awarded?
Contracts already executed remain in place, as do reporting requirements. However, in accordance with anti-discrimination laws as interpreted by the courts, Procurement Services will not enforce the applicable provisions of executed contracts.
Pending contracts and amendments may be paused while they are reviewed. Procurement Services will notify bureaus and vendors when a contract is cleared, or if revisions are required before execution.
Which projects are most affected?
Any project with pending solicitations or contracts is subject to review, including large-scale infrastructure and technology projects. The City is prioritizing reviews to minimize disruption, but any project with pending solicitations or unsigned contracts is potentially affected.
Will this change timelines or budgets for city projects?
Some projects may face delays or budget impacts, due to the compliance review. The City is working to limit impacts, but vendors and bureaus should be prepared to adjust schedules and notify stakeholders.
What does this mean for city bureaus?
Bureaus with pending solicitations or contract amendments must pause activity and coordinate with Procurement Services. Reviews will cover solicitation language, evaluation criteria, award decisions and contract clauses that reference protected classes.
Procurement Notices sent to Contractors
Grants Questions and Answers
What type of grants does the City of Portland award?
From programs that fund access to arts and culture experiences to clean air construction grants, the City of Portland funds a wide variety of grants programs to improve our community.
The City distributes four types of funding (with examples):
• Special tax and levy grants (Portland Clean Energy Fund, Children’s Levy, Arts Access Fund)
• Service area program grants (Percent for Green, Portland Harbor Community, Clean Air)
• Special appropriation grants ( East Portland Action Plan, Rose Festival)
• Subrecipient grants (Federal funding granted to partner organizations)
All of the City’s grant programs are based on the availability of funding from year to year.
What should prospective grantees expect when applying for city grants?
Grant programs can change annually based on funding sources and city policy updates. In 2024, City Council approved a new Outgoing Grant Policy that streamlines the City’s processes for distributing grants and reporting outcomes. Additionally, some grant programs may be affected by the Mayor's recent Executive Order affirming the City's compliance with federal anti-discrimination law. As a result, some grant programs may experience delays while we assess overall program alignment with these changes.
As always, any modifications to specific programs will be noted in the program's Request for Application or program guidelines.
Learn about grant opportunities
What about grants that have already been awarded?
Grants that have been awarded will remain in place. Pending grants and amendments, however, may be paused while they are reviewed. The Grants Management Division will notify bureaus and grantees when an agreement is cleared, or if revisions are required before moving forward.