The Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Small Business Reserve (SBR) unit was established in fiscal year 2008 to maximize the opportunities for minority and small businesses to receive State procurement contracts. The primary purpose of the MBE Program is to establish a process and structure for reviewing contract solicitations, sole source contracts, and renewal options greater than $200,000 in order to maximize the opportunities for MBE vendors to participate in State procurement of contracts. The MBE Program has the following components: contractual development, contract monitoring, and program marketing, including vendor outreach to obtain additional certified MBE vendors for DJS solicitations.
In the State of Maryland, a minority business is defined as a company that is at least 51% owned, managed, and controlled by one or more individuals who are members of a group that is disadvantaged socially or economically, including: African-Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, women, or physically or mentally disabled individuals. The personal net worth, excluding the individual’s investment in the applicant firm, must not equal or exceed $2 million. Non-profit entities are not eligible to be certified as a MBE unless they provide services primarily to the mentally and physically disadvantaged. The certification process is managed by the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and recertification is required annually. The 2001 General Assembly increased the MBE participation rate from an overall goal of 14% to 25%, with sub-goals of awarding 7% of the total contract dollars to African-American owned MBE businesses and 10% of the total contract dollars to women-owned MBE businesses. The primary goal of the DJS MBE unit is to increase MBE participation to 25% by the end of fiscal year 2010.
For more information please see Minority Business Enterprise
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