There is approximately $300 million in capital projects that is available from the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). In the past, most of these projects have been awarded to non-women, non-minority based, and non-small business types of companies. Times are changing in Maryland, and definitely for the good. Governor Martin O’Malley signed legislation this week, to extend encouragement of the inclusion of small, minority owned, and women-owned companies in their contact awards.
The new bill requires that good faith efforts become standard practice with the Maryland Department of the Environment. They intend to divide project components into smaller tasks, with reasonable schedules, so that minority; small and women-owned business can complete the projects. Businesses should also see more advisements in the media that will be intended to encourage these types of companies that would normally not bid on certain contracts. They will also develop a solicitation list that includes qualified companies, who will be notified of what projects are due to be available.
According to reports, this new legislation “will make full use of state and other resources such as the Maryland Department of Transportation, U.S. Small Business Administration; the Minority Business Development Agency; and the U.S. Department of Commerce lists, to identify qualified minority and small business enterprises.”
If all states would implement these policies as standard practices, small businesses would continue to thrive around the country.
