Small Business Reserve (SBR) Program Established in 2004, the program has evolved over the years. The Program is race- and gender- neutral and provides small businesses, referred to as Certified Small Businesses (CSBs), with the opportunity to participate as prime contractors on State contracts and procurements by competing against other small businesses rather than larger, more established businesses. Under the State Procurement law, agencies are required to spend at least 20% of their total fiscal year procurement expenditures with qualified businesses. Veteran-Owned Small Business Enterprise (VSBE) Program The program was established on June 20, 2012, to provide standard procurement guidance, in that each agency provides the maximum contracting opportunities be extended to veteran-owned small business enterprises, as both prime contractors and subcontractors. Each procurement agency must structure its procurement procedures to achieve, at a minimum, 3% of the unit’s total dollar value of procurement contracts, made directly or indirectly from veteran-owned small business enterprises. Socio-Economic Program Compliance Reporting Compliance Reporting is mandatory for all compliance programs (MBE, SBR, and VSBE) and is governed by several higher authority reporting agencies. Each component may have different reporting periods based on the criteria requested by the agency with oversight of the program. This is regulated by COMAR Title 21.13.01. Business Development Outreach and Special Projects Outreach is integral to helping the agency inform, educate, and provide access to the contracting community (Prime contractors or Subcontractors) on how to participate in the MDTA procurement process. Outreach also provides the agency with a pathway to reach a diverse population of business owners, helping it meet race-neutral
In 2025, CRFP Compliance Officers attended approximately 10 outreach events (more will be added to the calendar) to raise awareness and provide information about all socioeconomic programs and contracting opportunities with the MDTA. Procurement Review Group The Procurement Review Group (PRG) is an internal review committee that helps State agencies determine how small, minority, and veteran- owned businesses can participate in each State procurement before it is advertised. The PRG’s primary purpose is to review proposed procurements and decide whether they should include: ③ A Small Business Reserve designation, ③ Minority Business Enterprise participation goals, and/or ③ A Veteran-Owned Small Business Enterprise goal. Its mission is to ensure that the State contracting opportunities are accessible to these business groups and that the agency complies with Maryland’s socioeconomic procurement laws. In accordance with the COMAR Title 21.11.03 (State Procurement Regulations/ Socioeconomic Policies) and the Maryland Board of Public Works (BPW) Advisory No. 2001-2, “MBE: Procurement Review Group”, the MDTA established a Procurement Review Group. The PRG makes recommendations to the Executive Director in support of the Executive Director’s exercise of authority, delegated by the Members, regarding the Minority Business Enterprise and Veteran-Owned Small Business Enterprise Programs, contract goals, and waiver requests for procurements managed by the MDTA. In addition, the PRG makes recommendations regarding designating contracts for the Small Business Reserve and Small Business Preference Programs, and reviews contracts for designation as Hiring Agreement-eligible. COMAR outlines that the PRG shall meet as often as is necessary, but at least monthly.
portfolio of programs that support the MDTA workforce, vendors, business community, and other community partners. CRFP Program Staff work diligently to develop initiatives, administer programs, and ensure compliance with programmatic goals to improve the representation of minorities, women, and individuals with disabilities among the MDTA’s workforce and contracting opportunities. The day-to-day actions of the CRFP Team are essential to the development, oversight, and administration of MDTA’s Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Small Business Reserve (SBR), and Veteran-owned Small Business Enterprise (VSBE) Programs. The unit’s mission is accomplished through socio-economic program monitoring and reporting, Compliance, Technical Assistance, and Outreach Activities conducted by Compliance Staff. Socio-Economic Programs The Division of Civil Rights & Fair Practices (CRFP) is dedicated to increasing awareness of its Compliance Programs. CRFP works in close partnership with the Division of Procurement, Office of Engineering and Construction, and the Office of the Attorney General, to encourage the use of minority, small, and veteran-owned businesses on contracts more than $50,000.00. These programs remain a vital part of our procurement process. Within the division, the Program Compliance Officers are responsible for monitoring, reporting, and the close-out of all contract activities required by the laws, regulations, and statutes that govern the programs. Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Program Established in 1978 by Maryland’s General Assembly, the MBE Program was enacted to ensure that socially and economically disadvantaged small business owners are included in the State’s procurement and contracting opportunities. Current MBE regulations direct all State agencies to make every effort to award at least 29% of the total dollar value of their procurement contracts directly (Prime Contractor) or indirectly (Subcontractor) to certified MBE Firms.
metrics and potentially increasing participation in its compliance programs (MBE, SBR, and VSBE). Outreach efforts may include sponsoring small- business events and procurement conferences as well as participating in trade group seminars, conventions, and forums that promote the utilization of all compliance programs (MBE, SBR, and VSBE). Additional Business Development Outreach Activities
Doing Business with the Maryland Transportation Authority Workshops
The Division of Civil Rights & Fair Practices hosts Business Development workshops entitled “Doing Business with the Maryland Transportation Authority.” The workshops are free to all attendees and are designed to increase awareness and access to information regarding the agency’s Minority Business Enterprise, Small Business Reserve, Veteran-Owned Small Business Enterprise Programs for all companies interested in doing business with the MDTA. The workshops provide businesses opportunities to: ③ Network with Prime Contractors, MDTA Procurement Officers, and MDTA CRFP Compliance Officers ③ Learn about resources to assist in growing and strengthening their businesses ③ Understand the Minority Business Enterprise, Veteran-Owned Small Business Enterprise, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Programs and their role as a prime or subcontractor In 2025, MDTA hosted over 100 representatives from various industries. Workshops were held on:
③ Tuesday, March 25, 2025 ③ Wednesday, June 2, 2025 ③ Wednesday, September 24, 2025
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Governance, Risk, and Impact Report
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Governance, Risk, and Impact Report
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