Socioeconomic Programs Status Page Three For MDTA, the IFR results in several operational impacts: • Coordination with Maryland’s UCP is required to implement DBE recertifications under the new standards. • DBE program documents, procedures, and outreach efforts must be updated to reflect individualized eligibility determinations. • Contract-level DBE goals and program-wide participation cannot be meaningfully monitored during the transition period. Monitoring systems that rely on confirmed DBE certification—such as utilization tracking, payment verification, and goal attainment reporting—are temporarily constrained until recertification is complete. • Clear communication with contractors and the small business community is necessary to ensure awareness of the new requirements and timelines. • Established compliance metrics have been disrupted. DBE monitoring traditionally relies on certification at award, commitments at contract execution, and ongoing payment tracking. The IFR alters the eligibility baseline mid-cycle, limiting the agency’s ability to validate DBE commitments and produce defensible quantitative compliance reports during the transition. Pre-IFR Contract Activity: Prior to the effective date of the IFR, MDTA established and reported DBE goals for its federally funded projects in accordance with then-applicable guidance. These projects include the Francis Scott Key Bridge (FSK) Progressive Design/Build Phases 1 and 2, I-95 at Belvidere Road Interchange, Nice-Middleton Bridge Campus Improvements, Planning, Engineering, Construction, and Program Support Services for FSK Bridge Reconstruction, various Construction Management and Inspection Services for FSK Bridge Reconstruction, and Comprehensive Project Planning and Miscellaneous Consultant Services. DBE Utilization Reporting Because the new USDOT DBE rule requires all DBE firms to be reevaluated before their participation can count towards DBE goals, federal guidance directs recipients to pause counting and tracking DBE goal attainment until that certification process is completed. Since participation cannot currently be credited towards goals, active monitoring of DBE contract goal attainment is also temporarily suspended for federally assisted contracts during this transition period. As such, this report will not capture the DBE goals and payments for the referenced contracts through Quarter 3 of fiscal year 2026.
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