Minority Business Enterprises

For the first-time since the State’s minority business participation goal of 25 percent was established by the General Assembly in 2001, the Maryland Department of General Services reached and surpassed the goal.  In Fiscal Year 2012, DGS awarded $458, 147,803 in procurements requiring minority business participation.  Of that amount, $70,411,783 or 15.37% was awarded to certified minority businesses.  The Business Programs office is continuing its commitment to increase MBE and Small Business Percentages.  

Some of the most prominent MBE successes are high-profile DGS projects. They include:

  • Refurbish Three Hydraulic Elevators and Two Nine-Stop Cable Traction Elevator Systems at Maryland Reception, Diagnostic, and Classification Center, and Two Five-Stop Traction Elevator Systems at Maryland Women’s Detention Center.  This $1,813,708 project was competitively bid and awarded as a single contract.
  • Construction Management at Risk for the Design/Construction of a New Youth Detention Center at the Cheltenham Youth Facility.  This project has a guaranteed maximum price of $48.3 million.  This is the second of two CM at Risk projects performed by this Department.  The first phase, Pre-Construction Services, was awarded at $178,450 and is expected to be completed by December 2013.
  • Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery Burial Expansion and Administrative/Maintenance Complex.  This $3.8 million dollar project consists of demolition and construction of the Administration and Maintenance buildings along with a new access road to the maintenance service yard, and the addition of approximately 300 cremation plots.  The project will include 35% MBE participation.  The expected completion date is September 2013.  

MBE participation in the architectural/engineering category was more than 34 percent while the construction category topped 32 percent. DGS has had significant success where MBE-owned firms were the Prime Contractors.

Examples of contracts include:

  • Comprehensive Building Maintenance @ MSP – Forensic Science Laboratory (LB&B Associates) $3,233,027
  • Janitorial Service @ 6 St. Paul & 201 St. Paul Streets (Alliance Inc.) $3,129,576
  • Grounds Operations & Maintenance Service @ Cheltenham Veterans Cemetery (HF Huber & Son, Inc.) $1,630,899
  • Day Care Service @ Annapolis & Crownsville Child Care Centers (Play Centers Inc.) $6,839,664

In 2008, DGS was one of five State agencies to receive the Minority Business Enterprise Best Practices Award. Presented by the Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs (GOMA), DGS was recognized a “Most Improved Agency.” The award cites DGS for its efforts to increase minority business utilization by implementing MBE best practices. Maryland’s small and minority business community is among the most vibrant in America. Maryland has more women-owned and African American-owned business, per capita, than any other state. In addition, the State’s ambitious goal of 25 percent MBE participation is the highest goal in the nation.

Click here for information about the Maryland Department of Transportation's MBE program.