ANNAPOLIS, MD (March 8, 2000) - Strengthening Maryland's position as a national leader in the high-tech economy, the State moved today to streamline its system of purchasing goods and services. Governor Parris N. Glendening today announced Board of Public Works approval of a three-year contract to provide a full-scale interactive procurement system for State agencies and local governments throughout Maryland. A new web site, www.emarylandmarketplace.com, will help companies of all sizes supply products and services to the State by providing them with a fast, easy-to-use, and cost-effective electronic commerce on-ramp.

    "Computers, technology, and information systems have been a powerful force behind our current record-breaking prosperity, and they will continue to drive the economy of the future," said Governor Glendening. "This year, working with the General Assembly, we will strengthen Maryland's position in the high-tech economy and enact the number one technology agenda in the nation. The Board's action today allows us to move forward on one of top priorities, which is to make Maryland the national leader in delivering government services over the Internet. eMarylandMarketplace will dramatically improve customer service for our vendors by enabling them to conduct business with us on-line, and will streamline the process and reduce the cost of public procurement."

   eMarylandMarketplace, part of Governor Glendening's vision to make Maryland the number one e-commerce and digital state in the nation, is a fully integrated solution for Internet-based procurement, purchasing, buyer/vendor communications, financial reconciliation and auditing. It levels the playing field in the purchasing arena by allowing buyers to conduct business transactions and communications with vendors of any size over the Internet. Beginning with procurement of commodities costing less than $25,000, State agency buyers will use eMarylandMarketplace to perform the functions that have traditionally been accomplished using paper methods and manual entries into the State's financial information systems.

    Establishing eMarylandMarketplace provides significant benefits to State of Maryland procurement organizations as well as the supporting vendor community. Participating businesses will see significant benefits in both reduced costs and in exposure to a larger number of opportunities. The State will benefit from process improvements as well as lower prices resulting from increased competition, aggregate buying power, and greater vendor efficiencies.

    "eMarylandMarketplace is the first public procurement system of its kind in the country," said Major F. Riddick, Jr., Governor Glendening's Chief of Staff and Chair of the State Information Technology Board. "As proved by a pilot program, eMarylandMarketplace provides an efficient means to improve the business community's access to State procurement information. It also provides greater opportunities to small and minority businesses, secures competitive prices for the State, enhances the efficiency and timeliness of the procurement process, eliminates geographical limitations to agency bid boards, and improves the State's registration system."

    The Board awarded the three-year contract with three one-year renewal options to Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) after the successful completion of a 90-day pilot project. A leading electronic commerce systems integrator, SAIC will provide systems integration and consulting services to implement eMarylandMarketplace. The system is based on technology from Intelisys, a leader in Internet-based electronic procurement solutions. SAIC's partners, Early Morning Software and International Technologies, Inc., two Maryland-based minority business enterprises, will provide technical services and user support for the project.

    Governor Glendening has introduced legislation to make Maryland the national model for delivering government services over the Internet. The legislation will require State agencies to make all of their services available on-line: 50 percent by 2002, 65 percent by 2003 and 80 percent by 2004.

    Chaired by the Governor, the Board of Public Works is also comprised of Comptroller William Donald Schaefer and Treasurer Richard N. Dixon. The board is empowered by the General Assembly to approve major construction and consultant contracts, equipment purchases, property transactions, and other procurement actions.

CONTACT:

Dave Humphrey, Director of External Affairs
DGS Office of External Affairs
410-767-4652
E-MAIL: Dave.Humphrey@dgs.state.md.us

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