Procurement Compliance Bulletin
6.15.2022
In our June Small Biz Bulletin, Special Secretary Jimmy Rhee mentions how local small businesses are the foundation of our states economic wellbeing. With an impact this profound, we thought it would be appropriate to discuss the impact that we, as internal stakeholders, have on small businesses. Each day liaisons and other procurement staff interact with small businesses who are seeking to do business with the state. The state benefits most when there are numerous available small, minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses who are qualified, capable, and certified, thereby increasing competition. As representatives of state agencies, we must all take part in ensuring that the small business community is given access to resources, information, and opportunities. We can each do our part by being responsive to inquiries from vendors, providing them with valuable information and feedback, connecting them to educational opportunities (such as the Technical Training Classroom webinar series), and hosting outreach events. Vendors who take this information and use it wisely often do well in the state contracting arena. An example is the many exceptional small businesses that won awards last week during the SBA's 2022 small business awards program. Four such businesses were even SBR, MBE, and VSBE certified. We encourage each of you to continue to do your best to assist our small businesses as they navigate state procurement. It makes a difference!
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The FY2023 Procurement Forecast instructions and template are located in both the MBE Reporting Toolkit and the SBR Reporting Toolkit. Agencies only need to submit one report with all projected procurements, including SBR designated procurements and those with MBE and VSBE goals.
Keep in mind the forecast is provided to the public and serves as an important tool for the small, minority, women, and veteran business community. Contracting opportunities are vital to the recovery of the small business community.
Procurement Forecasts, which must be provided in EXCEL FORMAT,
should be submitted via email to:
compliance.gosba@maryland.gov
For any questions regarding the Procurement Forecast, email
Lisa Mitchell Sennaar at lisa.sennaar@maryland.gov.
The consolidated Strategic Plan template is available in the SBR Reporting Toolkit and the MBE Reporting Toolkit.
The consolidated plan has distinct SBR and MBE sections. For those agencies that participate in both the MBE and SBR Programs, you will make your own determination on the best way to coordinate and compile the information for each section of the consolidated report. For those agencies that are not SBR participating agencies, you will fill out the MBE portion only, and note that you are not a SBR participating agency.
The strategic plan is a vehicle for agencies to review their progress over time and map out a plan to continue and increase engagement of certified SBR/MBE firms.
Strategic Plans should be submitted via email to:
compliance.gosba@maryland.gov
For any questions regarding the consolidated Strategic Plan, email
Nichelle Johnson at nichelle.johnson1@maryland.gov
or Lisa Mitchell Sennaar at lisa.sennaar@maryland.gov.
New VSBE eMMA Enhancement-
We are excited to announce the new VSBE eMMA enhancement went live on June 9, 2022. This assigned a VB number (VBXX-XXXXXX) to all active VSBE vendors. The online application process also received an update; asking the vendor to confirm its for-profit status and allowing the Maryland Department of Veteran Affairs to completely automate the veteran verification process. This will allow potential VSBE vendors a quicker processing time.
Please remember to check eMMA for all certified and active VSBE vendors, as it is the sole source of the most accurate and up-to-date information.
VSBE Liaison Training Is Coming
Get ready for the first VSBE Liaison Training session which will be held virtually on Thursday, July 14, 2022 from 9-11:30 am.
This session will include an extensive VSBE Program deep dive and a review of the new and improved online VSBE Toolkit. We will also cover updates to the VSBE certification process in eMMA, updates to a variety of the existing VSBE forms, and a review of the new regulations that have impacted the program.
For any questions regarding the VSBE Program, or to be added to the
VSBE Liaison Training calendar invitations, email
Danielle Davis at danielle.davis2@maryland.gov.
MBE Program
Reporting - The Annual Reporting period begins on July 1, 2022
The annual reporting period will commence after the close of FY22. Annual reports will be due September 30th and should contain data from the start of the fiscal year.
Please remember that liaisons do not submit a 4th quarter report. Instead agencies should work on the FY22 MBE Annual Report, making sure to use the latest templates. The MBE Annual Report instructions and template will be updated to the MBE Reporting Toolkit by July 1, 2022.
Training
The next MBE Liaison Training will occur on June 23, 2022. Training will include an overview of legislation from the 2022 Maryland General Assembly that impacts the MBE Program. Check your calendar to make sure you have the meeting invite.
For any questions about the MBE Program, or to be added to the
MBE Liaison Training calendar invitations, email
Nichelle Johnson at nichelle.johnson1@maryland.gov.
SBR Program Reporting
The Annual Reporting period begins on July 1, 2022
The annual reporting period will commence after the close of FY22. Annual reports will be due September 30th and should contain data from the start of the fiscal year.
Please remember that liaisons do not submit a 4th quarter report. Instead agencies should work on the FY22 SBR Annual Report, making sure to use the latest templates. The SBR Annual Report instructions and template will be updated to the SBR Reporting Toolkit by July 1, 2022.
Training
SBR Liaison Virtual Training was held on June 2, 2022. You may access the recording of the Training and the slide deck in the SBR Toolkit.
For any questions regarding the SBR Program, or to be added to the
SBR Liaison Training calendar invitations, email
Lisa Mitchell Sennaar at lisa.sennaar@maryland.gov.
Compliance Update
Reminder: - Check your calendar!
The next Quarterly Compliance Call is June 16, 2022 from 10 am to 12 noon.
The purpose of this conference call is to address issues impacting the SBR, MBE, and VSBE procurement programs in an open and transparent forum. Topics will include an overview of legislation from the 2022 Maryland General Assembly that impacts the MBE, SBR and/or VSBE procurement programs.
Check your calendar for this invitation. If you have questions about the Compliance Call or would like to add a staff member to our mailing list, please email lisa.sennaar@maryland.gov or nichelle.johnson1@maryland.gov. If you do not wish to attend any upcoming meetings, simply decline the meeting invitation.
Upcoming Surveys
As previously announced, the House Appropriations Committee has mandated a second series of surveys to address ongoing concerns about attainment of MBE goals, liaison vacancies, and the liaison's role within each agency. The surveys are being conducted by the Governor's Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs in collaboration with the Department of General Services, Office of State Procurement. A report is due to the Committee in December.
Questions about the surveys may be directed to
MBE Compliance Manager, Nichelle Johnson at
nichelle.johnson1@maryland.gov or 410-697-9605.
Quarterly Compliance Call
June 16, 2022
10 am - 12 noon
MBE Liaison Training (Virtual)
June 23, 2022
9 am - 12 noon
VSBE Liaison Training (Virtual)
July 14, 2022
9 am - 11:30am
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