Procurement Compliance Bulletin
2.14.2025
Celebrating Love and Inclusion!
When we think of February, two things often come to mind: love (i.e., Valentine's Day) and Black History Month. We tend to love our families, friends, jobs, among a host of many other things. Love is what keeps us moving, makes us happy and gets us through the best and worst of times. Black History Month brings the remembrance of numerous African Americans who have paved the way for a better today. Great inventions, ideologies, and innovations have moved us forward.
During the month of February, we hope that you reflect on two additional things: spreading more procurement opportunities to minority, small, women, and veteran-owned businesses and increasing the number of participants within the Small Business Reserve (SBR), Veteran-Owned Small Business Enterprise (VSBE) and Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) programs. An increase in certified firms will allow more procurements to be designated as SBR and/or increase the number of contracts with MBE/VSBE goals. We challenge you to make this month your largest goal-setting, direct-soliciting, and/or credit card purchasing initiative towards these small businesses -- it will keep them moving, make them happy, and get them through these challenging times. Happy Valentine's Day to you and let's celebrate Black History Month with renewed vigor for our socially and economically disadvantaged businesses!
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This training will cover a broad range of topics that impact many areas of each program. We encourage Program Liaisons and internal stakeholders that participate in any areas of the MBE, VSBE, and SBR programs to attend. This session will be particularly impactful to report preparers and all individuals who help collect and curate data. Training topics will include:
- Expansion of the Small Business Preference Program
- Outreach Overview
- MBE/VSBE Scorecard
- Executive Order
- Program Updates (All programs)
- Annual Report Findings (All programs)
- QTR 2 Findings (All programs)
- Socioeconomic Data Reporting Guidance Live Examples from Annual Reporting
If you have not already done so, please register using the link below for this training:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_buNlBEJaSUy3_YwYHECsdw#/registration
It is our pleasure to share the FY2024 Annual Report published by the Governor's Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs. It contains our executive analysis of the performance of all participating agencies/departments in the MBE, VSBE, and SBR socioeconomic procurement programs. Please take the time to review the full content as well as your unit's performance. Achieving Governor Moore's goal of highlighting our priorities will take the work of a village that is committed to changing old behaviors and identifying new pathways to access fair and equitable procurement processes so we can foster increased participation among our small, minority, women, and veteran-owned vendors.
Designated MBE Compliance Manager One-on-One Scheduling
Each MBE Compliance Manager has been assigned to specific participating agencies, to provide more tailored and hands-on assistance. An email was sent out to each MBE liaison on January 28, 2025, a list was provided of each agencies designation.
Below are Karen Reyes and Tiara Randolph's Calendly links to make it easy for you to schedule one-on-one sessions whenever you need guidance or have questions. We look forward to collaborating with you to ensure your success as an MBE liaison.
Karen Reyes Calendly Link
Tiara Randolph Calendly Link
Feel free to reach out via email as well:
Karen Reyes - karen.reyes@maryland.gov
Tiara Randolph - tiara.randolph@maryland.gov
FY2025 Mid-Year Check-In and Program Updates
Per COMAR 21.11.01.06 (A) (2) and EXECUTIVE ORDER 01.01.2024.38
We are now in the Q3 of FY2025.
A procurement with a total dollar value between $50,000 and $500,000 shall be designated for the small business reserve program as long as SBR market research indicates that two or more Certified Small Businesses under the SBR program can perform the work or provide the desired goods or services. If the eligible procurement is not being designated as SBR, then the unit must submit the prescribed exemption or request a waiver of SBR designation by sending the completed PRG Evaluation - SBR Program Designation Worksheet to the SBR Waiver mailbox per the Department of General Services (DGS) Office of State Procurement's (OSP) "Guidance and Worksheets that are being updated to reflect the FY 2024 legislation and the Executive Order- https://procurement.maryland.gov/procurement-review-group-prg/.
To address any questions or concerns about SBR waivers, reporting, certification, outreach, or training assistance, please email your SBR Compliance Manager to schedule a meeting.
Lisa Mitchell Sennaar - lisa.sennaar@maryland.gov
Tanita Johnson - tanita.johnson1@maryland.gov
FY2025 Mid-Year Check-In
As we have ended Q2, it should be time to access your awards made to VSBEs. Based on FY24 data, we see it is a best practice to utilize credit cards purchases or direct vouchers awards to certified VSBEs as a way to meet your goals and strive for the 3% spend. We add new certified businesses daily to the database, so let's spend a little more time trying to love up on VSBEs this month, if possible!
To address any questions or concerns about VSBE certification, outreach, training, or reporting, please contact the VSBE Compliance Manager.
Danielle Davis - danielle.davis2@maryland.gov.
SBR/MBE/VSBE Liaison Trainings:
February 18, 2025: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
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