Procurement Compliance Bulletin
June 23, 2025
As we approach the end of FY2025 and prepare for FY2026, we want to recognize and thank all of our liaisons and agency stakeholders for their dedication, adaptability, and hard work throughout the year. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed. As a state, we understand there is still important work ahead to continue supporting the SBR, MBE, and VSBE communities in meaningful ways. As we look forward to the new fiscal year, we reflect on the real-world impact of your daily responsibilities and the difference you make.
Impact goes beyond numbers—it’s also about the influence we have through our everyday actions. On June 4th, our office hosted a hybrid in-person/virtual Liaison meeting at the GOSBA headquarters to show appreciation for the SBR, MBE, and VSBE Liaisons and report preparers. It was a meaningful opportunity for staff across State Agencies to reconnect, meet new colleagues, celebrate successes, and recognize those who consistently demonstrate commitment, dedication, and service. Thank you for your continued support of the SBR, MBE, and VSBE Programs and the broader small business community.
We appreciate you!
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As we welcome the arrival of summer—with its graduations, family gatherings, and well-earned breaks—let us also take time to honor a moment in history that shaped the course of our nation. Juneteenth, celebrated each year on June 19th, marks the day in 1865 when enslaved African Americans in Texas finally learned of their freedom—more than two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.
Though Juneteenth did not become a federal holiday until 2021, African American communities have long recognized and celebrated this day as a powerful symbol of liberation, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of justice. For over 155 years, it has served as a reminder of the struggle for equality and the sacrifices made by generations who fought for the freedoms many of us enjoy today.
As we observe Juneteenth, let us reflect not only on the history it represents but also on the progress we have made—and the work that still lies ahead. Let us honor those who came before us with courage and conviction, and recommit ourselves to building a future rooted in equity, inclusion, and dignity for all.
Happy Juneteenth!
The Procurement Forecast is provided to the public and serves as a valuable tool for the small, minority, women, and veteran business community.
The FY2026 updated Procurement Forecast instructions and template are available in the SBR and VSBE Reporting Toolkits. This is a mandatory report for all participating units. Each unit submits only one Forecast that includes all of your eligible projected procurements over $100,000.
Please DO NOT use the FY2025 template. Also, do not modify the template. It must be uploaded to our Forecast database and cannot be uploaded if the spreadsheet is modified.
Forward completed reports to compliance.gosba@maryland.gov
If you have any questions, you may contact Lisa Mitchell Sennaar lisa.sennaar@maryland.gov
FY2025 Annual Reporting
The Annual Reporting period begins on July 1,2025
The annual reporting period will commence after the close of FY2025. 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, all reporting units should work on the FY2025 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, 2025.
COMING SOON!!!
A google form survey will be sent to all MBE Liaisons and Report Preparers on July 1, 2025 to sign up for dedicated training sessions (several times between July 1, 2025 - September 16, 2025) for Annual Reporting:
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Awards Training will be broken down by the:
- Annual Report Forms (Form 1 & 2)
- Contracts Inventory
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Payments Training will focus on the:
- Form 3 Payment Portal (Manual & Template Upload Method)
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Compliance Training will focus on the:
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Backup Data training will focus on:
- How to properly scrub and organize the data for final submission
If you have questions pertaining to the MBE Annual Report, feel free to contact your MBE Compliance Managers Karen Reyes or Tiara Randolph via email at karen.reyes@maryland.gov and tiara.randolph@maryland.gov with questions or to schedule a meeting.
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 Annual Reporting
The Annual Reporting period begins on July 1,2025
The annual reporting period will commence after the close of FY2025. 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, all reporting units should work on the FY2025 SBR Annual Report, making sure to use the latest template. The updated SBR Quarterly/Annual Report instructions and template will be updated by July 1st in the SBR Reporting Toolkit.
FY2025 Virtual Annual Report Training
Wednesday July 24, 2025
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
We will walk through the FY2025 SBR Annual Report Template cell by cell. All SBR Liaisons and agency colleagues that are on the SBR distribution will receive a Google Meet invite. If you have not received an invite and would like to added, please email lisa.sennaar@maryland.gov and asked to be added. We are available for one-on-one training if you need additional assistance after or cannot attend our July 24th Training.
REMINDER- SBR Program Compliance (Rule of Two)
Per COMAR 21.11.01.06 (A) (2) and EXECUTIVE ORDER 01.01.2024.38
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 an eMMA search yields at least two Certified Small Businesses (SBRs) that have selected the commodity codes for work or provide the desired goods or services.
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
VSBE Compliance
Please make sure you have checked all your VSBEs in eMMA as we near the end of the fiscal year. If there are VSBEs on current contracts that might need a friendly reminder to recertify, feel free to send them a notice or I can as well, just identify them in an email to me.
VSBE Waivers
If your unit has approved ANY VSBE waivers in FY2025, please make sure you send our VSBE Compliance Manager a copy to vsbereports.gosba@maryland.gov
Working Towards the 3% Goal
As we come to the end of the fiscal year, your unit still has time to award to VSBEs. The easiest way is the direct solicitation method using the VSBE Database in eMMA. If there is a specific need, we can help you! You may email me your requests and I can help curate a list of certified VSBEs that you may reach out too. Please remember that we have to report your unit's efforts of working towards the VSBE 3% goal.
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.
by Nichelle Johnson
A dedicated Ombudsman Unit offers many benefits to procurement units participating in the MBE program. State personnel are provided:
- A place to discuss concerns regarding the implementation of the MBE program
- Assistance in dealing with compliance violations or identifying possible fraud
- Assistance in resolving contract disputes
- A central information and referral resource for policies, processes, rules, and regulations
According to the International Ombuds Association, these benefits can enhance compliance, promote better communication, foster a positive organizational culture, and empower employees. To strengthen the relationship between the Ombudsman Unit and state personnel implementing the MBE program, dedicated members of the unit will now be assigned to assist specific procurement units. This list can be found on the Ombudsman webpage under the State Agency Resources link or by clicking below.
Assigned Agencies - MBE Ombudsman Unit
We believe that this will go a long way towards more proactively identifying issues and opportunities for systemic change.
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Thanks to all of you that were able to attend our June 4, 2025 MBE, SBR, and VSBE Liaison Training either in-person or virtually. The slide deck from the training is in each of the SBR, MBE and VSBE Reporting Toolkits. Here's a Link to the recording - June 4 Combined MBE SBR VSBE Training Video
Our Agenda for the Training:
- Welcome
- Legislative Updates/Procurement Reform Act (PRA)
- General Session
- MBE Ombudsman Updates
- Procurement Review Group (PRG)
- Procurement Forecast
- Executive Order (EO) 01.01.2024.38
- Outreach
- Q&A
- Break
- Special Secretary Y. Maria Martinez Greetings
- Liaison Awards
- Icebreaker (In-person activity)
- MBE Program Updates
- SBR Program Updates
- VSBE Program Updates
- Q & A
SBR Liaison FY2025 Annual Reports Training (virtual)
Wednesday July 24, 2025, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
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