Procurement Compliance Bulletin
September 17, 2025
by Tiara Randolph, Minority Business Enterprise Compliance Manager
As summer gives way to crisp fall air, now is the perfect time to reflect on your agency’s performance over the past year. Your ongoing commitment to Maryland’s Small Business Reserve (SBR), Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), and Veteran-Owned Small Business Enterprise (VSBE) Programs continues to advance opportunity, equity, and accountability across our State.
The FY2025 annual report submission deadline is coming soon, and this time offers each agency the opportunity to evaluate progress, highlight key achievements—such as increased SBR participation or new MBE and VSBE partnerships—and reaffirm your dedication to supplier diversity.
While you prepare, don’t forget to take a moment for yourselves: enjoy a warm cup of cider, take in the beauty of Fall walks, and stay safe as the cooler weather brings the season of colds and coughs.
Thank you for your continued partnership and the impact you make through these vital programs. As you finalize your FY2025 reports, please be sure to highlight your agency’s progress and set clear objectives to advance supplier diversity in FY2026. GOSBA looks forward to collaborating with you to build on this progress and achieve new milestones.
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Thank you to the agencies/units that have already submitted their Procurement Forecasts! If your unit has not yet forwarded the forecast, submit it as soon as possible. This is a mandatory report for all participating units. The Procurement Forecast is provided to the public and serves as a valuable tool for the small, minority, women, and veteran business community. - Procurement Forecast Portal
The FY2026 updated Procurement Forecast Instructions and template are available in the SBR and VSBE Reporting Toolkits. Each unit submits only one Forecast that includes all of your eligible projected procurements over $100,000.
Please use the FY2026 Instructions and Template. Do not use previous year's templates. Also, do not modify the template. It must be uploaded to our Forecast database and cannot be uploaded if the spreadsheet is modified. If you have any questions, you may contact Lisa Mitchell Sennaar lisa.sennaar@maryland.gov
Forward completed reports to compliance.gosba@maryland.gov
The House Appropriations Committee mandated an additional round of surveys in 2025 to address ongoing concerns about the attainment of MBE goals, MBE/SBR liaison vacancies, and the liaison's role within each participating unit. GOSBA is conducting the surveys in collaboration with the Department of General Services Office of State Procurement. A report is due to the Committee in January.
Agency MBE Participation Attainment Survey (MBE Liaisons only)
The Agency MBE Participation Attainment Survey launched on August 20, 2025.
- Surveys have been sent to Procurement Directors and MBE Liaisons.
- Liaisons will need to collaborate with procurement directors to provide accurate and scrubbed FY25 MBE annual procurement data for the survey.
- The Agency MBE Participation Attainment Survey will close on November 20, 2025.
Agency Liaison Survey (MBE & SBR Liaisons)
- A new Agency Liaison Survey launched on August 20, 2024.
- The survey will close on November 20, 2024.
- This survey is collecting data about agency liaison vacancies and the duties of MBE and SBR liaisons.
Submission of these surveys is required, and agencies that fail to submit the requested data by the due date will be reported as non-responsive to the Committee. No extension can be granted.
Questions about the surveys may be directed to your MBE Compliance Manager.
Karen Reyes - karen.reyes@maryland.gov
FY2025 Annual Reporting
The Annual Reporting Cycle has Begun
The FY2025 Annual Reporting season is now underway! As a reminder, FY2025 officially closed on June 30, 2025, and the new fiscal year (FY2026) began on July 1, 2025. All annual reports are due by September 30th and must include data from the start of the fiscal year.
Important Report Submission Reminders:
- Annual Report Forms in Excel Format: (Form 1 & 2, and Outreach Data).
- Contracts Inventory Report (Excel Format).
- Form 3 Web Portal (Data Entry in the Form 3 Web Portal).
- All backup documentation from both FMIS and non-FMIS users as EXCEL sheets.
- A completed FY2025 Annual Agency MBE Compliance Assessment Report EXCEL workbook and a signed Compliance Report in PDF format (1 file).
The MBE Reporting Toolkit is up to date. Review these resources to ensure accurate and timely submission.
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, and a list was provided of each agency's 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 began on July 1, 2025
The annual reporting period commenced after the close of FY2025. Annual reports are due no later than September 30th and should contain cumulative data from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025.
Please remember, units 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 and instructions that are in the SBR Reporting Toolkit.
An SBR Liaison FY2025 Annual Reports Training was held on July 24, 2025. We walked through the report cell by cell. If you missed the training, you may view the slide deck in our SBR Reporting Toolkit.
We are also available for one-on-one training and assistance 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
Program Updates
Terminology Change: Small Business Reserve (SBR) vendor to Certified Small Business (CSB)
This is a terminology update only. Vendors previously referred to as “Small Business Reserve (SBRs) will now be recognized as Certified Small Businesses (CSBs). Please note:
- CSB is a certification.
- As a CSB, they remain eligible to participate in both:
- Small Business Reserve (SBR) Program; and
- Small Business Preference (SBP) Program.
- Nothing about their eligibility is changing – only the name.
Longer Certification Period: Three Years
Beginning August 29, 2025 – Certified Small Business (CSB) certification will be valid for three years instead of one.
If vendors are already certified right now, when it is time to recertify, then the next certification will have a three-year validity.
What Does Your Agency Need to Do
- Update your website and any materials that reference SBR vendors to CSB terminology
- Encourage any vendors during outreach to recertify (CSB) when it is their time, so the 3-year timeframe can take effect
- Start developing your unit's internal procedures for the Small Business Preference (SBP) Program. A great resource is "The Procurement Review Group (PRG) Guidance and Worksheets" on the Department of General Services (DGS) Office of State Procurement (OSP) website. Procurement Review Group (PRG)
FY2025 Annual Reporting
Annual Reporting Season has Officially Begun
The FY2025 Annual Reporting season is now underway! As a reminder, FY2025 officially closed on June 30, 2025, and the new fiscal year (FY2026) began on July 1, 2025. All annual reports are due by October 1st and must include data from the start of the fiscal year.
The end-of-year VSBE FY2025 Annual Reporting templates have been posted to the VSBE Reporting Toolkit to be used to prepare for the October 1st mandatory submission date. A complete VSBE Annual submission includes three items:
- Completed VSBE FY2025 Annual Form with all award and payment data
- All required backup data in Excel format, both Raw and Scrubbed of 7 categories
- Submission of the FY2025 VSBE Annual Outreach Report, which is a fillable Google form link
****Any VSBE awards that were not certified in eMMA at the time of award will be extracted from your totals as they do not count per COMAR regulations****
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. Per COMAR, the VSBE Liaison should keep a copy also. Please make sure this is included in your internal policies.
VSBE Nominations
With Veterans month right around the corner, we are seeking nominations from you, of exemplary VSBEs. Feel free to nominate as many as you see fit by the deadline. VSBE Nominations
Nominations will only be accepted through Friday, 19 September.
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.
New Liaison Onboarding
We are revising our " New Liaison Onboarding" for a launch in January. You may contact SBR, VSBE and MBE Compliance Managers to schedule one-on-one meetings for your new liaisons in the interim.
SBR Compliance Managers:
Lisa Mitchell Sennaar - lisa.sennaar@maryland.gov
Tanita Johnson - tanita.johnson1@maryland.gov
VSBE Compliance Manager:
Danielle N. Davis -danielle.davis2@maryland.gov
MBE Compliance Managers:
Karen Reyes - karen.reyes@maryland.gov
Tiara Randolph - tiara.randolph@maryland.gov
by Tracie J. Bolden, MBE Ombudsman Compliance Manager
Exciting Changes Ahead!
Over the past year, the Ombudsman unit has diligently collaborated with various state agencies to prepare for recent legislative changes. These initiatives underscore the Governor's commitment to supporting small businesses while simultaneously modernizing and strengthening equitable access to state procurement opportunities.
The following actions have been implemented:
Executive Order 01.01.2024.38: “Delivering a More Efficient, Equitable, and Competitive Procurement System for Maryland”
- Extended the certification period for socioeconomic procurement programs (SBR, MBE, VSBE) to three years.
- Established the Governor’s Socioeconomic Procurement Subcabinet.
- Instituted enhanced accountability measures for Prime Contractors who consistently fail to achieve contract goals.
Commencing October 1, the subsequent legislation will come into effect:
HB 500 - Procurement Reform Act of 2025
The enactment of this bill is designed to enhance efficiency, promote equity, and support local businesses within state procurement through:
- Increasing the threshold for contracts reserved for small businesses.
- Streamlining processes to expedite payments to vendors.
- Elevating transparency and accountability in state procurement.
HB1253 - Department of Social and Economic Mobility
The establishment of this department will provide support to state government, individuals, and businesses in maintaining social equity policies throughout the state. In addition to their respective individual unit duties, the following offices will monitor trends and propose innovative approaches to social equity programs:
- The Office of Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs (OSBA) formerly GOSBA
- The Office of Minority Business Enterprises (OMBE)
- The Office of Social Equity (OSE)
These initiatives are integral to the unit's ongoing mission to drive policy changes and foster successful partnerships within the MBE program. Stakeholders should anticipate forthcoming revisions to MBE forms, additional training videos, and other resources designed to optimize agency efforts in achieving MBE compliance.
YOUR Ombudsman Team
To strengthen the relationship between the Ombudsman Unit and state personnel implementing the MBE program, dedicated compliance managers of the Ombudsman Unit are assigned specific procurement units to ensure responsive communication and ongoing support. You can find out who your agency's Ombudsman representative is by visiting the Ombudsman webpage under the State Agency Resources link or by clicking below:
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