(ANNAPOLIS – March 5, 2023) – According to sources close to the State of Maryland’s procurement offices, the Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) program’s biggest challenge is resources. Hence, if Gov. Wes Moore is going to make strides in the realm of MBE, he is going to have to put unprecedented resources into the compliance aspect of the various programs in the state’s agencies.
The states around the country with MBE programs follow similarities of the federal government’s model for the DBE Program. However, each state is left to determine for themselves how serious they are about ensuring actual MBEs benefit within their procurement processes.
For instance, in Maryland, procurement professionals can make as much as $115,000 per year. Procurement professionals set the tone for how MBEs are engaged in the process.
Gov. Moore recently stated that he has given his procurement officers 60 days to come up with a plan for agencies to reach the state’s goal of 29% MBE participation. This will take a team effort and hopefully, those who have oversight or work in the MBE Offices are a part of the team.
Keep reading with us.
Support our work for just $1.99/month, or create a free account and continue reading.
No password required. Email preferences can be changed anytime from your member account.
