State Procurement - Minority Business Enterprises and Small Business Enterprises - Procurement Forecast, Employee Performance, and Outreach (Small Business Protection Act of Maryland)
The legislation specifies that when determining merit increases or promotions for procurement officers, units must consider the officers' efforts towards meeting established minority business enterprise goals. If these goals are not achieved, procurement officers may be denied promotions, merit increases, or face employment termination after three consecutive years of non-improvement. This provision aims to hold procurement personnel accountable for advancing minority and small business participation in state contracts.
Senate Bill 578, titled the Small Business Protection Act of Maryland, aims to enhance the participation of minority and small business enterprises in state procurement processes. The bill mandates that each state unit publish an annual procurement forecast on their website, which outlines anticipated procurements and the corresponding minority business enterprise participation goals. This transparency is intended to provide small businesses with better access to contracting opportunities and foster competition among bidders.
Opponents of SB578 may express concerns that tying employee performance evaluations to minority business enterprise metrics could create undue pressure and potentially lead to retaliatory actions against employees. Conversely, supporters argue that it is a necessary step to ensure that procurement practices are equitable and inclusive. The bill also places a greater emphasis on outreach efforts directed at small businesses, which may require the allocation of additional resources from state units, raising questions about implementation practicality.