Fair Practices Minority Business Enterprise/Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (MBE/DBE)
MTA's MBE/DBE Program is an important economic development and business support program for the minority business community. This program is designed to achieve the maximum, practical level of business participation on contracts by this Administration.
( Download Acting Secretary Darrell Mobley's Policy Statement)
MTA provides technical assistance and contracting opportunities for Minority and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in an effort to enable them to compete with the general contracting community.
Comments and questions may be made to MTA Office of Fair Practices, 6 Saint Paul Street, 20th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202, Phone (410) 767-3944.
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History of MBE/DBE
In 1987, the General Assembly enacted legislation to create an MBE Program to encourage minority-owned firms to participate in the State procurement process. Current MBE law requires agencies to structure their procurements to try to achieve an overall minimum goal of 25% of the total dollar value of their procurement contracts directly or indirectly from certified MBE firms.
To become eligible for certification as an MBE firm, a business must be at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. If an individual belongs to one of the following groups, African-American, Hispanic-American, Asian-American, Native-American, Women or Disabled, he or she is presumed to be socially and economically disadvantaged under current State law. The criteria for MBE eligibility is made on a case-by-case basis.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) DBE Program provides a vehicle for increasing the participation by certified DBE firms in State and local procurements that are funded with assistance from the USDOT.
To become eligible for certification as a DBE, a business must be at least 51% owned and controlled by a socially and economically disadvantaged individual(s). If an individual belongs to one of the following groups, Women, African-American, Hispanic-American, Native-American, Asian-Pacific American and Sub-continent Asian-Pacific American, he or she is presumed to be socially and economically disadvantaged under Federal law. The criteria for DBE eligibility is made on a case-by-case basis.
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MBE/DBE Program Participation
Participation in the MBE and/or DBE Program requires that a firm obtain certification as an MBE and/or DBE. The Maryland Department of Transportation(MDOT) is the certification agency for the State of Maryland and is the only State agency that has authority to certify firms as MBEs and/or DBEs. Additional information on MBE/DBE is available online at MDOT Online.
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Procurement Opportunities
All State agencies are required to use eMarylandMarketplace (eMM) to advertise contract opportunities. A vendor must be registered on eMM to receive a contract award. Maryland Department of General Services (DGS) administers eMM. Additional information on eMM is available online at Ebid.
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MBE/DBE Resources
The following resources are available online:
Click for additional information to the Service Status above.
