MBDD Overview

Related Links NEW  SAVE THE DATE: Building Capacity Expo: "Readiness for Success" NEW  Going Green NEW  Green Purchasing Day; May 22, 2008.... Read More Procurement Forecasts Prince George's County Court House, Duvall Wing Fire Restoration Project Procurement Opportunities

Prince George’s County has a strong commitment in implementing its Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Program that ensures that contracting opportunities and awards are available to the MBE community.

The Minority Business Development Division (MBDD) is located within the Office of Central Services. Its’ role is to promote the development of Minority Business Opportunities within Prince George’s County by offering the Minority Business Entrepreneurs aggressive business advocacy, training, procurement guidance and professional expert referrals.

The MBDD is the division that is charged under County Law to serve the interest of the minority business community. MBDD assists in structuring the procurement procedures and activities to facilitate and encourage the award of at least thirty percent (30%) of the total dollar value, directly or indirectly, to minority business enterprises. The value of subcontracts with minority business enterprises are included in the computation of the above dollar value.

Prince George’s County has a strong commitment in implementing its MBE Program that ensures that contracting opportunities and awards are available to the MBE community. Since 2003, the County has awarded more than $40 million (per year) to minority and female owned businesses.                          

MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE DEFINITIONS

The County’s Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Program considers a business that is:

• At least 51% owned and controlled by one or more minority individuals; and, whose management and daily operations are controlled by one or more such individuals.

Minority Individuals are defined as:

a) African Americans
b) Asian Americans
c) Females
d) Hispanic Americans

MINORITY BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES COMMISSION (MBOC)

In March 2005, the County Executive reenacted the Minority Business Opportunities Commission (MBOC). The Commission is comprised of (seven (7) volunteers who are residents of Prince George’s County and are representatives of the business and/or legal community and it also includes at least one (1) individual that represents the citizens.

The commissioners are appointed by the County Executive and confirmed by the County Council. They serve a four-year-term.

The Commissioners meet monthly to discuss issues relating to the MBE community and propose recommendations and strategies to meet MBE objectives.

THE MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE (MBE) PROGRAM

The MBE Program is comprised of three major components:

            a) MBE Procurement Assistance         
            b) Business Development
            c) MBE Certification                     

MBE PROCUREMENT ASSISTANCE

To enhance the opportunities for MBEs to participate in the County’s procurement, the following instruments are used:

• Bonus Points Systems*

For contracts valued up to $1.0 million, Prince George’s County will apply “bonus points” to any bid offered by a certified MBE. Generally, a certified County-based MBE will receive “bonus points” equaling 10% of the apparent responsible and responsive bid price offered, and any other certified MBE will receive a comparable discount bonus of 5%. These “bonus points” are applied to evaluate the certified MBE bid price only, and are not applied to ultimate payments under the contract awarded.

• RFPs and Multi-Step Bids*

Request For Proposals and Multi-Step Bids are utilized when factors other than price must be considered in making a contract award. MBE prime contractors receive 15% of the total evaluation points on RFPs. The “Bonus Points System” applies to certified MBE prime contractors once they meet the technical criteria in the Multi-Steps Bids.

Note*:   There are various procurement regulations that are utilized in facilitating the awarding of contracts to the minority and women owned businesses. The information provided is an overview.

• Mandatory Subcontracting*

In construction and other public work projects, Price George’s County requires non-MBE firms to utilize certified MBE sub-contractors to complete no less than 20% of the required work. With oversight by MBDD, this subcontract requirement may be waived only if certified MBEs are not available to perform unique and extraordinary contract requirements.

• Restricted Bids*

Where and adequate pool of certified MBEs are qualified and available to satisfy contract requirements, MBDD will advocate and recommend to the Purchasing Agent “restricting” the bid competition to certified MBEs only.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

The MBDD is fully committed to the development of the minority business community. To that effect, we provide the following services:

• Advocacy
• Matchmaking
• MBE Directory
• Procurement Opportunity Guidance
• Referral Assistance
• Seminars/Workshops

MBE CERTIFICATION

Minority Business participating in the procurement process that wish to receive the tangible benefits of the Minority Business Enterprise Program must be certified through MBDD.

MBDD accepts the MBE certification from the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) providing the minority business enterprise meets the established requirements and criteria as defined.

MBDD also attends the State of Maryland’s Department of Transportation’s Minority Business Enterprise Advisory Committee (MBEAC). The activity builds collaborative and strategic partnerships to better serve the MBE community in the certification process.

If your company is currently MBE certified by the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) or the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), MBDD will make a determination concerning your eligibility as a MBE in Prince George’s County. MBEs are required to certify on an annual basis. A directory of certified MBEs are provided annually. In Fiscal Year 2007, MBDD will provide an electronic version of the directory on-line.      

To obtain MBE certification you must:

• Complete a Bidder’s List Application that may be obtained from the County’s Contract Administration and Procurement Division, 1400 McCormick Drive, Suite 200, Largo, Maryland 20774 (301) 883-6400.

• Obtain and MBE certification letter from Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) or the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).

Contact the MBDD and provide the following documentation:

• A copy of the Bidder’s List Application and
• Submit a copy of the certification letter from either MDOT or WMATA

A Bidder’s List Application may be completed on-line at the County’s website:
www.co.pg.md.us       

If the company is not currently certified by MDOT or WMATA, you may obtain and complete an application for MBE certification by calling MDOT at
1-800-544-6056 or visit MDOT’s website: www.mdot.state.md.us or calling WMATA at 202-962-1082 or visit WMATA’s website: www.wmata.com

In addition, MBDD has an “Interim” certification to allow firms that are certified in selected jurisdictions to be included in the County’s MBE Program on a six month basis.

Back to Top