Tag: Minority Business Enterprise

Minority business participation in state contracts peaks, but advocates say numbers are skewed

Minority business participation in state contracts last year reached its highest level since the program began in 1978, a Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs report said.

Minority business enterprises (MBE) made up 24% of state procurement awards in FY 2011 and were given $1.6 billion worth of business, an 18% increase from FY 2010. The goal for the agencies has been 25% MBE participation in state contracts.

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MBE researcher awarded state contract despite protest

A new contract for the company whose work will be used to justify Maryland’s minority business contracting program was awarded in spite of protests from another bidder for the project, which argued that the current contractor puts the program at risk.

The Board of Public works gave a $2 million, three-year extension to National Economic Research Associates Inc., which has worked with the state on its Minority Business Enterprise program since 2000. Under the contract, NERA will continue to study whether the state still needs special programs to direct state contracting dollars to firms owned by minorities and women.

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