Procurement Resources

Last Update - May 17, 2023

"Procurement" includes all functions that pertain to the process of leasing real property as a lessee, and the process of buying, leasing as lessee, purchasing, or otherwise obtaining any supplies, services, construction, construction-related services, architectural services, engineering services, or services provided under an energy performance contract, including description of requirements, selection, and solicitation of sources, preparation and award of contract, and all phases of contract administration.

Welcome to Maryland Procurement!

Governing Regulations and Approval Authorities

The statute governing Maryland' procurement process can be found in the Division II of the State Finance and Procurement Article of the Maryland Annotated Code (SFP), Annotated Code of Maryland, State Finance and Procurement Article.

The administrative regulations covering procurement issues can be found in the Code of Maryland Regulations COMAR, Title 21 - State Procurement Regulations. 

Additional regulations, guidelines, and polices can be found in the following:

  • State of Maryland Procurement Manual on the State Procurement Website
  • Corporate Purchasing Card Program Policy and Procedures, CPC, revised 11/22/2019
  • 23.02.01 Standard Travel Regulations, Travel
  • Department of General Services Inventory Standards and Support Services Division, Handbook, effective 7/01/2012

Approval Authorities

The Board of Public Works (BPW) is the authority over procurement and contracting. The BPW comprises the Governor, Treasurer, and Comptroller. The Board controls procurement by most State agencies (including the direct review and approval of most State contracts exceeding $200,000); adopts regulations (COMAR Title 21); sets procurement policy; and establishes internal operational procedures. The BPW recognizes the following Control and Procurement authorities:

  • The State Treasurer - banking; investment; and other financial services as well as insurances and insurance related needs;

  • Department of General Services (DGS), Office of State Procurement - capital construction contracts, construction-related services contracts, information technology contracts, commodities, service contracts, architectural and engineering contracts, maintenance contracts, contracts for rental vehicles supplied to using agencies in accordance with COMAR 21.02.05.08, secondary competition awards, renewal options, and modifications in accordance with COMAR 21.05.13.06, capital construction change orders, capital construction-related service change orders, in the amount of $200,000 or less.

  • Department of Transportation (MDOT) - Transportation-related construction contracts in the amount of $200,000 or less; capital construction-related service contracts; architectural and engineering contracts; maintenance contracts; single item of equipment or single equipment lease within the procurement authority of the Secretary of Transportation or the Maryland Transportation Authority;

  • Maryland Port Commission - procurement contracts within the Maryland Port Commission' jurisdiction.

Other State Agencies Directory

Maryland State Agency Websites

Statewide Contracts and Preferred Providers

When the State cannot meet its own needs, an agency must consider whether the need can be met by other resources.

Statewide Contracts

The agency determines if there is an existing Statewide contract already in place from which the agency can procure the needed goods or services.

Preferred Providers

When the State cannot meet its own needs and does not already have a Statewide contract in place, an agency must consider whether the need can be met by a preferred provider before proceeding to a competitive procurement.

The order of priority for preferred providers is as follows:

  • Maryland Correction Enterprises (MCE):
     https://www.mce.md.gov
    A unit of the Division of Corrections of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services that is authorized by law to use prison labor to produce supplies or to provide services for sale to public entities and certain not-for-profit organizations.
  • Blind Industries and Services of Maryland (BISM):
     https://www.bism.org
    The entity designated by law to produce supplies manufactured and assembled by processes involving blind workers.

  • Community Service Provider (Maryland Works):
     http://mdworks.com
    An entity, the net income of which does not inure in whole or in part to the benefit of any shareholder or other individual, that is: (a) Organized under the laws of the United States or the State of Maryland; (b) Accredited by the Division or Rehabilitation Services of the State Department of Education for participation in the Employment Works Program; and (c) Operated in the interest of individuals who have a mental or physical disability, including blindness.

Minority Business Enterprises (MBE)

The mission of the Governor' Office of Small, Minority & Women' Business Affairs (GOSBA) is facilitating minority business enterprise activities through coordinating and promoting government programs aimed at strengthening and preserving the state' 200,000 minority and women owned businesses.

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) is tasked with providing information regarding certification as a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), and/or Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE).

Maryland's VSBE Program provides contracting opportunities on state-funded procurements for qualified veteran-owned small businesses.

The goal is to achieve an overall minimum of 1% of the entities' total dollar value of procurement contracts to be made directly (prime contractor) or indirectly (subcontractors) with certified veteran-owned small business enterprises.

Maryland is committed to the growth and success of our small business community. In 2004, the state created the Small Business Reserve (SBR) Program, providing small businesses with the opportunity to participate as prime contractors on state contracts by establishing a unique marketplace where small businesses compete against other small businesses instead of larger, more established companies.

Under state procurement law, the SBR Program directs 66 participating agencies/departments to spend at least 15% of its fiscal year procurement expenditures with qualified small businesses.

Once a solicitation has been designated as "SBR," an award can only be made to a registered SBR vendor. Certification is an online process through the vendor registration process on the state's eProcurement platform, eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA). Vendors attest to meeting the eligibility standards and must re-certify annually. There is no cost to participate in the SBR Program.

 Program Links

eMaryland MarketPlace Advantage (eMMA) — Online Procurement System

eMaryland MarketPlace Advantage (eMMA)

eMMA is the State of Maryland's electronic commerce system where bid opportunities and awards are posted. eMMA is administered by the Maryland Department of General Services and used by Maryland State Agencies as well as many counties and local municipalities.   

Questions and support for eMMA

There are numerous Quick Reference Guides (QRGs) available at https://procurement.maryland.gov/emma-qrgs/; these Guides provide step-by-step instructions and screenshots on working within eMMA.

Contact the eMMA Project Team by at emma.helpdesk@maryland.gov

Doing Business in Maryland

Vendor Payments

Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Program

A business may verify it is in in good standing and does not owe any monies to the State by contacting the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT).

 

Doing Business in Maryland

New corporations must file articles of incorporation. Foreign or existing corporations must register to do business in Maryland. New corporations do not need to register with the Comptroller' Office, but they must file a corporation income tax return or extension after the close of the initial year. To form a corporation, contact the Department of Assessments and Taxation in Baltimore at 410-767-1340.

Additional Resources

Maryland's Public Information Act ("PIA") gives the public the right to access government records without unnecessary cost and delay.

Training

The Financial Management Information Systems (FMIS) is a comprehensive system of integrated software applications, business procedures, and network technology that support agency-based accounting, purchasing, budgeting, personnel and asset management with the State of Maryland government. The Department of Information Technology provide on their website several FMIS elearning modules and training documents. Some of the topics include:

  • ADPICS
  • ANSWERS
  • FMIS
  • Procurement
  • Security

Governor's office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs Technical Training Classroom

Each month free webinars are curated to help small, minority, women, and veteran business owners improve core competencies and gain an insightful understanding of the State's procurement processes. All sessions are free and require advance registration. Please click the link to learn more https://gomdsmallbiz.maryland.gov/Pages/Technical-Training-Classroom.aspx.

Maryland Procurement Academy (MDPA)

The mission of the Maryland Procurement Academy is to provide the highest quality training and performance support for the achievement of the goals of the Office of State Procurement. The Maryland Procurement Academy (MDPA) provides training and performance support resources for Maryland's procurement professionals. Delivered by certified instructors to develop Maryland's procurement workforce, the Maryland Procurement Academy's goal is to enhance efficiencies, ensure ethical behaviors, develop quality personnel, and support Maryland Procurement.

To meet the State of Maryland's Procurement Mission, the Office of State Procurement, through its Maryland Procurement Academy, provides training and support resources for public procurement professionals as well as vendors in the State of Maryland. This is accomplished through two distinct focuses;

  • Public Procurement Professionals and,
  • Vendor Training and Resources

Browse the resource pages to find training and support resources at https://procurement.maryland.gov/training/.

eMaryland MarketPlace Advantage (eMMA)

On Demand State User Training: https://gotostage.com/channel/emma
On Demand Vendor Training: https://gotostage.com/channel/emmavendortraining
Video Training: https://www.youtube.com/c/MDGeneralServices/playlists

Organizations

NIGP, The Institute for Public Procurement

Maryland Public Purchasing Association, Inc (MPPA), a Chapter of NIGP

Last Update 11/15/2021

The Procurement Unit is part of the Office of Administration and Finance (Finance Office) within the Comptroller of Maryland. The primary purpose of the Finance Office is to provide fiscal and administrative support to the Divisions of the Comptroller of Maryland. The Procurement Unit manages procurements which allow the agency to acquire the commodities, services and technology that are necessary to carry out the Comptroller's mission.

For information on the Comptroller of Maryland's current solicitations, please visit our Bid Board.

To see a list of the Comptroller of Maryland's contracts that may have potential procurement opportunities please visit our Contracts Library.