It is a pleasure to welcome all of you to this important event - the signing of Baltimore County’s new Minority and Women Business Enterprise Executive Order. This year, Baltimore County marks its 350th anniversary. And if there is one important lesson learned from history, it is that the responsibilities of government are broad and varied, and that often when government takes a leadership role, the private sector follows. This leadership responsibility includes encouraging and supporting the growth and expansion of minority and women owned businesses.
The high quality of life which we enjoy in Baltimore County depends upon opportunity being available to all regardless of race, gender, religion, or ethnic background. As the poet Maya Angelou once observed, “We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color.” Baltimore County appreciates that diversity in our marketplace is as important as diversity in our schools and our neighborhoods.
That is why we commissioned a study of minority and women-owned businesses and their availability to do work in Baltimore County. This study was recently concluded, and as a result of its findings, we are making several changes in our Executive Order regarding the policies and procedures related to minority and women-owned business enterprises. We are increasing our overall goal of participation of minority and women-owned businesses on all County contracts from 12% to 15%. This is a serious goal, and all contractors planning to do business in this County are on notice -- waivers will be granted only in the rarest of circumstances. We are also building in flexibility for greater participation by minority and women- owned businesses in those areas where there are a greater number of minority and women-owned firms available to do the work. In order to create better cooperation between prime contractors and our subcontractor pool and to improve minority and women-owned business participation on County contracts, all contractors will be required to submit their MBE/WBE participation plans as part of their initial bids and those plans will count in the bidding process. After a bid is awarded, prime contractors will be required to report to the County through a new online system called Prism, designed by Early Morning Software, a local MBE firm. This system will go online in the near future, and it will enable our Office of Fair Practices to follow a contract’s progress with up-to-date information, ensuring that all general contractors and MBE and WBE subcontractors are performing according to the bid plan approved by the County. This software will also make it possible for Baltimore County to monitor contract payments, including payments from the contractor to the subcontractor so we can ensure that prompt payment is being made for work performed. Baltimore County is modifying our Procurement Review Group, by expanding its authority to examine all contracts on a case-by-case basis. This group will determine if participation goals can be adjusted, based on the number of subcontracting opportunities available and the number of minority and women-owned businesses that are ready, willing, and able to take advantage of these opportunities.
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