1. (a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.
2. (b) “Certification agency” has the meaning stated in § 14-301 of this title.
3. (c) “Economically disadvantaged individual” has the meaning stated in § 14-301 of this title.

4. (d) “Small business” means:

   1. (1) a certified minority business enterprise, as defined in § 14-301 of this title, that meets the criteria specified under item (3) of this subsection;
   2. (2) a veteran-owned small business enterprise, as defined in § 14-601 of this title, that meets the criteria specified under item (3) of this subsection;

   3. (3) a business, other than a broker, that meets the following criteria:

      1. (i) the business is independently owned and operated;
      2. (ii) the business is not a subsidiary of another business;
      3. (iii) the business is not dominant in its field of operation; and

      4. (iv) 1. A. the wholesale operations of the business did not employ more than 50 persons in its most recently completed 3 fiscal years;

         1. B. the retail operations of the business did not employ more than 25 persons in its most recently completed 3 fiscal years;
         2. C. the manufacturing operations of the business did not employ more than 100 persons in its most recently completed 3 fiscal years;
         3. D. the service operations of the business did not employ more than 100 persons in its most recently completed 3 fiscal years;
         4. E. the construction operations of the business did not employ more than 50 persons in its most recently completed 3 fiscal years; and
         5. F. the architectural and engineering services of the business did not employ more than 100 persons in its most recently completed 3 fiscal years; or

         6. 2. A. the gross sales of the wholesale operations of the business did not exceed an average of $4,000,000 in its most recently completed 3 fiscal years;

            1. B. the gross sales of the retail operations of the business did not exceed an average of $3,000,000 in its most recently completed 3 fiscal years;
            2. C. the gross sales of the manufacturing operations of the business did not exceed an average of $2,000,000 in its most recently completed 3 fiscal years;
            3. D. the gross sales of the service operations of the business did not exceed an average of $10,000,000 in its most recently completed 3 fiscal years;
            4. E. the gross sales of the construction operations of the business did not exceed an average of $7,000,000 in its most recently completed 3 fiscal years; and
            5. F. the gross sales of the architectural and engineering services of the business did not exceed an average of $4,500,000 in its most recently completed 3 fiscal years; or
   4. (4) a joint venture of two or more persons associated to carry out a single business activity for a limited purpose or time that meets the criteria specified under item (3) of this subsection.
5. (e) “Small business reserve” means those procurements that are limited to responses from small businesses under § 14-502(c) of this subtitle.

Added by Acts 2004, c. 75, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2004. Amended by Acts 2006, c. 342, § 1, eff. June 1, 2006; Acts 2007, c. 514, § 1, eff. July 1, 2007; Acts 2008, c. 9, § 2, eff. July 1, 2008; Acts 2008, c. 388, §§ 1, 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2008; Acts 2008, c. 389, §§ 1, 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2008; Acts 2010, c. 22, § 1, eff. July 1, 2010; Acts 2012, c. 538, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2012; Acts 2012, c. 539, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2012; Acts 2013, c. 43, § 5; Acts 2015, c. 22, § 5; Acts 2016, c. 8, § 5; Acts 2017, c. 62, § 1, eff. April 11, 2017; Acts 2017, c. 438, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2017; Acts 2021, c. 78, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2021; Acts 2021, c. 79, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2021; Acts 2024, c. 582, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2024; Acts 2024, c. 583, §1, eff. Oct. 1, 2024; Acts 2026, c. 82, § 2, eff. June 1, 2026.