1. A. Two distinct procurement programs, the small business preference program and the small business reserve program, are structured to assist small businesses in obtaining State contracts.
2. B. The small business preference program specifically authorizes a procuring unit to apply certain percentage price preferences in favor of certified small businesses when evaluating and awarding bids on those procurements designated for a small business preference.
3. C. Except as provided in Regulation .06A(3) of this chapter, the small business reserve program applies to all procurements by a procurement unit and restricts award of a contract to certified small businesses only.

Authority: State Finance and Procurement Article, §§12-101, 14-201—14-208, and 14-501—14-505, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: July 1, 1981 (8:13 Md. R. II-5)

Regulations .01 and .02 repealed and new Regulations .01—.06 adopted effective July 4, 2005 (32:13 Md. R. 1117)

Regulation .01B amended effective February 23, 2009 (36:4 Md. R. 355); February 7, 2011 (38:3 Md. R. 152); March 11, 2019 (46:5 Md. R. 310); March 3, 2025 (52:4 Md. R. 221)

Regulation .02B amended effective July 15, 2019 (46:14 Md. R. 623); June 29, 2020 (47:13 Md. R. 643); March 3, 2025 (52:4 Md. R. 221)

Regulation .02C amended effective September 18, 2023 (50:18 Md. R. 800)

Regulation .04 amended effective March 11, 2019 (46:5 Md. R. 310); June 29, 2020 (47:13 Md. R. 643)

Regulation .04D amended effective February 23, 2009 (36:4 Md. R. 355); February 7, 2011 (38:3 Md. R. 152); May 13, 2013 (40:8 Md. R. 789)

Regulation .05 amended effective March 12, 2007 (34:5 Md. R. 562); July 15, 2019 (46:14 Md. R. 623); June 29, 2020 (47:13 Md. R. 643); March 3, 2025 (52:4 Md. R. 221)

Regulation .05B amended effective February 23, 2009 (36:4 Md. R. 355); March 11, 2019 (46:5 Md. R. 310)

Regulation .06 amended effective March 11, 2019 (46:5 Md. R. 310)

Regulation .06A amended effective March 13, 2006 (33:5 Md. R. 523); February 23, 2009 (36:4 Md. R. 355); September 18, 2023 (50:18 Md. R. 800)

Regulation .06B, D amended effective March 3, 2025 (52:4 Md. R. 221)

Regulation .06D, G amended effective September 5, 2022 (49:18 Md. R. 819)

Regulation .06E amended effective February 23, 2009 (36:4 Md. R. 355); May 13, 2013 (40:9 Md. R. 789)

Regulation .06I adopted effective November 24, 2014 (41:23 Md. R. 1376)

Regulation .06I amended effective April 29, 2024 (51:8 Md. R. 369)