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Maryland Aviation Administration
Minority/Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program

General Information

To efficiently, effectively and economically procure the required materials and services necessary to provide outstanding airport facilities and services for the traveling public, the airline industry and the State of Maryland.

Under federal and state guidance, the Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA) established the Minority/Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (M/DBE) Program. With this program, the MAA is making persistent efforts to ensure nondiscrimination in contract awards and administration and to create a level playing field on which M/DBEs can compete.

Over the past five years, M/DBEs earned more than $121 million in various contracts and projects launched by the MAA. The M/DBE participation averaged 25 percent during that period, extending to fields such as architectural, engineering, construction, maintenance and services.

In the future, the MAA will continue developing the M/DBE Program and maintaining the agency's tradition of fair practices. One of the MAA's plans is to open a Small and Minority Business Resource Center, providing technical and referral services to small and minority-owned businesses that serve the MAA.

REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

The MAA operates the M/DBE program in accordance with the regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT). These regulations include:

• 49 CFR Part 23 – Participation by Disadvantaged Business Enterprise in Airport Concessions
• 49 CFR Part 26 – Participation by Disadvantaged Business Enterprise in Department of Transportation Financial Assistance Programs
• State of Maryland M/DBE Program Manual

The MAA requires that all contractors comply with the Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Program. Affirmative Actions are specific steps taken to eliminate discrimination and its effects, to ensure nondiscriminatory results and practices in the future, and to involve MBEs fully in contracts and programs sponsored by the MAA. Contractors shall cooperate with the MAA in carrying out their equal opportunity obligations and in the MAA's reviews of contractors’ activities performed under contractual agreements. The legal mandates of the Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Program include:

• Title VI, Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Title VII, Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Presidential Executive Order 11246
• The Age Discrimination Act of 1967
• National Labor Relations Act of 1935
• Governor’s Code of Fair Employment Practices for the State of Maryland
• Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Public Law 93-112)
• Section 13-219, State Finance and Procurement Article, Annotated Code of Maryland

PROGRAM OPERATION

The MAA's M/DBE Program is a goal-oriented program. In most contracts, the MAA establishes M/DBE goals based on the available work, available M/DBEs and other factors. An advisory committee will be set up to ensure that M/DBEs have full participation in MAA's ongoing development program.

In addition, the MAA encourages M/DBEs to compete in a race-neutral environment. To promote business exchange and cooperation, the MAA hosts an annual outreach Business Networking and Procurement Fair to disseminate information and facilitate alliances between M/DBEs and other enterprises. The fair, held each fall, is designed to reach the business communities in Maryland, Washington D.C., and Virginia. Open discussions and seminars are integrated into the event. On October 25, 2001, the sixth annual Business Networking and Procurement Fair was held, with about 40 companies and organizations participating in the event.

GET INVOLVED

The MAA encourages all eligible minority and disadvantaged businesses to become certified and compete for the MAA's upcoming projects. If you are a minority/ disadvantaged business owner and interested in getting M/DBE certified, click here to be directed to certification information on MDOT's MBE Program web site.

The MAA "fax on demand" procurement hotline provides information such as contract opportunities, lists of plan holders, and contract schedules to the contracting community. The procurement hotline number is 410-859-7900.

When an M/DBE works on contracts awarded by the MAA, it may contact the Maryland Small Business Development Financing Authority (MSBDFA), which provides contract financing and surety bonding assistance. MSBDFA can be contacted via telephone at 410-333-4270 or click here to be directed to their web site.

If you are a potential prime contractor and looking for prospective M/DBE subcontractors, you can find all eligible M/DBEs listed in the MDOT MBE/DBE Directory. Click here to reach the directory.