Chapter 1 – General Provisions

In this subtitle, the following terms have the meanings indicated unless the context clearly requires a different meaning.

“Baltimore City Market Area” means Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Anne Arundel County, Howard County, Harford County, Carroll County, and Queen Anne’s County.

“Bid” means a response to:

“Business enterprise” means a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, individual, sole proprietorship, joint stock company, joint venture, professional association, or any other legal entity operated for profit that is properly licensed and otherwise authorized to do business in the State of Maryland.

“Chief” means the Chief of the Minority and Women’s Business Opportunity Office.

“Contracting agency” means the City agency, department, or authorized representative that issues invitations to bid or requests for proposals.

“Contractor” means the person, firm, or legal entity with which the City has entered into an agreement.

“Joint venture” means an association between business enterprises that provides for the sharing of economic interest.

“Manufacturer” means a business enterprise that:

“Office” means the Minority and Women’s Business Opportunity Office.

“Purchasing” means the buying, renting, leasing, or otherwise obtaining or acquiring any supplies, materials, equipment, or services.

“Sole proprietorship” means a business enterprise that is 100% owned, operated, and controlled by 1 individual.

“Subcontractor” means a business enterprise that has a direct contract with a contractor to perform part of the work on a contract.

“Supplier” means a business enterprise that:

It is the policy of the City of Baltimore to promote equal business opportunity in the City’s contracting process by encouraging full and equitable participation by minority and women’s business enterprises in the provision of goods and services to the City on a contractual basis.

This subtitle applies to all contracts awarded by the City.

Every contract or other agreement between the City of Baltimore and any governmental agency, quasi-governmental agency, corporation, developer, or contractor, under which the agency, corporation, developer, or contractor receives any fiscal assistance from or through the City for the purpose of contracting with businesses to perform real estate development, renovation, maintenance, or other services must require the agency, corporation, developer, or contractor to comply with this subtitle in awarding and administering that contract or agreement.

There is a Minority and Women’s Business Opportunity Office in the Department of Law.

The Office is administered and controlled by the Chief of the Minority and Women’s Business Opportunity Office, who reports directly to the City Solicitor.

The Minority and Women’s Business Opportunity Office is responsible for the administration of this subtitle.

The Office’s duties include:

Nothing in this subtitle abrogates the authority of the Board of Estimates to award contracts under <cite data-doc="City of Baltimore, Md., Charter" data-path="VI|§11">Article VI, § 11 of the City Charter</cite>.

At its discretion, the Board of Estimates may waive minor defects and errors in a bidder’s submissions under this subtitle.

Nothing in this subtitle abrogates the authority of the Department of Finance to insure that competitive bidding is used and competitive prices are obtained in purchasing materials, supplies, equipment, and services to the fullest practicable extent, under Article VII, § 17, of <cite data-doc="City of Baltimore, Md., Charter">the City Charter</cite>.