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<section article="gsf" article_name="State Finance and Procurement" number="14-103" title_number="14" title_name="Preferences" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Preferences to Benefit Disadvantaged Individuals">
  <level label="a">
    <text>A State or State aided or controlled entity shall buy supplies and services from:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Maryland Correctional Enterprises, as provided in Title 3, Subtitle 5 of the Correctional Services Article, if Maryland Correctional Enterprises provides the supplies or services;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Blind Industries and Services of Maryland, if:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Blind Industries and Services of Maryland provides the supplies or services; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Maryland Correctional Enterprises does not provide the supplies or services; or</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>the Employment Works Program established under § 14–108 of this subtitle, if:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>a community service provider or an individual with disability owned business provides the supplies or services;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>neither Maryland Correctional Enterprises nor Blind Industries and Services of Maryland provides the supplies or services; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>a State or State aided or controlled entity is not required by law to buy the supplies or services from any other unit of the State government.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>A State or State aided or controlled entity shall give preference to the providers listed under subsection (a) of this section in the order that the providers are listed.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>To the extent practicable, a State or State aided or controlled entity shall include in a maintenance contract that has a component for housekeeping or janitorial services, a requirement that a prime contractor procure janitorial products from Blind Industries and Services of Maryland if the specified products are made, manufactured, remanufactured, packaged, repackaged, or assembled by Blind Industries and Services of Maryland and are available.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>On request by a State or State aided or controlled entity, the Pricing and Selection Committee for Preferred Providers may grant a waiver to the State or State aided or controlled entity from the requirement under subsection (a)(1) of this section if:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the price of the needed supplies and services is at least 10% above market rates for similar supplies and services; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the time at which the needed supplies and services would be delivered does not meet the entity’s needs.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Department of General Services shall adopt regulations to implement this subsection.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
