MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

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Disparity Study Fact Sheet

Under federal and state guidance, the Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA) established the Minority/Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (M/DBE) Programs. With these programs, the MAA is making efforts to ensure nondiscrimination in contract awards and administration, and to create a level playing field on which M/DBEs can compete. The MAA Vendor Portal is a web-based portal that supports the mission and vision of Maryland Aviation Administration Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. The MAA portal facilitates and supports:

• Application Process for M/DBE Certification
• DBE Program Information

M/DBE DIRECTORY
https://marylandmdbe.mdbecert.com

The Minority Business Enterprise Directory is intended to be used as a guide for selecting certified Minority Business Enterprises to utilize on State and/or USDOT assisted contracts. Information in the directory should be verified with the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Office of Minority Business Enterprise.

This web site and the information it contains are provided as a public service by the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT). The MDOT maintains this Minority Business Enterprise/Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (MBE/DBE) Directory for the purpose of providing a reference source of the firms certified by the MDOT as MBE/DBEs.

The MBE/DBE Directory lists certified firms in alphabetical order and also contains information on the specific products and/or services the firm is certified to provide. The MDOT makes no claims, promises, or guarantees regarding a certified MBE/DBE’s competence or capability to perform. It is the responsibility of the user of the information provided here to make his/her own determination regarding the capability, competence, and/or limitations of a certified MBE/DBE firm.

MDOT makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of this web site and expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions in the contents of this web site. No warranty of any kind is given with respect to the contents of this web site or any links to other web sites it may contain. Reference in this web site to any specific commercial product, process, or service, or the use of any trade or business name is for the information of the public and does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by  MDOT.

Information presented on this web site is considered public information and may be copied and/or distributed. If there is a question concerning the validity of the information provided in this directory, contact the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Office of Minority Business Enterprise. You may contact the office at (410) 865-1269 or (800) 544-6056.

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 Business Enterprise/Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (MBE/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 MBE/DBEs can compete.

Regulations & Requirements

The MAA operates the MBE and DBE programs 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
• Title 14, Subtitle 3 of the State Finance and Procurement Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, (COMAR) for all State Contracts
• State of Maryland M/DBE Program Manual

Program Operation

The MAA’s MBE/DBE Program is a goal-oriented program. In most contracts, the MAA establishes MBE/DBE goals based on the available work, available certified MBE/DBEs and other factors.

In addition, the MAA encourages MBE/DBEs to compete as prime contractors as well as subcontractors. To promote business exchange and cooperation, the MAA hosts periodic Business Networking Events to disseminate information and facilitate alliances between MBE/DBEs and other businesses. The MAA staff also participates in a number of other local business outreach events and trade fairs to reach business communities in Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia.

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 MBE/DBE certified, please visit https://www.mdot.maryland.gov/tso/pages/Index.aspx?PageId=103 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 MBE/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.

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.

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 states that “No person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race, color or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefit of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.” 42 U.S.C. § 2000d

History of Title VI

In calling for its enactment, President John F. Kennedy identified “simple justice” as the justification for Title VI:

“Simple justice requires that public funds, to which all taxpayers of all races contribute, not be spent in any fashion which encourages, entrenches, subsidizes, or results in racial discrimination. Direct discrimination by Federal, State, or local governments is prohibited by the Constitution. But indirect discrimination, through the use of Federal funds, is just as invidious; and it should not be necessary to resort to the Courts to prevent each individual violation.”

President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law on July 2, 1964.

Discrimination Prohibited by Title VI

• Prohibits entities from discriminatorily denying a protected individual any service, financial aid, or other benefit under the covered programs and activities.
• Prohibits entities from providing services or benefits to some individuals that are different from or inferior (in either quantity or quality) to those provided to others.
• Prohibits segregation or separate treatment in any manner related to the receiving program services or benefits.
• Prohibits entities from imposing different standards or conditions as prerequisites for serving individuals.

Title VI Applies To:

Language Assistance

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and Martin State Airport offer free interpretation and translation services upon request.

• 28 CFR PART 35
  the Department of Justice’s regulations governing Non-discrimination on the basis of disability in State and local government services
• 28 CFR PART 42, SUBPART C
  – DOJ’s regulation implementing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
  – Implementation of Section 815 (c) (1) of the Justice System Improvement Act of 1979
  – Also implements Executive Order 12138
• 28 CFR PART 50.3
  DOJ’s Guidelines for the enforcement of Title VI, Civil Rights Act of 1964
• 49 CFR PART 21
  DOT’s Implementing Regulations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
• 49 CFR PART 25
  DOT’s implementation of Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972
• 49 CFR PART 26
  Participation by Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in DOT Financial Assistance Programs
• 49 CFR PART 27
  DOT’s regulation implementing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended
• ADVISORY CIRCULAR 150/5100-15A
  provides information and guidance on nondiscrimination in benefits and services to the public; employment in federally-assisted construction contracts; airport employment opportunities; and benefits, services, employment and accessibility for people with disabilities.
• 49 CFR PART 28
  Enforcement of Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Handicap in Programs or Activities Conducted by the Department of Transportation
• 49 CFR PART 37
  Transportation Services for Individuals with Disabilities, implementing the transportation and related provisions of Title II and III of the ADA
• DOT POLICY GUIDANCE DOCUMENT DATED DECEMBER 14, 2005
  – Policy Guidance Concerning Recipients’ Responsibilities to Limited English Proficient (LEP) persons,
  – Federal Register Vol. 70 No. 239 (DOT’s initial LEP guidance regarding recipients’ obligation was released on January 22, 2001)
• DOJ POLICY GUIDANCE DOCUMENT DATED OCTOBER 26, 2001
  Memo re: E.O. 13166, Improving Access to Services for persons with Limited English Proficiency

• https://www.mdot.maryland.gov/tso/pages/Index.aspx
• eMaryland Marketplace
• www.dgs.maryland.gov