1206

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 336

(2)  "Secretary" means the Secretary of General
Services, the Secretary of the Department of Transportation,
or [the Superintendent of the State Department of
Education.] THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND.

(3)  "Small business" has the meaning established
by the Secretary in rules and regulations, subject to the
criteria set forth in subsection (b) of this section.

(4)  "Small business set-aside" means a purchase
request for which the Secretary invites bids from a list of
qualified bidders including small businesses.

(b)  (1) The Secretary shall adopt rules and
regulations specifying the criteria for qualification as a
small business.

(2) The criteria shall include a maximum number
for employees and a maximum dollar volume computed on annual
sales and receipts of a bidder and all its affiliates. The
maximum number of employees and maximum dollar volume may
vary from industry to industry to the extent necessary to
reflect different characteristics. However, with respect to
maximum number of employees, a manufacturing business may
not employ more than 250 individuals. With respect to
maximum dollar volume, a wholesale business may not have
annual sales in excess of $2,500,000 for its most recent
fiscal year and a retail business or business selling
services may not have annual sales and receipts in excess of
$5,000,000.

(c)  The Secretary shall adopt rules and regulations
specifying procedures for:

(1)  Compiling and maintaining a comprehensive
bidder's list of small businesses;

(2)  Locating potential sources for various
products and services and affirmatively seeking to locate
potential minority business enterprise sources for various
products and services;

(3)  Assisting small businesses in complying with
the procedures for bidding on State contracts;

(4)  Examining requests from using authorities
for purchase of products or services to help determine which
invitations to bid are to be designated small business
set-asides;

(5)  Simplifying procurement specifications and
terms in order to increase the opportunities for small
business participation; and

(6)  Investigating the responsibility of bidders
on small business set-asides.