HARRY HUGHES, Governor

3377

(vii) [Providing] PROVIDING to a small business
the reason for which any bid by the small business for a small
business [set-aside] PREFERENCE was rejected.

(2) The Secretary shall be provided assistance from
the Department of Economic and Community Development in
specifying procedures for paragraphs (l)(i) and (ii) of this
subsection.

(d)  Each Secretary may designate [purchase requests for
specified] CERTAIN PURCHASES OF supplies, [or] services, [which]
OR CONSTRUCTION RELATED SERVICES AS SMALL BUSINESS PREFERENCES.
THE DESIGNATED PURCHASES SHALL have been requested through or
with the approval of the Secretary[, as small business
set-asides]. The invitation [to bid] FOR BIDS shall indicate
purchases that have been designated small business [set-asides]
PREFERENCES.

(e)  Each small business [set-aside] PREFERENCE purchase
shall be made through bidding procedures established by the
Secretary. Invitations to bid shall be sent to small businesses
in addition to regular bidders to establish a reasonable price
range commensurate with current market conditions. Subject to
subsection (f) of this section, the purchase, contract, or
expenditure of funds shall be awarded in accordance with this
Division II of this article.

(f)  (1) Each Secretary shall establish, for each class of
businesses, a predetermined percentage preference for the
purposes of paragraph (2) of this subsection. The predetermined
percentage preferences may vary from industry to industry to
reflect different industry characteristics. The percentage is
subject to the approval of the Board of Public Works.

(2) The Secretary shall accept the lowest responsive
and responsible bid from a small business for a small business
[set-aside] PREFERENCE, if the bid does not exceed by the
predetermined percentage preference the bid received from the
lowest responsive and responsible bidder which is not a small
business for the small business [set-aside] PREFERENCE.

(g)  Each Secretary shall make a report annually within 90
days following the close of the fiscal year to the Board and the
Legislative Policy Committee of the Maryland General Assembly
about the operation and effectiveness of the small business
[set-aside] PREFERENCE program.

[Subtitle 2. Disadvantaged Business Preference.]

[18-201.] 11-141. SHELTERED WORKSHOPS.

(a)     Notwithstanding other provisions of this [article]

SUBTITLE,     supplies and services of the handicapped shall be

purchased  by the State in accordance with the provisions of this
section.