Baltimore City Certification Process
Certification is the process by which a business is determined to be a bona fide Minority Business Enterprise or Women’s Business Enterprise by the Minority and Women’s Business Opportunity Office. There is no application fee.
Criteria
- Independently owned and operated business
- In operation 12 months before applying for certification
- Minority or women-owned for at least 12 months before applying for certification
- Have an operating office in the Baltimore City Market Area
Return the application with the applicable documents to the address below.
Contacting the Minority and Women’s Business Opportunity Office:
City Hall, Room 101
100 N. Holliday Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
(410) 396-4355
State of Maryland Certification Process (MDOT)
The Maryland Department of Transportation is the State’s official certification agency for firms seeking status as a:
- Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)
- Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)
- Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE)
- Small Business Enterprise (SBE)
Steps to Certification
- Application – Applicant submits a complete application and all required supporting documentation. All applications can be submitted online.
- Investigation – An investigator reviews documentation submitted by applicant, conducts an on-site/job-site visit and prepares an investigative report.
- Evaluation – MBE Advisory Committee (MBEAC) reviews the investigative report to evaluate whether the applicant firm meets the MBE/DBE/ACDBE program requirement
- Determination – MBEAC Chair issues a written determination.
SBE and Checklist
MBE/DBE/ACDBE/SBE Application Assistance Workshop
MBE/DBE/ACDBE/SBE Uniform Certification Application
Federal Certification Programs
Small business contracting goals
The government works to make sure small businesses get at least 23 percent of all federal contracting dollars.
Additionally, the government tries to award a certain percentage of all federal prime contracting dollars to small businesses that meet certain socio-economic conditions.
| Small business category | Contracting dollar award goal |
|---|---|
| Women-owned small business | 5% |
| Small disadvantaged business | 5% |
| Service-disabled veteran-owned small business | 3% |
| Small business in a HUBZone | 3% |
8(a) Business Development program
The federal government’s goal is to award at least five percent of all federal contracting dollars to small disadvantaged businesses each year.
HUBZone program
The federal government’s goal is to award at least three percent of all federal contracting dollars to HUBZone-certified small businesses each year.
Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contracting program
The federal government’s goal is to award at least five percent of all federal contracting dollars to women-owned businesses each year.
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses program
The federal government’s goal is to award at least three percent of all federal contracting dollars to service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses each year.
All Small Mentor-Protégé program
Your small business can learn from an experienced government contractor through the mentor-protégé program.
