§ 14-206. Percentage preference established

   (a) "Percentage preference" defined. -- In this section, "percentage preference" means the percent of the lowest responsive bid submitted by a responsible bidder who is not a small business by which a responsive bid by a small business may:

   (1) exceed the lowest bid; and

   (2) be awarded a procurement contract under this subtitle.

(b) Established. -- Subject to the approval of the Board, the Secretary of General Services, the Secretary of Transportation, and the Chancellor of the University System of Maryland each:

   (1) shall establish a percentage preference, not to exceed 8%, for each industry as follows:

      (i) a base percentage preference not to exceed 5% for all small businesses; and

      (ii) two additional preferences to the percentage preference set forth in item (i) of this paragraph as follows:

         1. 2% for veteran-owned small businesses; and

         2. 3% for disabled veteran-owned small businesses; and

   (2) may vary the percentage preference determined in item (1)(i) of this subsection among industries to account for their particular characteristics.

HISTORY: SF § 11-140; 1988, ch. 48, § 2; ch. 246, § 4; 1989, ch. 5, § 9; 1997, ch. 114, § 1; 2008, ch. 695.