Maryland Gets One-Stop State Procurement Marketplace

According to the DGS Communicator, the newsletter of the Maryland Department of General Services, HB 702, which passed in April, will have a significant impact on DGS procurement activities. The legislation creates a one-stop shopping opportunity for state agencies and vendors. HB 702 phases out the printed Maryland Contract Weekly by July 1, 2006 and requires that all procurement advertising take place on eMaryland Marketplace (eMM). The bill also eliminates the current eMM fee structure charged to participating vendors. The new legislation dictates that a charge will be deducted from the contract price of the winning bidder. Elimination of fees is designed to allow more vendors, especially small and minority firms, to participate in the bid process. According to the Communicator, the legislation should increase activity, and therefore competition, on the eMM site.