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MDOT seeks law change to let bidder fees stay with e‑procurement vendor for BidX
Summary
Maryland Department of Transportation told the Health and Government Operations Committee the small statutory change in House Bill 284 would let MDOT keep using the transportation-specific e‑bidding platform Bid Express (BidX) without requiring the vendor to deposit subscriber fees into the Department of General Services operations revenue fund.
House Bill 284 would clarify that subscription fees paid to the operator of a transportation-specific e‑procurement platform do not have to be deposited into the Department of General Services’ operations revenue fund, allowing the Maryland Department of Transportation to continue using a paid, industry-specific bidding platform.
Why it matters: MDOT officials said the change preserves an e‑procurement workflow that speeds construction and maintenance contracting while avoiding the cost and time of returning to paper processes or developing a costly Emma integration.
Valerie Radomski, Chief Procurement Officer for the Maryland Department of Transportation, told the committee, “This legislation will allow MDOT to continue using our current e‑procurement platform, Bid Express or Bid X, to post construction, maintenance, and wetlands mitigation contracts.” She said BidX is “a transportation specific subscriber based platform used by 39 states” and that use of the platform has generated “more than 6,000 bids from 471 unique vendors.”
Radomski said the current statutory drafting — which directs that fees collected be deposited into the state fund — would require InfoTech, the owner/operator of BidX, to deposit fees it charges potential bidders into DGS’s Operations Revenue Fund. “InfoTech provides BIDEX at no cost to MDOT but at a monthly subscription fee to potential bidders on MDOT contracts,” she said, adding that “subcontractors, including disadvantaged small business enterprises, can access BIDEX free of charge to search solicitations and interact with prime contractors.”
A committee member raised concerns about transparency and small‑business access, asking what safeguards would ensure fees remain reasonable and do not create barriers for small or disadvantaged firms. Radomski responded that the Board of Public Works must approve any fee increases and that BidX’s fees are spread across use in 39 states, not charged only for Maryland business. She said the platform integrates with SHA systems and “automates the procurement process,” reducing time from advertising to notice to proceed to about three months.
No formal vote or amendment was recorded at the hearing. Committee members asked for supplemental information on the number of contractors who currently pay subscription fees specifically for Maryland work.
Looking ahead: MDOT asked for the narrow statutory clarification to permit continued use of BidX and to avoid what the department called additional costs in time and labor if forced back into paper processes or a major Emma redevelopment. The committee closed the hearing on HB 284 after the witnesses answered committee questions.
Ending note: The testimony centered on preserving an existing e‑bidding workflow that MDOT says reduces procurement cycle time; committee members requested details on fee incidence and oversight mechanisms.
