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Officials: federal DBE/ACDBE rule left Maryland firms in limbo; state hires contractors to help recertify
Summary
Officials told the committee an interim federal rule for DBE/ACDBE programs that took effect immediately has created a certification backlog. Maryland contracted 20 firms to help process recertifications for roughly 9,000 DBE/ACDBE firms and is working with the Attorney General on a reevaluation framework; federal guidance changed multiple times in eight weeks.
Maryland officials told the Health and Government Operations Committee that a federal interim final rule (IFR) for DBE and ACDBE programs, issued Oct. 3, took effect immediately and prompted multiple follow‑up guidance documents that have left certified firms and state certifying authorities scrambling.
Acting Secretary Walter Simmons said the IFR came into effect the day it was released and that federal agencies issued additional FAQs on Oct. 24, Nov. 3 and Dec. 1, forcing the state to rework documents and processes multiple times in a…
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