County staff outline local bid-preference proposal aimed at boosting resident businesses

County procurement staff briefed the Board of County Commissioners on a proposed local-business preference ordinance intended to increase county contract opportunities for resident businesses.

The staff presenter summarized the proposed framework: for informal bids under $30,000, resident businesses would receive a 5% local bid preference; for formal solicitations over $30,000, staff proposed a similar local preference subject to a cap (not to exceed $25,000). The memo described exclusions where federal or state funding or cooperative contracts preclude a local preference and identified circumstances under which the county could waive competitive bidding.

Staff said the proposal was the product of outreach with local stakeholders, including the county chamber and minority-business organizations. Gail Reed, a local school-bus contractor, and Dawn Tucker, founding president of the Calvert County Minority Business Alliance, both urged the board to adopt measures that would keep county dollars circulating locally. Edsel Brown of the Southern Maryland Minority Chamber of Commerce told commissioners: “Let the dollars circulate here in Calvert County.”

Commissioners discussed implementation details, including potential workshops to help resident bidders and periodic reporting back to the board to assess outcomes. Staff requested feedback and direction before soliciting formal public input at the scheduled hearing; the board signaled support for continued public outreach and a public hearing was anticipated for late August.

Next steps: staff will refine the draft ordinance, incorporate feedback, and bring the proposal to a public hearing so the board and community can review and comment.