Small Business Reserve Program

  • In 2004, the state of Maryland created the Small Business Reserve Program, providing small businesses with the opportunity to participate as prime contractors by establishing a unique marketplace where small businesses compete against other small businesses instead of larger, more established, companies. 
  • Over 20% of all open solicitations are designated to Certified Small Businesses, granting them access to over $500 million in state-funded contracts and receiving payments directly from the state as a prime contractor.  Under state procurement law, the SBR Program directs participating agencies/departments to spend at least 20% of its fiscal year procurement expenditures with Certified Small Businesses. Once a solicitation has been designated as “SBR,” an award can only be made to a Certified Small Business.
  • A procurement valued between $50,000 and $500,000 shall be designated for the Small Business Reserve
  • Eligible small business vendors can receive same day certification through eMaryland Marketplace Advantage, the state's online vendor platform and bid board.  There is no cost to obtain the certification or maintain it through the annual renewal process (also online through eMMA).

  • For-profit businesses, other than a broker, must meet defined eligibility standards to participate in this program as a certified SBR supplier:

    A. It is independently owned and operated;
    B. It is not a subsidiary of another business;
    C. It is not dominant in its field of operation; and
    D. Either:
    (1) With respect to employees:
    (a) Its wholesale operations did not employ more than 50 persons in its most recently completed 3 fiscal years;
    (b) Its retail operations did not employ more than 25 persons in its most recently completed 3 fiscal years;
    (c) Its manufacturing operations did not employ more than 100 persons in its most recently completed 3 fiscal years;
    (d) Its service operations did not employ more than 100 persons in its most recently completed 3 fiscal years;
    (e) Its construction operations did not employ more than 50 persons in its most recently completed 3 fiscal years; and
    (f) The architectural and engineering services of the business did not employ more than 100 persons in its most recently completed 3 fiscal years; or
    (2) With respect to gross sales:
    (a) The gross sales of its wholesale operations did not exceed an average of $4,000,000 in its most recently completed 3 fiscal years;
    (b) The gross sales of its retail operations did not exceed an average of $3,000,000 in its most recently completed 3 fiscal years;
    (c) The gross sales of its manufacturing operations did not exceed an average of $2,000,000 in its most recently completed 3 fiscal years
    (d) The gross sales of its service operations did not exceed an average of $10,000,000 in its most recently completed 3 fiscal years;
    (e) The gross sales of its construction operations did not exceed an average of $7,000,000 in its most recently completed 3 fiscal years; and
    (f) The gross sales of its architectural and engineering operations did not exceed an average of $4,500,000 in its most recently completed 3 fiscal years.
    Note: If a business has not existed for 3 years, the employment and gross sales average or averages shall be the average for each year or part of a year during which the business has been in existence.
    * If a business has not existed for three years, the gross sales average is computed for the period in which the business has existed. For newly-formed businesses the determination will be based upon employee levels. 

  • 1.Register in eMaryland Marketplace Advantage eMaryland Marketplace Advantage Maryland’s Procurement Opportunities Portal for Bowie State University, other State Education Institutions, and State and County agencies.

    2.Complete the optional Small Business Reserve (SBR) screens if eligible.

    3.For additional guidance on the SBR program with the State of Maryland, please visit the Small Business Reserve Program.