(a) In this section, 'percentage preference' means the percent of the lowest responsive bid submitted by a responsible bidder who is not a small business by which a responsive bid by a small business may: (1) exceed the lowest bid; and (2) be awarded a procurement contract under this subtitle. (b) Subject to the approval of the Board, the Secretary of General Services, the Secretary of Transportation, and the Chancellor of the University System of Maryland each: (1) shall establish a percentage preference, not to exceed 8%, for each industry as follows: (i) a base percentage preference not to exceed 5% for all small businesses; and (ii) two additional preferences to the percentage preference set forth in item (i) of this paragraph as follows: 1. 2% for veteran–owned small businesses; and 2. 3% for disabled veteran–owned small businesses; and (2) may vary the percentage preference determined in item (1)(i) of this subsection among industries to account for their particular characteristics.
Maryland Legal Code