State Procurement - Competitive Sealed Bids and Proposals - In-State Evaluation Preference (Buy Maryland, Buy Local Act)

SB 943 (the "Buy Maryland, Buy Local Act") requires Maryland state agencies to prioritize in-state businesses when awarding procurement contracts. It mandates that bidding documents include standardized evaluation criteria focused on local economic impact, and requires bidders to submit a State and local economic impact statement detailing how their proposal benefits Maryland. Contracts must now be awarded based on these criteria - evaluating factors like job creation and local spending - not solely on the lowest price. This applies to all state procurement processes governed by Maryland’s Annotated Code (Article 13, Sections 103-104), directly affecting state agencies and businesses competing for government contracts.