Maryland Statutes
Subtitle 4 - Miscellaneous Purchasing Preferences
Section 14-401 - Reciprocal Preference for Resident Bidders

(a)    (1)    In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
        (2)    “Preference” includes:
            (i)    a percentage preference;
            (ii)    an employee residency requirement; or
            (iii)    any other provision that favors a resident over a nonresident.
        (3)    “Resident bidder” means a bidder whose principal office is located in the State.
        (4)    “Resident offeror” means an offeror whose principal office is located in the State.
        (5)    (i)    “Services” has the meaning stated in § 11–101(t)(1) and (2) of this article.
            (ii)    Notwithstanding § 11–101(t)(3) of this article, “services” includes construction related services and energy performance contract services.
    (b)    When a unit uses competitive sealed bidding to award a procurement contract, the unit may give a preference to the resident bidder who submits the lowest responsive bid from a resident bidder if:
        (1)    the resident bidder is a responsible bidder;
        (2)    a responsible bidder whose principal office or operation is in another state submits the lowest responsive bid;
        (3)    the state in which the nonresident bidder’s principal office is located or the state in which the nonresident bidder has its principal operation through which it would provide supplies or services gives a preference to its residents; and
        (4)    a preference does not conflict with a federal law or grant affecting the procurement contract.
    (c)    When a unit uses competitive sealed proposals to award a procurement contract, the unit may give a preference to resident offerors if:
        (1)    a responsible offeror whose principal office or operation is in another state submits a proposal;
        (2)    the state in which the nonresident offeror’s principal office is located or the state in which the nonresident offeror has its principal operation through which it would provide the subject of the contract gives a preference to its residents; and
        (3)    the preference does not conflict with a federal law or grant affecting the procurement contract.
    (d)    (1)    At the request of the unit, a nonresident bidder or nonresident offeror submitting a proposal for a State project shall provide a copy of the current statute, resolution, policy, procedure, or executive order that pertains to the treatment of nonresident bidders or nonresident offerors by:
            (i)    the state in which the nonresident bidder’s or nonresident offeror’s principal office is located; and
            (ii)    the state in which the nonresident bidder or nonresident offeror has its principal operation through which it would provide supplies or services.
        (2)    A unit may give a preference under this section that is identical to any of the following preferences, or any combination of them:
            (i)    the preference that the state in which the nonresident bidder’s or nonresident offeror’s principal office is located gives to its residents; or
            (ii)    the preference that the state in which the nonresident bidder or nonresident offeror has its principal operation through which it would provide supplies or services gives to its residents.