The Office of Purchasing administers procedures to facilitate the participation of small and minority business enterprises in all contracts. It is the intent of BCPS to achieve a goal of 15 percent of the total value of all contracts to be made to small business enterprises and certified minority business enterprises, either directly or indirectly. A minority business enterprise is defined as any legal entity, other than a joint venture, organized to engage in commercial transactions, and which is (1) at least 51 percent owned and/or controlled by one or more minority interest persons, or (2) a non-profit entity organized to promote the interests of the physically or mentally disabled. Minority groups identified are: African Americans, Asians, Hispanics, Native Americans, Women, and Physically or Mentally Disabled individuals. A certified minority business enterprise is a minority business that holds a certification issued by the Maryland State Department of Transportation or other recognized municipality or minority association. 

A small business is a for-profit business, other than a broker, that meets the following criteria:
   

1. it is independently owned and operated;
2. it is not a subsidiary of another business;
3. it is not dominant in its field of operation;
4. its wholesale operations did not employ more than 50 persons, OR its gross sales did not exceed an average of $4,000,000 in its most recently completed 3 fiscal years;
5. its retail operations did not employ more than 25 persons, OR its gross sales did not exceed an average of $3,000,000 in its most recently completed 3 fiscal years;
6. its manufacturing operations did not employ more than 100 persons, OR its gross sales did not exceed an average of $2,000,000 in its most recently completed 3 fiscal years;
7. its service operations did not employ more than 100 persons, OR its gross sales did not exceed an average of $10,000,000 in its most recently completed 3 fiscal years;
8. its construction operations did not employ more than 50 persons, OR its gross sales did not exceed an average of $7,000,000 in its most recently completed 3 fiscal years;
9. its architectural and engineering operations did not employ more than 100 persons, OR its gross sales did not exceed an average of $4,500,000 in its most recently completed 3 fiscal years.