Beginning July 1, Montgomery County will expand its Minority, Female & Disabled-Owned Business (MFD) Program to recognize two new federal and state certifications, making it easier for women and veteran-owned businesses to compete for County contracts.
New Federal Certifications Recognized:
- Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) – at least 51% owned and controlled by women who are U.S. citizens and meet federal small business requirements.
- Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) – a subset of WOSB with additional economic disadvantage criteria.
New State Certification Recognized: Maryland Veteran-Owned Small Business Enterprise (VSBE) – through the County’s Veteran Business Preference Program.
This will expand opportunities for thousands of certified businesses who will now qualify for County procurement opportunities without needing to reapply for new certifications. Businesses can leverage existing federal or state certifications to streamline the process. The County will now recognize seven certification pathways under the MFD Program, including the new WOSB, EDWOSB, and VSBE.
As of Fiscal Year 2025, about 800 active MFD-certified businesses in Montgomery County received nearly $274 million in County contracts.
County Executive Marc Elrich emphasized that this change removes barriers, supports local economic diversity, and aligns with the County’s commitment to an inclusive procurement environment. “We have made progress. This is no longer the old boys’ network where contracts only went to a few, and some wouldn’t bother to bid, thinking they had no chance.”
The MFD Program aims for at least 22% of construction, 25% of professional services, 24% of non-professional services, and 10% of goods contracts to be awarded to MFD-certified firms.
Vendors can upload their certification information to the County Vendor Registration System.
If you are a certified WOSB, EDWOSB, or VSBE business, ensure your certification is current and uploaded to the County’s Vendor Registration System to take advantage of the July 1 change.
