The Charles County Economic Development Department (EDD) has officially launched the Vendor Diversity Contract Compliance Portal, a new resource designed to expand opportunity, increase transparency, and strengthen local business participation in county procurement. This portal represents a significant step forward in the County’s ongoing efforts to support Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) and Small Local Business Enterprises (SLBE) across Charles County.
A Centralized Resource for Local Businesses
“The Vendor Diversity Contract Compliance Portal will give businesses one place to navigate the process more easily,” said Chastity Durham-Miller, EDD’s Small and Minority Business Development Specialist. “It’s also going to help us create the compliance that we kept hearing about from businesses when we began the disparity study. For us, this is a great way to track progress, see if the system is working, and report our findings more easily to the community.”
By centralizing key contracting and compliance functions, the portal reduces barriers for businesses seeking to work with Charles County Government while also improving accountability and communication throughout the contracting process.
Grounded in Data and Equity
The launch of the portal builds on findings from a comprehensive disparity study commissioned by the EDD in 2020 and completed in 2021 by Griffin & Strong, a law and public policy consulting firm. The study analyzed county contracts and subcontracts from fiscal years 2015 through 2019 to assess whether all businesses had equitable access to County contracting opportunities.
Recommendations from the study directly informed the development of the Vendor Diversity Contract Compliance Portal.
A One-Stop Shop for Procurement and Compliance
This portal was created to support Charles County’s efforts to ensure fair, transparent, and inclusive contracting by streamlining how vendors and contractors engage with County contracts.
The County contracted Early Morning Software, dba Prism Software, to develop the contract compliance software used within the Vendor Diversity Contract Compliance Portal for Charles County Government staff and firms participating in the procurement process.
The software allows users to conduct vendor searches by name, industry, or service/product. Prime contractors use the system to submit required information regarding prompt payment of subcontractors, while the Small and Local Minority Business Enterprise (SLMBE) Programs Division uses the platform to ensure compliance with the County’s MWBE Program.
Using the portal, vendors can:
- Get Certified – Submit or renew MWBE or SLBE certifications.
- Search Vendors – Identify vendors to team with and explore an exportable vendor database.
- Search Opportunities – View forecasted and active procurement opportunities.
Charles County’s Vendor Contract Diversity Portal helps connect diverse businesses—including Minority- and Women-Owned and Small Local firms—with County contract opportunities. By creating an accessible, searchable database for government buyers, simplifying participation in bids, and promoting equity in procurement, the portal helps ensure that small and diverse businesses have a fair opportunity to provide goods and services to the County.
The new portal makes it easier for vendors, businesses, and County staff to stay aligned throughout the contracting process. It ensures that all contract partners follow agreed-upon terms while offering a simple, user-friendly way for vendors to submit required information, strengthening transparency and accountability across County procurement efforts.
Questions about the portal? Contact Chastity Durham-Miller at DurhamMC@MeetCharlesCounty.com.
