MD officials launch state contract transparency dashboard

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The Maryland Board of Public Works launched a new dashboard Wednesday to allow members of the public to search for approved procurement contracts in an effort to increase transparency.

“Transparency is the foundation of public trust, and in a moment when we need to prove over and over again, especially, the importance of government and what government does right, building transparency and accountability into our processes is essential,” Comptroller Brooke Lierman said at the conclusion of Wednesday’s Board of Public Works meeting in Annapolis.

The dashboard, which is to be hosted on the Board of Public Works website, will initially feature data on contracts approved from January 2023 through December 2024 and will be searchable by agency, date of approval and contract amount. It is to be updated with additional contract approvals quarterly and will be developed to allow for data visualization.

At Wednesday’s meeting, Lierman said that the “next iteration” of the dashboard will include the certification status of vendors who participate in Maryland’s state and federal socioeconomic programs.

Lierman, Gov. Wes Moore and state Treasurer Dereck E. Davis, all of whom are Democrats, have jointly approved almost $31 billion in contracts since 2023.

“This dashboard will serve as a valuable resource for Marylanders to track how their taxpayer dollars are being spent,” Davis said. “As fiscal guardians of our state, we will continue to advocate for tools that promote transparency, accountability, and responsible stewardship of public funds.”

The dashboard was created out of legislation sponsored by Del. N Scott Phillips (D-Baltimore County) in 2024, which mandated that Lierman’s office develop a mechanism to increase transparency among Board of Public Works procurements. 

Speaking before the board Wednesday, Phillips said he initially “wasn’t so sure” that its members would be keen on so much transparency, but that its creation sets “a new standard for modern governance.”

“Mr. Governor, you said ‘we move with data.’ This initiative is in keeping with that statement,” said Phillips. “For far too long, the details of how public contracts are awarded, managed and monitored have lived behind really hard-to-navigate systems.”

Phillips’ legislation was a priority of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus.

“Transparency in government spending supports our path toward equity and shared prosperity,” Del. Jheanelle Wilkins (D-Montgomery), the chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, said in a statement Wednesday. “When we can clearly see where the state spends our dollars, we can improve the chances minority-owned businesses have a fair opportunity to compete for contracts and build opportunities for lasting wealth in our communities.”