Over the objections of the Legislative Black Caucus and NAACP, a divided public Board of Public Works yesterday approved a $44.8 million contract for airport shuttle service to a company that failed to meet Maryland’s minority business goals.
BALTIMORE (Map, News) –

Maryland’s Board of Public Works approved a $44 million contract Wednesday for airport shuttle service despite complaints the company has continually shirked minority participation goals.

The board previously had postponed a vote on the three-year contract with First Transit Inc. at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport three times. Under its previous contract, First Transit was supposed to have 30 percent minority participation.

After achieving only 13 percent, black lawmakers and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People told members of the board hiring First Transit again means the state does not take minority participation goals seriously.
“This company has been cited 14 times by the governor’s Office of Minority Affairs,” said Del. Veronica Turner, who chairs the General Assembly’s black caucus. “Past performance is the greatest predictor of future performance, and First Transit’s past performance has been unacceptable.”

The state agreed last year to reduce the company’s minority participation goals to 13 percent. Members of the board, comprised of Gov. Martin O’Malley, Comptroller Peter Franchot and Treasurer Nancy Kopp, called the waiver a mistake.
First Transit is now operating with more than 28 percent minority participation, though none are female- or African American-owned firms. A vice president of the company, which operates van service at airport parking lots and a nearby train station, was at the three-hour hearing, but did not address specific concerns.

“The lieutenant governor and I have been at this for 17 months, and it’s hard to change a culture in 17 months,” O’Malley said. “This is not an administration that does things with a wink and a nod.”

Should the Maryland Airport have awarded this contract?
Be sure to set out the utilitarian and deontological considerations.

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