Sec. 21.07.03.26. Commercial Nondiscrimination Clause

A. The following provision is mandatory for all State contracts: "As a condition of entering into this Agreement, Contractor represents and warrants that it will comply with the State's Commercial Nondiscrimination Policy, as described under State Finance and Procurement Article, Title 19, Annotated Code of Maryland. As part of this compliance, Contractor may not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry or national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, or disability or other unlawful forms of discrimination in the solicitation, selection, hiring, or commercial treatment of subcontractors, vendors, suppliers, or commercial customers, nor shall Contractor retaliate against any person for reporting instances of such discrimination. Contractor shall provide equal opportunity for subcontractors, vendors, and suppliers to participate in all of its public sector and private sector subcontracting and supply opportunities, provided that this clause does not prohibit or limit lawful efforts to remedy the effects of marketplace discrimination that have occurred or are occurring in the marketplace. Contractor understands that a material violation of this clause shall be considered a material breach of this Agreement and may result in termination of this Agreement, disqualification of Contractor from participating in State contracts, or other sanctions. This clause is not enforceable by or for the benefit of, and creates no obligation to, any third party.

B. The Contractor shall include the provision in §A of this regulation in all subcontracts to the State contract.

C. The following provision is mandatory for all State contracts: "As a condition of entering into this Agreement, upon the request of the Commission on Civil Rights, and only after the filing of a complaint against Contractor under State Finance and Procurement Article, Title 19, Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended from time to time, Contractor agrees to provide within 60 days after the request a complete list of the names of all subcontractors, vendors, and suppliers that Contractor has used in the past 4 years on any of its contracts that were undertaken within the State of Maryland, including the total dollar amount paid by Contractor on each subcontract or supply contract. Contractor further agrees to cooperate in any investigation conducted by the State pursuant to the State's Commercial Nondiscrimination Policy as set forth under State Finance and Procurement Article, Title 19, Annotated Code of Maryland, and to provide any documents relevant to any investigation that is requested by the State. Contractor understands that violation of this clause is a material breach of this Agreement and may result in contract termination, disqualification by the State from participating in State contracts, and other sanctions."