Unbundling Initiative

About the Initiative

The Baltimore City Department of Public Works Unbundling Initiative will expand the capacity of the City’s local and diverse contractor community to compete as General (Prime) Contractor’s for DPW’s utility contracts. On large DPW and other City contracts, small businesses tend to serve as subcontractors to general contractors.

To expand the Unbundling Initiative, DPW and other City agencies are expected to create appropriately-size contract opportunities to match the capability and capacity of the newly trained general contractors. In addition, these agencies will offer guidance and support throughout the process, prioritizing diversity and inclusion.

Building Capacity

This new Unbundling Initiative will support the creation of Baltimore based minority and women-owned businesses, and provide opportunities for at least 10 of these businesses to get one-the-job training, mentoring and support, with five (5) becoming Future General Contractors (FGC’s) on an upcoming water utility construction contract.

This contract will require the prime to provide training, mentoring and support to the participating small businesses to build capacity so they can become FGCs.

The DPW Unbundling Initiative will seek to:

Build and grow the capacity of Baltimore based businesses
Provide on-the-job training, mentoring, and support.
Provide training to local business to serve as future general contractors.
Provide access to bonding and working capital.
Provide administrative support and safety monitoring.

Phases of Unbuilding

Training while Mentoring FCGs
Build and grow Baltimore-based businesses
Provide on-the-job training
Provide administrative support
Grow 5 FGCs to become General Contractors

For More Information

DPW has hosted a series of outreach efforts to reach small business owners who may be eligible to participate in this initiative. Small, local, and minority businesses were encouraged to attend the Office of Boards and Commissions (OBC) annual Face Time with the Primes, held April 2023, and the networking event in June at the 2023 City of Baltimore Procurement Conference to learn of Unbundling and other opportunities to engage in Baltimore City contracting.

For more information, please contact the Office of Boards of Commissions (OBC) by email:

Small Business Development (SBD) Training Program 410-618-0100

Email: SBD@baltimorecity.gov