State Procurement - Maryland State Board of Contract Appeals - Attorney's Fees

This Maryland bill updates state procurement laws to allow the State Board of Contract Appeals to award reasonable legal fees to parties who win appeals or file claims. Specifically, it enables the board to grant attorney's fees to prospective bidders or contractors if the board finds that a procurement unit violated laws or regulations during a protest or contract dispute. Additionally, the law mandates fee awards for contractors when board members determine that government personnel acted in bad faith or without justification while processing a claim. These changes aim to provide clearer financial recourse for businesses challenging state contracting decisions while ensuring the board establishes rules to define what costs are considered reasonable.