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One out of every four dollars Prince George's County Public Schools spent on contracting to outside vendors last fiscal year went to minority-owned businesses, but school leaders want to see that number increase, as well as the number of contracts with county-based businesses.

Board of Education member Rosalind A. Johnson (Dist. 1) said she wanted to see more minority-owned contractors working with the school system.

"I am concerned that any work, any product, or service that is supplied to Prince George's County Public Schools is of the very best qualify, irrespective of race, gender, ethnicity, etc.," Johnson said. "However, it concerns me, particularly in this county, in this region, the numbers that I see."

Keith Miles, director of purchasing and supply services for the county schools, told the school board at an Aug. 19 meeting that the percentage of the contracts the system gives to minority-owned businesses has increased steadily in recent years.

"We think that's a significant improvement over the prior year, where we were slightly under a dollar [out of every $4]," Miles said.

Of the $91 million the school system paid to minority-owned contractors last fiscal year, $60 million went to companies owned by black, American Indian, Asian and Hispanic men, and $12.4 million to those owned by white, black, American Indian, Asian and Hispanic women.

The system also did $4,000 in business with companies owned by someone who is disabled. The other $18.7 million was paid to minority subcontractors.

About 46 percent of the $91 million — or $42 million — went to Prince George's County-based businesses.

Of the total percentage of minority-owned businesses the schools contracted with in fiscal 2009, 59 percent were owned by black men, 24 percent were owned by Asian men, 8 percent were owned by black women, 2 percent were owned by Asian women, and 1 percent were owned by Hispanic men.

When all factors are equal in the procurement process, businesses that are owned by minorities or women and based in the county get first priority, school officials said in the presentation to the board. Priority then goes, in descending order, to county vendors that are not owned by minorities or women, to Maryland minority- or women-owned vendors, and to Maryland vendors that are not owned by minorities or women.

The school system hires private contractors for various projects, such as construction, materials and supplies, and as instructional consultants. Many companies that want to do business with the system must submit a bid and be chosen to provide the service.

Board member Donna Hathaway Beck (At-large) said she was concerned by the low number of women-owned businesses that contract with the system.

The lower participation among some groups could occur because smaller businesses specialize in certain areas and are reluctant to work together on a larger job, Miles said. Smaller businesses also struggle to get bonding from banks to work for the system.

The system plans to increase local participation in its bidding by adding a statement to its standard Request for Proposal that indicates that local businesses will be favored in the awarding of the bid.

"The key issue is to show the importance of the value of the local enterprise that we're trying to enhance," Miles said.

E-mail Megan King at mking@gazette.net.