Capital Project Approval Process & Timeframe

Colleges/departments/divisions forward project requests through their Dean/Vice President to The Facilities Advisory Committee (FAC) in September. A budget prepared by Planning & Construction is required for projects to be considered by FAC.

FAC reviews all project requests and prepares a recommendation to the Facilities Council (FC) on project priorities. FC reviews and approves the 10-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and 10-year State-Funded Capital Project (SFCP) in March. Planning & Construction prepares the required documentation for the 10-year CIP and 10-year SFCP for submission to USMO (March).

University System of Maryland Board of Regents recommends a five-year CIP and SFCP and provides funding authorization for the first year of the SFCP (June). Funds for projects in the first year of the five-year SFCP are available (July).

Five-year CIPs are submitted to the State Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in July. DBM recommends a five-year CIP to the Governor in November. The Governor-recommended five-year CIP is published in late January. The Maryland State Legislature approves funding for projects in the first year of the five-year CIP in April. Funds for projects in the first year of the five-year CIP become available in July.

A Plant Fund Account (PFA) will be established by the Comptroller’s Office following project approval and funding authorization. All funds are transferred to the PFA, to which all project expenses are charged. Changes to project budgets are approved as part of this annual capital budget process.