Maryland Code, Health-General § 13-1013

(c)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Department may not spend any money that is allocated to the Counter-Marketing and Media Component in the State budget until after the Baseline Tobacco Study is completed.

(2) Before the Baseline Tobacco Study is completed, the Department may spend money that is allocated to the Counter-Marketing and Media Component in the State budget to conduct formative research relating to the Counter-Marketing and Media Component.

(d)(1) The Department may contract with a higher education institution or private entity to implement any part of the Counter-Marketing and Media Component.

(2) If the Department determines that any part of the Counter-Marketing and Media Component should be implemented by a higher education institution or private entity, the Department shall issue a request for proposal to select the entity that will implement that part of the Component.

(3) At a minimum, the request for proposal shall:

(4) If the Department issues a request for proposal to select an entity to implement any part of the Counter-Marketing and Media Component, the Department shall use the criteria established in § 13-1003(e)(5) of this subtitle as a guide in administering the request for proposal process.

(1) Using advertisements and other communications and public relations products and services that have been developed by and shown to be effective in other states;

(2) Subject to subsection (f) of this section, using money that is allocated to the Counter-Marketing and Media Component to obtain money from the federal government, the National Public Education Fund, or any other entity; and

(3) Coordinating the purchase of broadcast time with other states.