Why do I need a Launchpad?

Your MITDP Launchpad captures the vital information about your project. It includes all of the requirements of the Discovery phase of our System Development Life Cycle.

This serves two key purposes:

1. The Launchpad documents the outputs of the discovery and planning work essential to set your project up for success. This is also the information required for the MITDP program team to determine whether your project is ready for full MITDP status and funding ("designation").
2. Once approved, the contents of your Launchpad establish the first "baseline" for your project—the scope your MITDP funding can be spent on, as well as the initial schedule and cost estimates.

Go to Launchpad Stage 1 Go to Launchpad Stage 2

Launchpad contents

Your Launchpad has several different sections, organized under two stages. After you complete Stage 1, our MITDP Oversight team will review and provide feedback. Once Stage 1 is approved, we'll be ready to review Stage 2.

The Launchpad provides instructions on how to complete each section, links to the worksheets to use, detail on why this information is important, and acceptance criteria for clarity on how our MITDP Oversight team will assess the information you provide in each section.

How to submit

To submit your Launchpad, send an email with your Launchpad documents linked or attached to dlmodmissioncontrol_doit@maryland.gov and CC your Oversight Advisor (if you have one) and your CIO.

If sending a link to a Google document, make sure that all links and attachments are also shared with dlmodmissioncontrol_doit@maryland.gov so that they are able to access the Launchpad content. One way to do this is including all related documents in a shared folder, and sharing access to that folder.

Requirements and timelines

As of March 2026, existing MITDPs are required to submit and receive approval for a Launchpad before any additional funding or contracts will be approved. Going forward, all new projects will require an approved Launchpad before being designated as an MITDP.

This means that the Department of IT (DoIT) will not approve solicitations to procure software and/or services related to an MITDP until an approved Launchpad is complete. If you need support to complete the product, design, and engineering discovery work as required by the Launchpad, DoIT will work with you to approve reasonable procurements for necessary personnel and/or services. The use of MITDP funding (ITIF or otherwise) will be restricted to resources in support of the effort of getting a Launchpad submitted and approved.

Agencies can expect the following timeframes for the Launchpad review process:

Step	Owner	Estimated Time
Completing Stage 1 of the Launchpad	MITDP team	2 to 16 weeks (depending on whether user research is already complete)
Review and approval of Stage 1	DoIT	Minimum of 4 weeks (may be longer if Stage 1 materials require more work)
Completing Stage 2 of the Launchpad	MITDP team	2 to 6 weeks Note: Teams can choose to complete Stage 2 materials in parallel with Stage 1, though significant re-work might be necessary based on the Stage 1 review
Review and approval of Stage 2	DoIT	Minimum of 4 weeks (may be longer if Stage 2 materials require more work)