WOSB self-certs still OK for now

Congress in its recent defense authorization bill removed a provision in law that had allowed Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSBs) to self-certify as such for government contracts. (Editor’s note: Set-Aside Alert reported on the change in our Jan. 9, 2015 issue.)

But for now, the Small Busienss Administration told Set-Aside Alert that WOSB self-certification is allowed to continue until new regulations incorporating the WOSB changes are promulgated and approved.

“While the National Defense Authorization Act FY15 recently passed legislation does provide for changes to the WOSB program, we believe the implementation of these provisions in the SBA's regulations and Federal Acquisition Regulations must go through a formal development and review process before it can be used by contracting officers. This process is currently ongoing. Until such time that the changes are implemented in regulation, contracting officers must follow existing regulations,” the SBA said in an emailed statement to Set-Aside Alert.

The NDAA also included language to allow sole-source set-aside contracts to WOSBs for the first time. WOSB advocates had asked for parity in sole-source authorities among the government’s set-aside programs.

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WOSB self-certs still OK for now

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