Set-Aside Alert news analysis:

SBA proposes WOSB cert. rule; Wong says certification staff workload may increase 6-fold

WOSB certification implementation postponed to 2021

     The Small Business Administration recently published its long-awaited proposed rule for eliminating self-certification for the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Program and for setting up a formal certification process for the program.

      Under the rule, the SBA would establish a no-cost WOSB certification process run by the SBA, accept some state and federal certifications, and also would authorize third-party certifiers that may or may not charge a fee for performing WOSB certifications.

      Congress ordered the SBA to set up a WOSB certification program in the 2015 national defense bill.

      Nearly four and a half years later, lawmakers at a House hearing on the WOSB program on May 16 were critical of the SBA’s delay--especially when they learned of yet another apparent pushback in implementation...more....