WOSB sole-source in effect Oct. 14

The Small Business Administration issued a final rule authorizing sole-source contracts to women-owned small businesses eligible for the SBA’s Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contract Program.

The rule is effective Oct. 14. It was promulgated based on language Congress approved in the national defense authorization for fiscal 2015.

The defense bill also contained new requirements for certification of WOSBs. However, SBA said it has chosen to delay rulemaking for those new requirements so as not to impede sole source authority.

“SBA continues to believe that the new WOSB sole source authority can and should be implemented as quickly as possible, using existing program rules and procedures, while SBA proceeds with development of the certification requirement through a separate rulemaking,” the SBA’s Federal Register notice stated.

The goal of the new rule is to stimulate more government contracting with WOSBs. The administration has not reached the 5% goal for federal contracting with WOSBs.

WOSB supporters say the sole source authority will help put WOSBs on par with other small business federal contracting programs.

More information: Federal Register notice: https://goo.gl/9R1MT2

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