A new, federal Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSB) certification process

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Your opinion is important! The Small Business Administration (SBA) wants your input on how to design and implement a federal Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSB) certification process to replace self-certification. 

The SBA is seeking input and comments on certification of WOSB and Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Businesses (EDWOSB) in connection with the WOSB Federal Contract Program (set asides, sole source, etc). 

SBA is planning to amend its regulations to implement section 825 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (2015 NDAA), which removed the statutory authority allowing WOSBs and EDWOSBs to self-certify. SBA intends to draft regulations to implement the statutory changes.


SBA seeks to better understand what the public believes is the most appropriate way to structure a WOSB/EDWOSB certification program. They are requesting comments on questions such as whether certification should be by (1) a Federal Agency, (2) a State government, (3) SBA, or (4) a national certifying entity approved by SBA. Should all four types be pursued, or are some less feasible than others? Should there be a grace period after implementation to give firms that have self-certified the time necessary to complete the certification process? If a grace period were implemented, how long should that period be? What should happen to the current WOSB repository?


To read more and provide your comments as part of this public input process, please go to the Federal Register at https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/12/18/2015-31806/women-owned-small-business-and-economically-disadvantaged-women-owned-small-business-certification. The public comment period ends February 16, 2016.

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