HR1816-119

What This Bill Does

The WOSB Accountability Act changes how federal agencies count women-owned small businesses toward contracting goals. It adds a Small Business Act rule that only small business concerns owned and controlled by women that are certified under section 8(m)(2)(E) may be included in the government-wide and agency WOSB goal calculations. The rule takes effect on the first day after the second fiscal year that begins after the SBA Administrator issues implementing regulations. During the transition, a self-certified WOSB that was self-certified as of the effective date, applied for certification before that date, and has not yet received a decision is deemed certified for goal-counting purposes until SBA or an approved national certifying entity decides the application. SBA must issue regulations within one year. Beginning 60 days after enactment and quarterly until the effective date, SBA must brief the House and Senate Small Business Committees on expected certification demand, pending applications, approvals since enactment, processing timelines, SBA administrative costs, applicant costs to use national certifying entities, outreach to WOSBs and federal agencies, and recommendations for additional authority or resources. The bill authorizes no additional funds.

Who Benefits and How

SBA-certified women-owned small businesses, economically disadvantaged women-owned small businesses, approved national certifying entities, federal procurement officers, agency small-business specialists, House Small Business Committee members, Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee members, and watchdog organizations benefit from cleaner WOSB goal-counting data, reduced reliance on self-certification, and quarterly visibility into application volume, processing timelines, costs, outreach, and implementation needs.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Self-certified women-owned small businesses, pending WOSB applicants, Small Business Administration certification staff, national certifying entities, federal agency procurement offices, agency small-business offices, women entrepreneurs without completed certification, applicant support organizations, and SBA briefing staff must complete applications, absorb certification costs and delays, issue regulations, process increased application volume, track pending and approved applications, brief Congress quarterly, and implement the transition without new funding.

Key Provisions

• Requires only section 8(m)(2)(E)-certified women-owned small businesses to count toward WOSB contracting goals.
• Provides a transition after the second fiscal year beginning after SBA regulations are issued.
• Deems qualifying pending self-certified applicants certified for goal-counting until SBA or an approved national certifying entity decides the application.
• Requires SBA regulations within one year.
• Requires quarterly briefings to House and Senate Small Business Committees on demand, pending applications, approvals, timelines, costs, outreach, and needed authority or resources.
• Authorizes no additional funds.