The Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Assistance Program
Women-owned businesses have been the fastest growing segment of the business community in the United States. Although between 1997 and 2002 the growth rate in the number of women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) was almost twice that of all firms, WOSBs have not received a commensurate increase in their share of Federal contracting dollars.
Several congressional and executive efforts over the years to increase Federal contracting with WOSBs have not enhanced the WOSB share of federal contracting dollars as much as anticipated. For example, in 1979, when Executive Order 12138 charged Federal agencies with responsibility for providing procurement assistance to women-owned businesses, WOSBs received only 0.2 percent of all Federal procurements. More than 9 years later, the percentage of WOSB Federal procurements had grown to only one percent. Similarly, in 1988, the Women’s Business Ownership Act, Public Law 100-588 [October 25, 1988] was enacted to assist woman in starting, managing and growing small businesses. This program has been successful in assisting thousands of women in obtaining business financing and in business information, but has enjoyed less success in the Federal procurement arena.
Section 7106 of the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act (FASA), Public Law 103-355 [October 13, 1994], amended the Small Business Act by establishing a target that would result in greater opportunities for women to compete for Federal contracts. FASA, among other things, amended the Small Business Act by establishing a government-wide goal for participation by WOSB in procurement contracts of not less than 5 percent of the total value of all prime contract and subcontract awards for each fiscal year. FASA also directed that WOSBs, like other small businesses and small disadvantaged businesses (SDBs), have the maximum practical opportunity to become subcontractors for Federal contracts exceeding $100,000, and it mandated that WOSBs be included in subcontracting plans required under Section 8(d) of the Act, 15 U.S.C. 637 (d).
Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) data indicates that since fiscal year 1996, Federal agencies have not met the separate 5 percent government-wide WOSB goal for prime contracts and subcontracts. However, the share of Federal prime contracting dollars to WOSBs has increased over the years. For example, in FY 2000, WOSBs received 2.3 percent of the approximately $200 billion in Federal prime contract awards. The share of WOSB prime contract awards increased to 2.49 percent in FY 2001, and again to 2.90, 2.98 and 3.03 percent in FYs 2002, 2003 and 2004, respectively. Nonetheless, the total percent of WOSB prime contract awards still falls short of the statutory goal of 5 percent.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) proposes to amend its regulations governing SBA’s government contracting programs. This proposal rule would add a new part to implement the Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Assistance Program authorized under the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 2000.
You may submit comments by July 17, 2006 to Linda Waters, Procurement Analyst, Office of Federal Contract Assistance for Women Business Owners, U.S. Small Business Administration, 409 3rd Street, SW; Washington DC 20416. Telephone: (202) 205-7315 or email her at linda.waters@sba.gov.
To review the proposed rules go to http://regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main
Under agency find Small Business Administration and click submit.
The above information came directly from the Federal Register/Volume 71, No. 115/Thursday, June 15, 2006/Proposed Rules.