The Women-Owned Small Business Contract Program has a rich legislative and program history that dates back to various acts and executive orders aimed at promoting opportunities for women entrepreneurs in federal contracting. The program has evolved over the years, with key milestones such as the authorization of sole-source awards to Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSBs) in 2014 under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015.
– Legislative Background: The Women-Owned Small Business Contract Program has its roots in legislative acts such as the Small Business Act amendments and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, along with specific provisions like 15 U.S.C. §644(g)(2).
– Executive Orders: Executive Order 12138, issued in 1979, laid the foundation for a national policy supporting women’s business enterprises. Subsequent actions by President Clinton in 1994 and 2000 reaffirmed the commitment to enhancing opportunities for women-owned small businesses.
– Sole-Source Award Authority: The NDAA 2015 granted federal agencies the authority to make sole-source awards to Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSBs) and Economically Disadvantaged WOSBs (EDWOSBs) under certain conditions, aiming to increase their participation in federal procurement.
– Set-Aside Contracts: The program allows federal contracting officers to set aside contracts exclusively for WOSBs and EDWOSBs in industries where they are underrepresented, with specific award value caps initially set and later adjusted to facilitate increased contracting opportunities.
– Program Outcomes: While the federal government has faced challenges in meeting the 5% procurement goal for WOSBs, progress has been made in achieving subcontracting goals. Tracking the percentage of contract dollars awarded to WOSBs provides insights into the program’s effectiveness over the years.
Read the latest update on the program: The Women-Owned Small Business Contract Program: Legislative and Program History (congress.gov)
