The new Women Owned Small business preference Program (WOSB) is called the 8(m) program by the Small Business Administration (SBA) after the section number of the enabling legislation, just like the small disadvantaged business program is called the 8(a) program.
WOSBs should act now to be among the first wave of companies to qualify for the program. WOSBs can self certify as to their eligibility, but they must attest to meeting the qualifications requirements of the program and "deposit" with the government a set of corporate documents proving their eligibility. Contracting Officers must have access to the documents before a contract is awarded.
The first qualifiers will be in a particularly advantageous position for the following reasons:
Year after year federal agencies have been unable to meet their WOSB goals because WOSBs did not have a preference position in making contract awards like disadvantaged, veteran owned, and HUB Zone small businesses.
The Obama administration will highlight the significance of the new program for obvious political reasons, not to mention the fact that the Bush administration did everything in their power to scuttle the program.
Contacting Officers will be anxious to make up for past sins with the prodding of democratic political appointees. Why not do what the boss wants?
We anticipate that there will be flurry of WOSB contracting awards in the first year followed by a steadier state where the agencies meet their women-owned goals on a more regular basis.
Comments on the proposed rules for the new Women Owned Small Business Preference Program (WOSB) are due by May 3, 2010. The Small Business Administration (SBA) will probably publish final rules implementing the WOSB Program sometime in the fourth quarter of 2010.
