Overview
This section outlines the authority for contracting officers to award contracts to Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Businesses (EDWOSB) and Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSB) through either competition or sole-source justifications.
Key Rules
- Procurement Methods: Awards can be made via competitive set-asides or through sole-source procedures.
- Eligible Entities: Provisions apply specifically to EDWOSB concerns and WOSB concerns that are eligible under the Women-Owned Small Business Program.
- Regulatory Governance: While this section (18.117) provides the authority, the specific implementation procedures and requirements are governed by FAR Subpart 19.15.
Practical Implications
- Enables federal agencies to more effectively meet their statutory 5% women-owned small business contracting goals.
- Allows for streamlined, non-competitive awards to WOSBs/EDWOSBs in underrepresented industries, provided the conditions in Subpart 19.15 are satisfied.