Overview
This section establishes the statutory authority and purpose of the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Program, identifying it as a mechanism to help federal agencies meet socioeconomic contracting goals.
Key Rules
- Legal Authority: The program is authorized under Section 8(m) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(m)) and governed by 13 CFR part 127.
- Primary Objectives: The program aims to provide equal federal contracting opportunities for women-owned small businesses and assist agencies in achieving their annual WOSB participation goals.
- Defined Subcategories: The FAR identifies two distinct subcategories under the broader "women-owned small business concern" umbrella:
- Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) concerns.
- WOSB concerns eligible under the WOSB Program.
Practical Implications
- Goal Achievement: This section provides the regulatory foundation for agencies to use set-asides and sole-source awards to meet the 5% federal prime contracting goal for WOSBs.
- Eligibility Differentiation: Contractors must understand that being a "women-owned business" is not sufficient for program participation; they must meet the specific criteria for "EDWOSB" or "WOSB eligible under the program" to compete for set-asides under FAR Subpart 19.15.