Overview
FAR 19.1502 defines the scope of the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Program, mandating that its procedures be followed by every Federal agency that maintains a contracting staff.
Key Rules
- Universal Agency Coverage: The regulations within Subpart 19.15 apply to all Federal agencies, without exemption for specific departments.
- Triggering Criterion: The sole requirement for applicability is that the agency must employ at least one contracting officer.
- Procedural Mandate: Agencies meeting this criterion must follow the specific set-aside and sole-source procedures outlined for Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Businesses (EDWOSB) and WOSB concerns.
Practical Implications
- Contracting officers across the entire federal landscape must consider WOSB/EDWOSB set-asides during their market research and acquisition planning.
- This ensures that the WOSB Program is integrated into the procurement processes of all executive agencies, creating a uniform standard for how these small business goals are pursued.