Help For Women Owned Small Businesses - Government Contracting

On March 5, 2014 the House of Representatives passed a bill (H.R. 2452) to help women owned small businesses win more government contracts.  This bill is called the Women’s Procurement Program Equalization Act of 2013.

The bill grants government contracting officers the authority to grant sole source contracts to women owned businesses under the following circumstances.

1.  The business musrt be determined to be a responsible contractor with respect to performance of the contract.

2.    There is no reasonable expectation that 2 or more businesses meeting the requirements will submit an offer.

3.   is determined to be a

4.    The contract award price will not exceed $6,500,000 (for manufacturing) or $4,000,000 (for other types).

5.    The contracting officer is certain that the contract can be awarded for a fair and reasonable price.

The bill also stiuplates that a contracting officer can award a contract to a woman owned small business if it is determined that women owned small businesses is substantially underrepresented in the industry, as long as the requirements above are met.

If passed by the senate and signed by the president the bill will become law.

Sources:
House Committee on Small Business
bill (H.R. 2452)

By Jack Rivers