Women-Owned Small Business Program: Certifier Oversight and Additional Eligibility Controls Are Needed

Abstract

In 2000, Congress authorized the WOSB program to increase contracting opportunities for WOSBs by allowing contracting officers to set aside procurements to such businesses. SBA, which administers the program, issued implementing regulations that became effective in 2011. GAO was asked to review the WOSB program. This report examines (1) how businesses are certified as eligible for the WOSB program, (2) SBA's oversight of certifications, and (3) the effect the program has had on federal contracting opportunities available to WOSBs or EDWOSBs. GAO reviewed relevant laws, regulations, and program documents; analyzed federal contracting data from April 2011 through May 2014; and interviewed SBA, officials from contracting agencies selected to obtain a range of experience with the WOSB program, third-party certifiers, WOSBs, and organizations that represent their interests.

Document Details

• Document Type: Technical Report
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2014
• Accession Number: AD1176932

Entities

People

• Andrew Pauline
• Barbara Roesmann
• Daniel Kaneshiro
• Jena Sinkfield
• Jessica Sandler
• Julia Kennon
• Julie Trinder-clements
• Pamela Davidson
• William B. Shear

Organizations

• United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Accountability
• Acquisition
• Air Force
• Business Administration
• Commerce
• Congress
• Contracts
• Department Of Defense
• Department Of Homeland Security
• Governments
• Homeland Security
• Market Economy
• National Governments
• Performance Tests
• Procurement
• Public Policy
• Regulations
• Revenue
• Small Business
• Social Media
• State Governments
• United States
• United States Government
• Websites

Readers

• Government Contracting/Procurement.
• Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) EDI Research and Innovation.