In accordance with President Obama’s mission to expand the government contract marketplace for women-owned small businesses, the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) issued a proposed rule to make numerous changes to its 8(m) program for women-owned small businesses (“WOSB”) and economically disadvantaged women-owned small businesses(“EDWOSB”). The Commentary summarizes the more significant changes in the SBA’s proposed rule: (1) elimination of the need for repeated certification submission to contracting officers; (2) regulation of the income standards for economically disadvantaged women; (3) expansion of the WOSB Program industries from three to 83; and (4) broadening of the joint-venture requirements to allow a wider variety of partnerships.

Click here to read the full article from Andrew J. Sherman, SECAF General Counsel.