SBA Suggests WOSB Self-certification May Continue

WOSB Self-Certification Elimination: The SBA Weighs In

The SBA has acknowledged that Congress eliminated WOSB self-certification in the 2015 NDAA–but suggests that WOSB self-certification may continue until the SBA adopts a regulatory framework for a formal certification program.

In a proposed rule released today, the SBA adopts a pragmatic approach that nonetheless may be legally problematic given that Congress did not authorize a continuation of WOSB self-certification pending SBA regulatory action.

The SBA’s proposed rule focuses primarily on the new WOSB sole source program.  However, the SBA also acknowledges that the 2015 NDAA eliminated WOSB self-certification.  The SBA writes:

SBA recognizes that Section 825 also created a requirement that a firm be certified as a WOSB or EDWOSB by a Federal Agency, a State government, SBA, or a national certifying entity approved by SBA. This statutory requirement appears to apply to both sole source and set asides under the WOSB Program, and may require substantial resources. Establishing a certification requirement and process will require a more prolonged rulemaking before SBA can establish such a program. In our view, there is no evidence that Congress intended to halt the existing WOSB Program until such time as SBA establishes theinfrastructure and issues regulations implementing the statutory certification requirement. Instead, we maintain that the new WOSB sole source authority can and should be implemented as quickly as possible, using existing program rules and procedures, while SBA proceeds with implementing the certification requirement through a separate rulemaking.

Read the full article at: http://smallgovcon.com/women-owned-small-business-program/wosb-self-certification-elimination-the-sba-weighs-in/.

Source: SmallGovCon.com, Article written by Steven Koprince, May 1, 2015

 

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