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SBA RIN: 3245-AF40 Publication ID: Fall 2008 
Title: Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Assistance Procedures 
Abstract: On December 27, 2007, the U.S. Small Business Administration ("SBA") published in the Federal Register a proposed rule with request for comments to amend its regulations in accordance with section 8(m) of the Small Business Act, 15 U.S.C. section 637(m). This rule establishes regulations to implement procedures to increase Federal procurement opportunities for Women-Owned Small Businesses ("WOSBs"). More specifically, this rule authorizes contracting officers to restrict competition to eligible WOSBs for Federal contracts not exceeding $3 million ($5 million for manufacturing) in certain industries in which WOSBs are underrepresented or substantially underrepresented and in which the procuring agency has determined that the set-aside would satisfy constitutional requirements. The rule also sets forth the standards for determining the eligibility of a concern as a WOSB or economically disadvantaged WOSB ("EDWOSB") and would require any firm receiving a contract to be certified as a "small business concern owned and controlled by women" as defined in section 3(n) of the Small Business Act, 15 U.S.C. section 632(n). The rule also establishes standards for eligibility examinations and protest procedures, as well as identify the penalties that can be imposed for a concern’s misrepresentation of its status as an EDWOSB or WOSB. Lastly, the rule makes the relevant conforming amendments to SBA’s current procurement and appeal procedure regulations. 
Agency: Small Business Administration(SBA)  Priority: Other Significant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Completed Actions 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: 13 CFR 125   
Legal Authority: 15 USC 637(m)    15 USC 637(d)   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  06/15/2006  71 FR 34550   
NPRM Comment Period End  07/17/2006    
Second NPRM  12/27/2007  72 FR 73285   
Second NPRM Comment Period End  02/25/2008    
NPRM Comment Period Reopened  02/28/2008  73 FR 10697   
Comment Period End  03/31/2008    
Final Action  10/01/2008  73 FR 56940   
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes  Government Levels Affected: None 
Small Entities Affected: Businesses  Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
Public Comment URL: www.regulations.gov  
RIN Data Printed in the FR: Yes 
Agency Contact:
Linda Korbol
Division Chief, Division of Policy, Planning, and Liaison, Office of Government Contracting
Small Business Administration
409 Third Street SW,
Washington, DC 20416
Phone:202 205-7341
Fax:202 481-1540
Email: linda.korbol@sba.gov.