WOSB Certification Expansion and Opportunity Act

This bill proposes to change how the federal government tracks its progress in awarding contracts to women-owned small businesses (WOSBs). Currently, some businesses can self-certify their status, but this legislation would require that only businesses certified by a federal agency, state government, or an approved national entity be counted toward an agency's annual contracting goals. This change aims to ensure that government contracts intended for women-owned firms are going to verified businesses.

To prevent a gap in eligibility, the bill would allow self-certified businesses that have already applied for formal certification to keep their status while their applications are being processed. If enacted, the Small Business Administration would be required to provide quarterly briefings to Congress on the progress of these certification efforts and the implementation of these new standards. For business owners, this would mean a shift away from self-reporting toward a more rigorous, standardized verification process to compete for specific government set-aside contracts.