SBA Proposes Set-Aside Rules For Women-Owned Small Businesses

After years of delay, the Small Business Administration proposed new regulations allowing set-asides for women-owned small businesses (WOSB) and economically disadvantaged WOSB's. Agencies may restrict competition to these businesses, but only in certain procurements valued at $3 million ($5 million for manufacturing) or less, only in industries where SBA finds WOSB are “underrepresented,” and only where the agency determines that the restriction would not violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution.