[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 208 (Thursday, October 28, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66411-66412]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-27272]


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SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION


Small Entity Compliance Guide: Women-Owned Small Business Program

AGENCY: Small Business Administration.

ACTION: Notice: Availability of Compliance Guide.

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SUMMARY: The Small Business Administration (SBA) is announcing the 
availability of a compliance guide for the Women-Owned Small Business 
(WOSB) Program. This guide sets forth in plain language the 
requirements for participation in the WOSB program, and is intended to 
help small businesses understand the regulation and how it affects 
them.

[[Page 66412]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane Heal, Assistant Director, Office 
of Contract Assistance, Office of Government Contracting, U.S. Small 
Business Administration, 409 Third Street, SW., Washington, DC 20416. 
For information about the WOSB Program visit the Web site at http://www.sba.gov/wosb.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On October 7, 2010 (75 FR 62258), the Small Business Administration 
(SBA) issued a final rule amending 13 CFR part 127, entitled ``The 
Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Assistance Procedures,'' 
and implementing procedures authorized by the Small Business Act (Pub. 
L. 85-536, as amended) to help ensure a level playing field on which 
Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSBs) can compete for Federal 
contracting opportunities.
    In particular, the final rule: Identifies 83 industries by four 
digit North American Industry Classification System codes in which 
WOSBs are underrepresented or substantially underrepresented; allows 
WOSBs and EDWOSBs to self-certify their status as long as adequate 
documents are provided to support the certification; allows WOSBs or 
EDWOSBs to be certified by approved third-party certifiers, including 
Federal agencies; sets forth the criteria to determine eligibility for 
the program; sets forth the contracting requirements for the program; 
and explains and expands the protest and eligibility examination 
process to ensure the eligibility of WOSBs or EDWOSBs for the program.
    The SBA also stated in the rule that it is effective February 4, 
2011 because the agency is in the process of working with the Federal 
Acquisition Regulatory Council to implement this program in the Federal 
Acquisition Regulations. In addition, the SBA is working with the 
Integrated Acquisition Environment to make changes to the various 
Federal procurement data systems, which will be affected by this rule.
    Further, in the final rule the SBA examined the economic 
implications of the rule as required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act 
(5 U.S.C. 601-612) and determined that the rule would have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
In compliance with section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory 
Enforcement Fairness Act (Pub. L. 104-121), SBA is making available 
this Small Entity Compliance Guide, which explains in plain language 
the legal requirements of the WOSB Program, as set forth in the final 
rule.

II. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

    This compliance guide refers to a new collection of information 
that is necessitated by the WOSB program regulations. This collection 
of information has been submitted to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520). Approval is currently pending.

III. Electronic Access

    Persons with access to the Internet may obtain the document at: 
http://www.sba.gov/wosb.

    Dated: October 21, 2010.
Karen Hontz,
Director, Office of Government Contracting.
[FR Doc. 2010-27272 Filed 10-27-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8025-01-P