WOSB Certification Expansion and Opportunity Act

This bill tightens how the federal government counts contracts for women-owned small businesses. Only businesses that are formally certified by the Small Business Administration (SBA), a state, or an SBA‑approved national certifier will count toward agencies’ women-owned contracting goals, not those that only self-certify. To avoid disruption, a self‑certified business that has already applied for certification will be treated as certified until the SBA or an approved certifier makes a decision on its application.

The SBA must issue rules within one year. After that, the new counting rules start once two full federal fiscal years have passed. The SBA also has to brief Congress every quarter on how many businesses are applying, how quickly applications are processed, costs, and outreach efforts. The bill does not authorize new spending to carry out these changes.

• Who is affected: Women-owned small businesses seeking federal contracts, and federal agencies tracking contracting goals.
• What changes: Only fully certified businesses will count toward agency goals; self‑certified firms must apply to keep counting temporarily; SBA must provide regular progress updates .
• When: SBA issues rules within one year; the new counting rules take effect after two more full fiscal years; quarterly briefings begin within 60 days and continue until the transition date .