WIPP Comments to SBA on Proposed Rule on Women's Procurement Program - Eligible Industries

Assistant Director, Policy, Planning and Research

Office of Government Contracting

U.S. Small Business Administration

409 Third Street, SW

Washington, DC 20416

RIN 3245-AF80

13 CFR Parts 121, 125, 127, and 134

FR Doc. E9-407 Filed 1-9-09; 8:45 am

Dear Mr. Koppel:

Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP), a national bi-partisan public policy organization representing well over a half million women and minorities in business including 45 associations that partner with us, is responding to the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) proposed rule, “The Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Assistance Procedures- Eligible Industries (73 FR 57014).”

First, we observe that H.R. 1105, the Omnibus Appropriations Act 2009, contained a provision that prohibited SBA from using any funds to further promulgate this rule.  Section 522 reads “SEC. 522. None of the funds made available under this Act may be used by the Small Business Administration to implement the rule relating to women-owned small business Federal contract assistance procedures published in the Federal Register on October 1, 2008 (73 Fed. Reg. 56940 et seq.).

Second, we stand by our previous comments on eligible industries which we filed on October 31, 2008 and our strong opposition to the portions of the women’s procurement program that were finalized October 1, 2008. 

WIPP looks forward to working with the SBA on a redrafted program that reflects the intentions of Congress.  We believe there is ample opportunity for the SBA to put forward a meaningful program which assists federal agencies in meeting their women-owned contracting goal.  We look forward to being involved in the process.

President