H.R. 1816 — WOSB Accountability Act

This section amends section 15(g) of the Small Business Act to exclude self-certified small business concerns owned and controlled by women from federal governmentwide (5%) and agency contracting goals, limiting such goals to only those certified under section 8(m)(2)(E) (i.e., Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Program certification by SBA or approved entities). (Thus, only certified WOSBs count toward prime and subcontract contract awards to WOSBs.) The exclusion takes effect on the first day after the end of the second fiscal year following issuance of required regulations. (1) As a transition, self-certified WOSBs that filed certification applications before the effective date—and for which no determination has been made—are deemed certified for goal-calculation purposes until SBA or an approved entity decides on the application. (2) The SBA Administrator must issue implementing regulations within one year of enactment. (3) The Administrator must provide quarterly briefings to the House Committee on Small Business and Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship—beginning 60 days after enactment and continuing until the effective date—detailing certification application volumes, processing timelines, costs, outreach, and legislative recommendations. (4) No additional funds are authorized.