Women-owned small businesses could receive sole source contracts under the National Defense Authorization Act of 2015, which was passed by the House of Representatives last week.

The House-passed 2015 NDAA includes an amendment authorizing economically disadvantaged women-owned small businesses to receive sole source contracts of up to $6.5 million for manufacturing, and up to $4 million for other industries.  For WOSBs that are not economically disadvantaged, sole source contracts would be available, with the same thresholds, in industries where WOSBs are considered substantially underrepresented.

Participants in the 8(a), SDVOSB, and HUBZone programs currently enjoy sole source authority.  WOSB advocates have pushed hard for similar sole source authority to be included under the WOSB program.  That advocacy paid off in the House.

The 2015 NDAA now moves to the Senate.  If the Senate agrees to the House amendment and the President signs the bill into law, WOSBs could begin receiving sole source contracts in the not-too-distant future.  I’ll keep you posted.