Bill > S2172

This bill, the Fairness in Women-Owned Small Business Contracting Act of 2012, amends the Small Business Act to enhance opportunities for women-owned small businesses in federal contracting. Key changes include removing the requirement that women owners be economically disadvantaged, which means a business can qualify solely based on being owned and controlled by women, not on their personal financial status. It also eliminates limits on the price of contracts that can be awarded under this program, allowing for larger projects to be considered. Furthermore, contracting officers will be able to award sole-source contracts, meaning contracts awarded to a single business without competition, to women-owned small businesses under the same conditions as they can be awarded to HUBZone (Historically Underutilized Business Zone) small businesses, which are businesses located in economically distressed areas. The bill also mandates that the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) periodically study U.S. industries to identify those where women are underrepresented and report these findings every five years to the congressional small business committees.