WOSBs will now recertify every three (3) years instead of annually. 

The annual update requirement for approved Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) firms has been repealed and removed from 13 CFR §127.400(a) effective May 30, 2023. 

WOSBs will now recertify every three (3) years instead of annually. 

-Firms Initially Certified with SBA:  If the firm hasn’t reached the three-year recertification mark, recertification is now three years from the date of the initial certification letter. 

-Firms Certified by the 8(a) Business Development Program, a Third-Party Certified Letter, a Center for Verification and Evaluation (CVE) Letter, or SBA Veteran Certification Program (VetCert) Letter: Recertification is now three years from the date identified as the anniversary or expiration date in the official SBA WOSB Program approval letter.   

SBA will send email notifications beginning at the 120-day mark of each firm’s three-year certification anniversary. WOSB and EDWOSB firms may begin the recertification process at the 90-day mark prior to their recertification date. 

Reference: https://lnkd.in/g3jQ_DWq

Repeal of Annual Update Requirement for Approved WOSB Firms

Effective May 30, 2023, the WOSB Federal Contract Program (WOSB Program) rule at 13 C.F.R. § 127.400(a) is revised to reflect that certified WOSB and EDWOSB firms are required to undergo a program examination every three years to maintain certification. Previously, WOSB Program participants had to annually attest to their eligibility to continue participating in the program. The rule change removes the annual attestation requirement. 

For firms that have initially certified with SBA and have not reached the three-year recertification mark, their recertification date will be three years from the initial certification date on their certification letter. 

Firms that were certified by the 8(a) Business Development Program, have a Third-Party Certified letter, a Center for Verification and Evaluation (CVE) letter, or SBA Veteran Certification Program (VetCert) letter must use the date identified as the anniversary or expiration date in their official approval SBA WOSB Program letter to mark their three-year recertification period.  

SBA will send email notifications beginning at the 120-day mark of each firm’s three-year certification anniversary. To that end, WOSB and EDWOSB firms may begin the recertification process at the 90-day mark prior to their recertification date. 

Additionally, participants should remain aware of the regulation at 13 C.F.R. § 127.401: “Once certified, a WOSB or EDWOSB must notify SBA of any material changes that could affect its eligibility within 30 calendar days of any such change. Material change includes, but is not limited to, a change in the ownership, business structure, or management. The notification must be in writing and must be uploaded into the concern’s profile with SBA. 

The method for notifying SBA can be found on https://WOSB.certify.sba.gov. A concern’s failure to notify SBA of such a material change may result in decertification and removal from SAM and DSBS (or any successor system) as a designated certified WOSB/EDWOSB concern. In addition, SBA may seek the imposition of penalties under § 127.700.