This week marks a critical turning point for Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSBs) in the federal procurement space. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Council is proposing sweeping changes to two foundational rules—FAR Part 18 (Emergency Procurement) and FAR Part 39 (Acquisition of Information and Communication Technology)—that could roll back hard-won gains for women entrepreneurs in federal government procurement.
Proposed Changes
The proposed revisions to FAR Part 18 remove explicit references to WOSB set-asides and eliminate mandatory Small Business Administration (SBA) consultation during emergency procurements. This opens the door for contracting officers to bypass women-owned firms—without explanation—during high value, urgent procurements, exactly when flexibility, innovation, and local responsiveness are most needed.
At the same time, changes to FAR Part 39 threaten to sideline WOSBs in the tech space by significantly expanding the scope of IT acquisitions while quietly introducing new barriers that threaten small business participation. For example, by imposing costly new accessibility and technology compliance burdens, these revisions impose burdensome requirements that only large, incumbent contractors are positioned to meet, locking out smaller, more agile firms—particularly women-owned businesses.
What’s at Stake?
The cumulative effect of these proposed changes is clear: a systematic narrowing of opportunity for WOSBs. If adopted as written, these rules could eliminate long-standing safeguards designed to ensure the equitable participation of women-owned businesses in the federal marketplace. This is not just red tape—it’s a retreat from progress.
How can I help?
We cannot allow these changes to move forward without public scrutiny and strong opposition. The comment period ends Monday, July 28, 2025, at 4:30 PM ET. If you care about protecting opportunity, equity, and access for women-owned firms in federal contracting, it’s time to act.
Tell the FAR Council: Women-owned businesses deserve better. Submit your comments directly to the FAR Council through the American Small Business Chamber of Commerce portal here and here.
Also, contact your congressional representatives and urge them to step in and halt these damaging revisions before they become final. You can email Congress via the American Small Business Chamber of Commerce’s advocacy platform or contact your senator or representative directly.
Together, we can ensure that equity in federal procurement isn’t just lip service—it’s a policy. Your Voice Matters—Act Now.
