S. 2172

Fairness in Women-Owned Small Business Contracting Act of 2012

Latest
Raw Text PDF XML

II

112th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 2172

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 7, 2012

Ms. Snowe (for herself, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Bennet, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Mikulski, and Ms. Murkowski) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

A BILL

To remove the limit on the anticipated award price for contracts awarded under the procurement program for women-owned small business concerns, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Fairness in Women-Owned Small Business Contracting Act of 2012.

2.

Procurement program for women-owned small business concerns

Section 8(m) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(m)) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (2)—

(A)

in subparagraph (A), by striking who are economically disadvantaged;

(B)

in subparagraph (C), by striking paragraph (3) and inserting paragraph (4);

(C)

by striking subparagraph (D); and

(D)

by redesignating subparagraphs (E) and (F) as subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively; and

(2)

by adding at the end the following:

(7)

Sole source contracts

A contracting officer may award a sole source contract under this subsection to a small business concern owned and controlled by women under the same conditions as a sole source contract may be awarded to a qualified HUBZone small business concern under section 31(b)(2)(A).

.

3.

Study and report on representation of women

Section 29 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(o)

Study and report on representation of women

(1)

Study

The Administrator shall periodically conduct a study to identify any United States industry, as defined under the North American Industry Classification System, in which women are underrepresented.

(2)

Report

Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this subsection, and every 5 years thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives a report on the results of each study under paragraph (1) conducted during the 5-year period ending on the date of the report.

.