The bill aims to enhance oversight and transparency in small business certifications for various programs. It mandates the submission of an annual report detailing the number of small business certifications, application processing times, and certification outcomes under specific programs, including those for service-disabled veterans, women-owned businesses, and HUBZone small businesses. The report also requires details on applications certified by national certifying entities and those eligible for sole source contracts. This potentially impacts small businesses seeking government contracts by ensuring more comprehensive and timely reporting on the certification process, potentially improving accountability in small business certification programs.
Oversight and Transparency for Small Business Certifications Act of 2026
This bill requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to report annually, as part of the President's budget submission, information about specified SBA contracting programs.
The reporting requirement applies to the
- 8(a) Business Development program,
- Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract program,
- HUBZone program, and
- Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business program.
The report must include the total number of unique small business concerns certified for participation in each program, the number of applications for certification for two or more such programs, and the percentage of total applicants that received two or more certifications.