Bill Overview
Title: WOSB Program Transparency Act
Description: This bill requires the Small Business Administration to report information about the number and total dollar amount of contracts awarded under the Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contracting program.
Sponsors: Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals working in and owning women-owned small businesses
Estimated Size: 11000000
- The WOSB Program impacts women-owned small businesses, which must meet specific criteria to qualify for federal contracts.
- The program aims to support economic growth and job creation among women entrepreneurs.
- Increasing transparency may lead to more informed policy decisions, potentially leading to improved opportunities for women-owned businesses.
Reasoning
- The WOSB Program targets women-owned small businesses, aiming to enhance economic opportunities and growth.
- Transparency in this program allows for better monitoring and may encourage more businesses to apply for federal contracts, improving competitiveness.
- However, the impact of the policy will vary depending on the business's proximity to government contract opportunities and their eligibility.
- The budget constraint limits the number of businesses and individuals directly benefiting, but indirect effects (like increased awareness and motivation) might be significant.
Simulated Interviews
Small business owner (Austin, Texas)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe that more transparency could help me better prepare to apply for contracts.
- It might also expose areas where the system isn’t working effectively, leading to reforms.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Employee at a women-owned tech startup (San Francisco, California)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased transparency might help my employer secure more contracts, which could mean growth for us.
- Ultimately, it could lead to better job security and potential salary increases.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Consultant for small businesses (New York City, New York)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Transparency might induce more women-owned businesses to seek federal contracts, possibly requiring my consultation services.
- Could drive better alignment and readiness for these contracts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Owner of construction business (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I already participate in this program, so added transparency is a plus for ensuring fair play.
- Might allow us to see trends and plan more effectively for future bidding.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Government official (Miami, Florida)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policy transparency will aid in my work, ensuring program goals are met.
- Could also expose inefficiencies that need addressing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Owner of a boutique law firm (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Greater transparency could mean more clients seeking legal advice to navigate bidding.
- It's beneficial to have a clearer picture of the market dynamics.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Founder of a small digital marketing firm (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This transparency bill could give my company a better shot at succeeding in gaining contracts.
- It might highlight opportunities we were unaware of previously.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Owner of a business consulting agency (Atlanta, Georgia)
Age: 46 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Clients could greatly benefit from this, which in turn could drive my business success.
- There might be more demand for consulting services with more businesses trying for federal contracts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Freelancer for government contracting bids (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More transparency would help in providing fair opportunities for all.
- It could also reduce bias and make the process feel more equitable.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Policy researcher (Boston, Massachusetts)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy will offer better insights into the effectiveness of the WOSB program.
- Could guide future policy tweaks and improvements.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $3000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $4000000)
Year 2: $3100000 (Low: $2100000, High: $4100000)
Year 3: $3200000 (Low: $2200000, High: $4200000)
Year 5: $3500000 (Low: $2500000, High: $4500000)
Year 10: $4000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $5000000)
Year 100: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Key Considerations
- Administrative costs are expected to rise gradually due to inflation and expanded data needs.
- The extent of policy effectiveness in improving business opportunities will influence long-term economic and tax impacts.
- Potential overlap with existing reporting obligations could alter actual implementation costs.