General. At the time a concern submits an offer on a specific contract (including a Multiple Award Contract) or order reserved for competition among EDWOSBs or WOSBs under this Part, it must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) (or any successor system), have a current representation posted on SAM (or any successor system) that it qualifies as an EDWOSB or WOSB, and have provided the required documents to the WOSB Program Repository, or if the repository is unavailable, be prepared to submit the documents to the contracting officer if selected as the apparent successful offeror.

Form of certification. In conjunction with its required registration in the SAM (or any successor system), the concern must submit a copy of the Women-Owned Small Business Program Certification (WOSB or EDWOSB) to the WOSB Program Repository and representations to the electronic annual representations and certifications at http://orca.bpn.gov, that it is a qualified EDWOSB or WOSB. The Women-Owned Small Business Program Certification (WOSB or EDWOSB) and representation must state, subject to penalties for misrepresentation, that:

The concern is an EDWOSB or WOSB or is certified as an EDWOSB or WOSB by a certifying entity approved by SBA, and there have been no changes in its circumstances affecting its eligibility since certification;

The concern meets each of the applicable individual eligibility requirements described in subpart B of this part, including that:

It is a small business concern under the size standard assigned to the particular procurement;

It is at least 51 percent owned and controlled by one or more women who are United States citizens, or it is at least 51 percent owned and controlled by one or more women who are United States citizens and are economically disadvantaged; and

Neither SBA, in connection with an examination or protest, nor an SBA-approved certifier has issued a decision currently in effect finding that it does not qualify as an EDWOSB or WOSB.

Documents provided to contracting officer. All of the documents set forth in paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section must be provided to the contracting officer to verify eligibility at the time of initial offer. The documents will be provided via the WOSB Program Repository or, if the repository is unavailable, directly to the contracting officer. The documents must be retained for a minimum of six (6) years.

Third-Party Certification. (1) Prior to certification in SAM (or any successor system), the WOSB or EDWOSB that has been certified as a WOSB or EDWOSB by a certifying entity approved by SBA, including those certifiers from which SBA will accept certifications from the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program, or by SBA as an 8(a) BD Participant, must provide a copy of the third-party Certification to the WOSB Program Repository. If the WOSB Program Repository is unavailable, then prior to the award of a WOSB or EDWOSB contract, the apparent successful offeror WOSB or EDWOSB that has been certified as a EDWOSB or WOSB by a certifying entity approved by SBA must provide a copy of the third-party Certification to the contracting officer verifying that it was a WOSB or EDWOSB at the time of initial offer.

The EDWOSB or WOSB must also provide a copy of the joint venture agreement, if applicable.

The EDWOSB or WOSB must also provide a signed copy of the Women-Owned Small Business Program Certification (WOSB or EDWOSB).

The EDWOSB or WOSB must also provide any additional documents as requested by SBA in writing that are necessary to satisfy the WOSB Program requirements.

Within thirty (30) days of the WOSB Program Repository becoming available, the WOSB or EDWOSB must provide the same documents to the repository.

Non-Third Party Certification. A concern that has not been certified as a WOSB or EDWOSB by a third-party certifier approved by SBA or as a DBE or by SBA as an 8(a) BD Participant must also provide documents to the WOSB Program Repository. If the WOSB Program Repository is unavailable, then prior to award of a WOSB or EDWOSB contract, the apparent successful offeror must provide a copy of the documents to the contracting officer verifying that it was a WOSB or EDWOSB at the time of initial offer. Within thirty (30) days of the WOSB Program Repository becoming available, the WOSB or EDWOSB must provide the same documents to the WOSB Program Repository. These documents must be signed and include the following:

Birth certificates, Naturalization papers, or unexpired passports for owners who are women;

Copy of the joint venture agreement, if applicable;

For limited liability companies:

Articles of organization (also referred to as certificate of organization or articles of formation) and any amendments; and

Operating agreement, and any amendments;

For corporations:

Articles of incorporation and any amendments;

By-laws and any amendments;

All issued stock certificates, including the front and back copies, signed in accord with the by-laws;

Stock ledger; and

Voting agreements, if any;

For partnerships, the partnership agreement and any amendments;

For sole proprietorships (and corporations, limited liability companies and partnerships if applicable), the assumed/fictitious name certificate(s);

A signed copy of the Women-Owned Small Business Program Certification-WOSBs; and

For EDWOSBs, in addition to the above:

SBA Form 413, Personal Financial Statement, available to the public at http://www.sba.gov/tools/Forms/index.html, for each woman claiming economic disadvantage; and

A signed copy of the Women-Owned Small Business Program Certification-EDWOSBs.

Update of certification and documents. (1) The concern must update its Women-Owned Small Business Program Certification (WOSB or EDWOSB) and EDWOSB and WOSB representations and self-certification in SAM (or any successor system) as necessary, but at least annually, to ensure they are kept current, accurate, and complete. The certification and representations are effective for a period of one year from the date of submission or update.

The WOSB or EDWOSB must update the documents submitted to the contracting officer via the WOSB Program Repository as necessary to ensure they are kept current, accurate and complete. If the WOSB Program Repository is not available, the WOSB or EDWOSB must provide current, accurate and complete documents to the contracting officer for each contract award. Within thirty (30) days of the WOSB Program Repository becoming available, the WOSB or EDWOSB must provide the same documents to the WOSB Program Repository.