New SBA rule to help women-owned businesses get more federal contracts

A new rule published yesterday by the U.S. Small Business Administration is designed to help women-owned businesses gain more federal contracts.

The government's goal is to award at least 5 percent of its procurement dollars to women.

Under the new rule, agencies can negotiate a contract with a single woman-owned business without putting the project out for bid, provided there is only one woman-owned business that can do the work.

Read more from the Washington Bureau.