by David Cruz 

For the past fifteen years, Sheila Mcqueen describes running a small business as brutal. Yes, her cleaning service has attracted clients that included the U.S. Army, but much of it requires the assistance of federal government awards.

And as a Women Owned Small Business (WOSB) owner, she qualifies for only a handful of contracts that are geared to Mcqueen. She’s then left to compete for contracts open to all small businesses apart from her own.

“The competition out there is so fierce,” said Mcqueen, the owner of Scrub Clean Business in the Third Avenue HUB. “I went to one bid walkthrough where there were 60 contractors for one job.”

Mcqueen is part of the two-dozen WOSBs scattered throughout the Bronx, making up 40 percent of small businesses. With a steady increase in WOSBs, and momentum likely to gain, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is proposing a bill that clears WOSBs to apply for sole-source contract.

The award directly offers contracts to small businesses, lessening the workload for qualified small businesses. Should the bill pass, it would allow WOSBs access to $5.7 billion in contracts. The bill would also allow for a study that explores why WOSBs only received 4.3 percent of contracts, 0.7 percent short of the federally mandated five percent. The goal has never been reached, according to Gillibrand.

“Without a doubt, if given a fair shot, women-owned businesses will help grow our economy,” said Gillibrand, flanked by supporters on the city, state and federal levels.

WOSBs is just one channel entrepreneurs can take to expand their business potential, including the federal 8(a) program that allows women to compete for sole-source contracts. But Mcqueen simply has no time.

“They want literally everything except your blood,” said Mcqueen, overwhelmed by the paperwork process, particularly when she handles the daily tasks in running a small business.

The bill, part of the Women’s Small business Procurement Parity Act, is receiving support on both houses of Congress, according to Gillibrand.

“This bill doesn’t cost anything, so it’s the kind of bill that I think will earn bi-partisan support. And it makes sense,” said Gillibrand. “Women-owned small businesses are among the fastest growing sectors in small businesses.”