Women Owned Small Business Certification (WOSB)
Happy Women’s History!
I celebrate you every day of the week, but this month I want to focus on moving you onward and upward.
Let’s talk about getting you certified as a Women Owned Small Business (WOSB).
The rules have changed, and you’ve got to change with the times.
““The federal government’s goal is to award at least 5% of all federal contracting dollars to women-owned small businesses each year.””
Statistics Matter!
The SBA tracks the number of Federal Contracts that are allotted to Women, so what does that mean?
That means that if the Federal Agency meets or exceed their goal of 5%, it affects that Agencies funding. So, it is in their interest to meet those goals. That means that as a WOSB you need to do your part to get a slice of that pie.
So, let’s get you certified!
Benefits
To help provide a level playing field for women business owners, the government limits competition for certain contracts to businesses that participate in the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contract program.
Changes to the program
In 2020, SBA implemented Congress’ changes to the WOSB Federal Contract program, as put forth in the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This affected the process by which WOSBs and EDWOSBs gained program certification. Updated WOSB Federal Contract Program regulations detailing changes to the certification process were published in the Federal Register in May 2020.
These changes have made it easier for qualified small businesses to participate in the WOSB Federal Contract program by improving the customer experience. At the same time, SBA has strengthened oversight and ensured the integrity of the certification process.
Are you eligible?
To be eligible for the WOSB Federal Contract program, a business must:
Be a small business according to SBA size standards
Be at least 51% owned and controlled by women who are U.S. citizens
Have women manage day-to-day operations who also make long-term decisions
Before you can compete for WOSB set-aside contracts, you must apply for certification.
Click the button below for help applying for the WOSB Federal Contract program