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What opportunities are there for MBEs in Women-Owned Business (WOB) programs?
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Posted On: Wednesday December 31st, 2003 at 12:00am EST
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Of course, many MBEs are owned and controlled by women. Minority group women have substantial representation in the 8(a) and SDB programs and Women-Owned Businesses (WOBs) are awarded the majority of DOT DBE contract and subcontract dollars. Federal departments and agencies establish annual goals for contracting with WOBs, and some have achieved success in increasing WOB participation in prime and subcontracting. However, even though Congress has authorized a contracting vehicle to set aside Federal requirements for competitions limited to WOBs, there are no Federal regulations to implement the statutory program.
The FAR defines a WOB as a small business concern at least 51 percent owned by one or more women; or, in the case of a publicly owned business, at least 51 percent of the stock of which is owned by one or more women. The management and daily business operations must also be controlled by one or more women.
At this time there is no certification procedure required for WOBs. However, you are encouraged to self-certify your business as a WOB in SBA's PRO-Net database. In addition, there are private, national women's business organizations that certify qualified women-owned businesses. One of these is the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), which offers a comprehensive certification for women-owned businesses administered through fourteen regional affiliates and accepted by more than 400 national corporations as well as state and local government agencies. A second private certification organization is the National Women's Business Owners Corporation (NWBOC). The NWBOC has launched a national certification program for women-owned and controlled businesses as an alternative to the multiple state and local certifications required by many public and private-sector agencies or prime contractors.
Twenty-two Federal agencies and departments have designated an “advocate" to act as a liaison to WOBs. These agencies and departments are developing a systematic approach to expand the pool of WOBs receiving federal contract awards and subcontract awards. The liaisons from each of the agencies provide outreach, training, and marketing assistance to WOBs. This group meets quarterly to assess the progress of the program, resolve problems, and develop new initiatives. |
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