In response to the need to aid and stimulate Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSBs), Federal Acquisition officials are directed to take appropriate action to ensure full participation by women in the free enterprise system.  Appropriate action includes the award of prime contracts and subcontracts and counseling of Women-Owned Small Businesses.  OSDBU is responsible for negotiating annual goals with VA Acquisition officials to increase Federal prime contracts with Women-Owned Small Businesses.  The Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 (FASA) set an overall goal of 5% for Women-Owned Small Businesses.

Effective February 2011, the WOSB Federal Contract Program aimed at expanding Federal opportunities for Woman-Owned Small Businesses (WOSBs), authorizes contracting officers to set-aside certain Federal contracts for eligible:

• WOSBs or
• Economically Disadvantaged WOSBs (EDWOSBs)

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible, a firm must be at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more women, and primarily managed by one or more women.  The women must be U.S. citizens.  The firm must be “small” in its primary industry in accordance with SBA’ps size standards for that industry.  In order for a WOSB to be deemed “economically disadvantaged,” its owners must demonstrate economic disadvantage in accordance with the requirements set forth in the final rule.  Eligible firm must complete the following steps to participate in the program:

4 Steps to participate in the WOSB program:

1. Read the WOSB Federal Contract program regulations in the Federal Register and the WOSB Compliance Guide.
   
   
2. Register and represent your status in the System for Award Management (SAM) as WOSB or EDWOSB.
   
   
3. Log onto SBA’s General Login System (GLS).  (Obtain an account now if you don’t already have one.)
   
   
4. Go to the WOSB program repository (through GLS) and upload/categorize all required documents.

Additional information may be found at the Small Business Administration’s Woman-Owned Small Business Program web site.