Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Program Approved
February 7, 2011
Since the early eighties, I have been advocating for women business owners to have access to a piece of government contracts. Not just locally but federally. Throughout the eighties and early nineties many new pathways of opportunities were created for WBEs as a result of those of us who are now considered pioneers for women business owners. We are no longer asked if our husbands are available to sign on bank notes when we seek financial help. We are no longer looked at on job sites as “filling in” for the owner. We have made great strides in this arena.
Over the past decade, however, we seemed to have lost a foothold and thanks to organizations like NAWBO, a big player in the game this time, and many others like them, we are making our way back to the top of things. This time we have our daughters on board and even granddaughters who are standing on the foundation others like myself built for them.
Here is an excerpt from the bill:
Beginning February 4, the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contract program will allow contracting officers to set aside certain federal contracts for eligible women-owned small businesses or economically disadvantaged women-owned small businesses. The first contracts expected to be awarded by the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011.
The implementation of the program has been a struggle since 2000, when Congress authorized a “restricted competition” or set-aside program specifically for women-owned businesses, with a goal of 5 percent of federal contract dollars to be awarded to WOSBs. The 5 percent goal has never been attained, and women business owners have missed out on an estimated $5 billion in federal contracts per year.
On October 7, 2010, the U.S. Small Business Administration published a final rule effective February 4, 2011, aimed at expanding federal contracting opportunities for women-owned small businesses (WOSBs). The Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contract program authorizes contracting officers to set aside certain federal contracts for eligible:
- Women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) or
Economically disadvantaged women-owned small businesses (EDWOSBs)
To be eligible more
To get additional information on getting certified for this program and other programs for women business owners contact me, by phone: 614-325-5452 or connie@intentionalwomanonline.com.