New SBA Contract Set Aside Program for Women Business Owners
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After a long struggle, on February 4, 2011, the federal government Small Business Administration (SBA) opened the doors on a program to allow contracting officers to set aside certain federal contracts for women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) in 83 industries. The government has a goal of 5% of contracts to be awarded to WOSBs and economically disadvantaged women-owned small businesses (EDWOSBs).
While the program is still being ramped up over the next few months as the SBA holds a number of training and outreach events, the goal is to have WOSBs and EDWOSBs ready to compete for contracts awarded in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011.
This program has been long in the making and organizations such as the National Organization for Women Business Owners ( NAWBO®) has been instrumental in implementing this opportunity. Helen Han, President and CEO of NAWBO, said, “We are finally optimistic that women business owners are on their way to getting their fair share of federal contracting dollars. NAWBO appreciates the leadership that SBA Administrator Karen Mills and Director of the SBA Office of Women’s Business Ownership Ana Harvey have shown in moving this program forward.”
To find out if you are eligible for this program and to get more information on registering for contract awards, visit the SBA Women Owned Small Business Contract Program website.
