We have heard a lot of buzz about WOSB and the new regulations just passed. So what is a WOSB exactly? Â It’s the Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB)Â Federal Contract Program, helping women entrepreneurs access the federal market. The program, officially launched in 2011 and recently in 2014, now has a provision authorizing sole-source contracts within the program. Â That’s great news!
Over the past years, only 1% of women-owned-small-businesses contracts came from WOSB set-asides. This was the main reason why small companies owned by women found the government contracting industry disheartening despite the fact the newly reformed WOSB set-aside program.
Well in 2015, the government has extremely high hopes of reaching the 5% goal of awarded contracts to women-owned-small-businesses (WOSBs), in which had undoubtedly failed since the authorization of WOSB set-asides in 2000.
To meet and exceed its expectations the government points to the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which included a provision that authorizes the sole-source contracts of up to $4 million for other industries and up to $6.5 million for manufacturing for both women-owned-small-businesses (WOSBs) and economically-disadvantaged-women-owned-small-businesses (EDWOSBs). Out of $52.6 billion government contracting dollar, imagine the opportunities within the scope of the 5% contracts for WOSBs. That’s roughly $2.6 billion. Now, how can you be part of it?
As a company under the women-owned-small-businesses (WOSBs) umbrella, you can successfully be awarded the elusive government contract/s by either becoming a prime contractor or a subcontractor of larger companies. Either way, you must be familiar with these steps required to participate in the WOSB program.
Additionally, knowing the government agencies that are friendly to women-owned-small-businesses is a great way to understand the competition and get in the game.
Here are the industries eligible for WOSB set-aside government contracts listed by the first 4 digits of their respective NAICS code:
| 2213 | Water, Sewage and Other systems | 5417 | Scientific Research and Development Services |
| 2372 | Land Subdivision | 4885 | Freight Transportation Arrangement |
| 2361 | Residential Building Construction | 5418 | Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services |
| 3152 | Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing | 5121 | Motion Picture and Video Industries |
| 2371 | Utility System Construction | 5615 | Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services |
| 3231 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 5311 | Lessors of Real Estate |
| 2381 | Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors | 5619 | Other Support Services |
| 3259 | Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing | 5413 | Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services |
| 2382 | Building Equipment Contractors | 5621 | Waste Collection |
| 3328 | Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 5414 | Specialized Design Services |
| 2383 | Building Finishing Contractors | 5622 | Waste Treatment and Disposal |
| 3329 | Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 5415 | Computer Systems Design and Related Services |
| 2389 | Other Specialty Trade Contractors | 6114 | Business Schools and Computer and Management Training |
| 3371 | Household & Institutional Furniture & Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturing | 5416 | Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services |
| 3149 | Other Textile Product Mills | 6115 | Technical and Trade Schools |
| 3372 | Office Furniture (including Fixtures) Manufacturing | 5419 | Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services |
| 3159 | Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing | 6117 | Educational Support Services |
| 3391 | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 5611 | Office Administrative Services |
| 3219 | Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 6242 | Community Food and Housing, and Emergency & Other Relief Services |
| 4841 | General Freight Trucking | 5612 | Facilities Support Services |
| 3222 | Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 6243 | Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
| 4889 | Other Support Activities for Transportation | 5614 | Business Support Services |
| 3321 | Forging and Stamping | 7211 | Traveler Accommodation |
| 4931 | Warehousing and Storage | 5616 | Investigation and Security Services |
| 3323 | Architectural and Structural Metals Manufacturing | 8112 | Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance |
| 5111 | Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers | 5617 | Services to Buildings and Dwellings |
| 3324 | Boiler, Tank, and Shipping Container Manufacturing | 8129 | Other Personal Services |
| 5112 | Software Publishers | 6116 | Other Schools and Instruction |
| 3333 | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 8139 | Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations |
| 5171 | Wired Telecommunications Carriers | 6214 | Outpatient Care Centers |
| 3342 | Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 6219 | Other Ambulatory Health Care Services |
| 5172 | Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) | 7115 | Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers |
| 3345 | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, & Control Instruments Manufacturing | 7223 | Special Food Services |
| 5179 | Other Telecommunications | 8111 | Automotive Repair and Maintenance |
| 3346 | Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media | 8113 | Commercial & Industrial Machinery & Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair & Maintenance |
| 5182 | Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services | 8114 | Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance |
| 3353 | Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 3369 | Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing |
| 5191 | Other Information Services | 5324 | Commercial & Industrial Machinery & Equipment Rental & Leasing |
| 3359 | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 4842 | Specialized Freight Trucking |
| 5312 | Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers | 5411 | Legal Services |
| 5412 | Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, & Payroll Services | 4881 | Support Activities for Air Transportation |
| 4884 | Support Activities for Road Transportation |
Women-owned-small-businesses (WOSBs) that are really serious about doing business with the government now have a better chance at succeeding with the new regulations in place.