Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB)

Women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) are increasing in number, range, diversity and earning power. As women business owners expand their companies, they contribute to the growth of our national economy and defense.

In Fiscal Year 2019, the DoD awarded $10.1 billion in prime contracts and $8.5 billion in subcontracts to WOSB concerns.  All DoD subcontracting plans are encouraged to have a separate goal for awards to WOSBs. The DoD considers the extent of participation by small business concerns when awarding contracts.

The focus of the DoD WOSB program is the provision of effective outreach, training and technical assistance in order to increase the accessibility of WOSB concerns to DoD procurement opportunities.

Goals

The DoD OSBP provides support to the DoD acquisition community in complying with small business statutes and the achievement of statutory goals for the various socioeconomic categories.

To assist WOSB concerns in gaining access to DoD procurement opportunities, the Military Departments, Defense Agencies, and subordinate commands are assigned WOSB prime contracting and subcontracting goals. Each must report progress towards meeting these goals.

  • Section 7106 of Public Law 103-355 established a government-wide goal for WOSB concerns at not less than 5% of the total value of all prime contract and subcontract awards for each fiscal year.

Requirements

To be an Eligible WOSB, a company must: 
 

  • Be a small business that is at least 51% percent unconditionally and directly owned and controlled by one or more women who are United States citizens.
  • Have a woman manage the day-to-day operations, make long-term deci­sions for the business, hold the highest officer position in the business and work at the business full-time during normal working hours.

 

To be an Eligible EDWOSB, a company must: 
 

  • Be a WOSB that is at least 51% owned by one or more women who are “economically disadvantaged.”
  • Have an economically disadvantaged woman manage the day-to-day operations, make long-term decisions for the business, hold the highest officer position in the business and work at the business full-time during normal working hours. A woman is presumed economically disadvan­taged if she has a personal net worth of less than $750,000 (with some exclusions), her adjusted gross yearly income average over the three years preceding the certification is less than $350,000, and the fair mar­ket value of all her assets is less than $6 million.

Please note that for both WOSB and EDWOSB, the 51% ownership must be unconditional and direct.