Women-Owned Small Business Certification
Overview
Double-Certification of WOSB for Federal Awards and WBE for State & Local Level Awards
The federal government aims to award at least 5% of all federal contracting dollars yearly to women-owned small businesses. This means that from the over $600 billion the federal government allocates for contracts annually, 5% or approximately $30 billion is obligated for prime and subcontracts for women-owned small businesses (WOSB). WBE Certification is also included so you can compete for state-level contracts.
Leverage our two decades of experience to get the support you need and save your valuable time.
To register and qualify for WOSB (Woman-Owned Small Business) status with the federal government, an organization must meet all the following criteria: be qualified for Small Business Status and not currently part of the WOSB program, 51% owned and controlled by women who are U.S. citizens, have a full-time female employee hold the highest official position and have executive women head day-to-day and long-term operations. Fedbiz Access is a leading full-service federal business development firm that specializes in B2G and B2B government opportunities, as well as city, state, and local contracting opportunities. Our team of experienced professionals can help your business navigate the complex world of government contracting to ensure that you maximize your opportunities for success. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your business grow.
The Women Business Enterprise (WBE) Certification through the Women’s Business Enterprise National Counsel (WBENC) for women-owned businesses is one of the most widely recognized and respected certifications in the nation. Accepted by hundreds of corporations and a number of federal, state, and local government agencies, WBE certification is an important marketing tool for expanding a company’s visibility among decision makers in corporate and governmental supply chain diversity and procurement organizations.
ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for the women’s contracting program (WOSB & WBE), your business must:
- Be a for-profit small business based on specific industry codes
- Be at least 51% owned and controlled by women who are U.S. citizens
- Women manage day-to-day operations and also make long-term decisions
- Verification and site visit
The eligibility requirements to qualify as a WOSB are fully defined in Title 13 Part 127 Subpart B of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Unlike the 8(a) program, there is no time limit on participation in the WOSB program as long your business is eligible.
The WOSB certification must be updated through SAM.gov and certify.SBA.gov once a year to maintain your set-aside status. WBE must be updated once a year through WBENC. Our specialists can support you on an annual basis to maintain your certification status.
THIRD-PARTY VERIFICATION
For WOSB/WBE certification to be awarded, your business must be independently verified by an SBA approved third-party certifier to confirm your business is at least 51% woman-owned and operated. This requires an on-site visit (or on-screen interview) at your place of business, which we will help you coordinate and prepare for in advance.
The third-party verification organization charges start at $350 and are based on revenue size.
The verification fees are separate from our services.
We support you each step along the way, including documentation review and filings for submittal through clarifications to award.
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Annual Renewal for WOSB/WBE Certification
(Third-party certification required annually, including additional fee to certifying organization)
The Small Business Administration (SBA) and WBENC have a set of regulations for WOSB and WBE certifications. These programs allow for set-aside and sole source contracting opportunities for Women-Owned Small Businesses. To gain access to these opportunities, organizations first need to undergo a comprehensive registration process, where the difference between certification approvals and denials is frequently offset by the smallest clerical errors. Self-registration and certification may take you approximately 60 – 70 hours, and that doesn’t count for the necessary follow-up work of certification renewals, change-in-business updates, and more. Let FedBiz Access expedite certification and approval.
Fedbiz Access is a leading full-service federal business development firm specializing in B2G and B2B government opportunities, as well as city, state, and local contracting opportunities. We offer our clients a wide range of services to help them navigate the often-complex world of government contracting, from proposal writing and bid consultation to contract administration and management. Our WOSB / WBE certification assistance service helps our clients take advantage of set-aside and sole-source contracting opportunities. Our team of experts can help your organization complete the registration and certification processes quickly and accurately, saving you valuable time and resources. For more information about our WOSB / WBE certification assistance service, contact us today.