In Plain English
Quick Answer
A small business at least 51% owned and controlled by women who are U.S. citizens. SBA certification opens contracts set aside for women-owned firms in industries where they're underrepresented.
Definition
Definition
A Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) is a small business at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more women who are U.S. citizens. The SBA's WOSB Federal Contract Program provides set-aside and sole-source opportunities in industries where women are underrepresented; a subset, the Economically Disadvantaged WOSB (EDWOSB), adds financial thresholds.
Context
Why It Matters in Bidding
WOSB certification opens set-aside and sole-source contracts in NAICS codes where women are underrepresented, the only place those opportunities exist, making the certification worthwhile mainly when your target codes are on the eligible list. Estimators check the designated-NAICS list before assuming a WOSB set-aside applies.
Example
Example
A women-owned painting contractor uses WOSB certification to win a set-aside federal contract in a designated NAICS code where women are underrepresented.
See Also
Related Terms
FAQ
Questions Contractors Ask
What's the difference between WOSB and EDWOSB?
WOSB covers women-owned small businesses generally, while EDWOSB (Economically Disadvantaged WOSB) adds personal net-worth, income, and asset limits on the owners. Some set-asides are open to any WOSB; others are reserved specifically for EDWOSBs, so firms confirm which applies to a given solicitation.
Do WOSB set-asides apply to every contract?
No. WOSB and EDWOSB set-asides are limited to NAICS codes the SBA has designated as ones where women are underrepresented or substantially underrepresented. If your target NAICS is not on that list, a WOSB set-aside cannot be used even if you are certified.
How do I become WOSB certified?
You certify through the SBA's WOSB certification process or an approved third-party certifier, documenting that women who are U.S. citizens own at least 51% and control the business. Self-certification is no longer accepted for WOSB set-aside awards, so formal certification is required first.
Can a WOSB hold other certifications?
Yes. A firm can be WOSB and also 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB if it meets each program's criteria. Because a solicitation uses one set-aside type, holding multiple certifications lets you pursue whichever the agency selects, widening your eligible pipeline.
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