WOSB Set-Aside Contracts

What Is the WOSB Program?

The WOSB Federal Contracting Program was established to increase federal contracting opportunities for women-owned businesses. The federal government has a statutory goal of awarding at least 5% of all federal contracting dollars to women-owned small businesses, which represents tens of billions of dollars annually.

The program includes two categories: WOSB (Women-Owned Small Business) and EDWOSB (Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business). EDWOSBs have access to additional set-aside industries beyond those available to WOSBs, making EDWOSB certification particularly valuable if you qualify.

WOSB vs. EDWOSB: What Is the Difference?

Both WOSB and EDWOSB set-asides restrict competition to certified women-owned firms. The key difference is scope. WOSB set-asides are available in industries where women-owned businesses are underrepresented. EDWOSB set-asides are available in industries where women-owned businesses are substantially underrepresented, giving EDWOSBs access to a broader range of opportunities.

To qualify as an EDWOSB, the woman owner must also demonstrate economic disadvantage, with a personal net worth below $850,000 (excluding the value of the business and primary residence) and adjusted gross income averaging no more than $400,000 over the preceding three years.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify as a WOSB, your business must meet all of the following:

• 1.Ownership. The business must be at least 51% unconditionally and directly owned and controlled by one or more women who are U.S. citizens.
• 2.Management. One or more women must manage the daily business operations and make long-term strategic decisions. The woman owner must hold the highest officer position in the company.
• 3.Size standard. The business must qualify as small under the SBA size standard for its primary NAICS code.
• 4.EDWOSB additional requirement. For EDWOSB certification, the woman owner must demonstrate economic disadvantage based on personal net worth and income thresholds described above.

How to Get Certified

Certification is required to compete for WOSB and EDWOSB set-aside contracts. There are two paths to certification:

• •SBA direct. Apply through the SBA's certification portal at certify.sba.gov. This is free and typically takes 60 to 90 days.
• •Approved third-party certifiers. Organizations like the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and the National Women Business Owners Corporation (NWBOC) can certify your business. These certifications are accepted by the SBA and may process faster, though they typically involve a fee.

You will need to provide business formation documents, tax returns, financial statements, and documentation of the woman owner's role in managing the business.

Sole-Source Thresholds and Benefits

• •Sole-source contracts up to $7 million for manufacturing and $4.5 million for all other industries. Sole-source awards bypass full competition entirely.
• •Competitive set-asides restricted to certified WOSB or EDWOSB firms, significantly reducing the competitive field.
• •5% federal goal means agencies are actively looking for qualified WOSBs to meet their statutory small business targets.
• •EDWOSB expanded industries give economically disadvantaged women-owned firms access to set-asides in more NAICS code categories than standard WOSBs.

Finding WOSB Opportunities

WOSB and EDWOSB set-aside opportunities are posted on SAM.gov. You can filter by set-aside type to find solicitations restricted to women-owned firms. Many state governments also have procurement preferences or set-asides for women-owned businesses through their own portals.

Keeping track of opportunities across SAM.gov and 50 state procurement portals is challenging. GovSentry automates this process by monitoring all of these sources continuously and alerting you when a WOSB or EDWOSB opportunity matches your NAICS codes and target states. Every match includes AI-generated bid intelligence so you can evaluate opportunities quickly and respond before the deadline.