Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contracts

How the WOSB Program Works

The WOSB program authorizes contracting officers to set aside procurements for certified WOSBs in NAICS codes where women-owned businesses are underrepresented. EDWOSB set-asides are available in a broader range of codes, covering industries where women are substantially underrepresented.

To be eligible, the business must be at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more women who are U.S. citizens. The women owners must manage the day-to-day operations. For EDWOSB status, the qualifying women owners must also meet economic disadvantage criteria including a personal net worth cap of $850,000.

Finding WOSB Opportunities

WOSB set-asides appear across multiple agencies and span industries from IT services to construction. Filter contract search results by the WOSB or EDWOSB set-aside designation to find opportunities specifically available to your certification.

The SBA maintains a list of eligible NAICS codes for WOSB and EDWOSB set-asides. Before pursuing an opportunity, verify that the solicitation's NAICS code is on the eligible list for your certification level. EDWOSB-eligible codes are a superset of WOSB-eligible codes.

WOSB vs EDWOSB: Understanding the Difference

The Women-Owned Small Business program has two distinct certification levels, and understanding the difference is critical for maximizing your opportunities. A WOSB (Women-Owned Small Business) requires that the business be at least 51% owned and unconditionally controlled by one or more women who are U.S. citizens. An EDWOSB (Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business) meets all the same ownership and control requirements but adds an economic disadvantage threshold: the qualifying women owners must have a personal net worth below $850,000, excluding their ownership interest in the business and the equity in their primary residence.

The key practical difference lies in which NAICS codes are available for set-aside contracts. WOSB set-asides are limited to NAICS codes that the SBA has identified as industries where women-owned businesses are underrepresented. EDWOSB set-asides cover a broader range of codes, including industries where women are substantially underrepresented. This means EDWOSB-certified firms can compete for a larger universe of set-aside opportunities. If you qualify for EDWOSB status, you should pursue that certification rather than WOSB alone, as it opens significantly more doors.

Both WOSB and EDWOSB firms are eligible for sole-source contract awards, with thresholds of $5.5 million for non-manufacturing/services and $8.5 million for manufacturing. Sole-source awards allow a contracting officer to award a contract directly to a WOSB or EDWOSB firm without competition, provided the contracting officer determines the firm is a responsible contractor capable of performing the work at a fair and reasonable price. These sole-source opportunities are particularly valuable because they eliminate the need to compete against other firms and can be awarded quickly.

Industries Where WOSB Set-Asides Are Most Common

The federal government has a statutory goal of awarding at least 5% of all federal prime contracting dollars to women-owned small businesses. While the government has historically fallen slightly short of this target, the gap has been narrowing, and agencies are under increasing pressure to meet their WOSB goals. The agencies with the largest WOSB contract volumes include the Department of Defense, the Department of Health and Human Services, the General Services Administration, and the Department of Homeland Security. These agencies have large procurement budgets and regularly issue solicitations across a wide range of NAICS codes eligible for WOSB set-asides.

Common NAICS codes for WOSB and EDWOSB set-asides span professional services, healthcare, IT, and administrative support. Management consulting (541611), marketing consulting (541613), administrative management services (561110), and temporary staffing services (561320) are among the most active categories. Healthcare-related codes such as home health care services (621610) and medical laboratories (621511) also see significant WOSB activity, particularly from HHS and the VA. Understanding which NAICS codes generate the most WOSB set-asides helps you focus your business development on areas with the highest probability of finding relevant opportunities.

Getting Certified and Finding Opportunities

WOSB and EDWOSB certification is obtained through the SBA's online certification portal. The process requires submitting documentation that proves ownership, control, citizenship, and, for EDWOSB, economic disadvantage. Key documents include articles of incorporation or organization, operating agreements, tax returns, personal financial statements, and proof of U.S. citizenship for all qualifying women owners. The SBA reviews applications and typically issues a determination within 90 days.

Self-certification for WOSB contracts was eliminated when the SBA moved to a centralized certification process. All firms seeking WOSB or EDWOSB set-aside contracts must now be certified through the SBA or an approved third-party certifier. This change was designed to reduce fraud and ensure that only genuinely women-owned and controlled businesses participate in the program. Once certified, your status is valid for three years, after which you must apply for re-certification.

Finding WOSB and EDWOSB opportunities requires consistent monitoring of SAM.gov and other procurement platforms. Filter searches by the WOSB or EDWOSB set-aside designation, and narrow by your NAICS codes and preferred agencies. FedOverwatch can automate this process by matching your certification and NAICS codes to new opportunities as they are posted, sending you alerts so you can respond quickly. Given that response windows for federal solicitations can be as short as 15 to 30 days, having an automated monitoring system ensures you never miss a relevant opportunity.