Part A · Startup-specific scheme
Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contracting Program (WOSB Program)
Small Business Administration
Market Access
Growth / ScalingMarket Access & IP
The WOSB Program lets federal contracting officers set aside — or in some cases sole-source — contracts in industries where SBA has determined women-owned businesses are underrepresented or substantially underrepresented.
Type of support
Market Access
Best suited for
Growth / Market Access
Headline amount
N/A — contracting eligibility, not direct funding
How much
N/A — set-aside/sole-source contract eligibility
Objectives
Give certified WOSBs (and Economically Disadvantaged WOSBs, EDWOSBs) fairer access to federal procurement in specific NAICS-coded industries.
Who can apply?
- At least 51% owned and controlled by women who are US citizens.
- Women manage day-to-day operations and make long-term decisions.
- Must be a small business under SBA size standards for the relevant NAICS code.
- Must be in an industry SBA has designated as underrepresented (WOSB) or substantially underrepresented (EDWOSB) for set-asides.
What do you get?
- Access to contracts set aside exclusively for certified WOSBs/EDWOSBs.
- EDWOSBs are additionally eligible for sole-source awards in qualifying industries.
- Certification is done directly through SBA at no cost.
How to apply
Certify through SBA's WOSB Program portal — self-certification has been phased out, so certification now runs through SBA or an approved third-party certifier.
Key links
Details as most recently confirmed against the official source linked above. Deadlines, amounts and windows change — verify on the official portal before applying.