SBA’s Women-Owned Small Business Program

By now, hopefully everyone is aware of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) new Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contract Program.  Last October, SBA published the final rule which took effect February 4, 2011.  The WOSB Program authorizes contracting officers to set aside certain federal contracts for eligible WOSBs and Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Businesses (EDWOSBs).  The program, also known as the SBA 8(m) program, aims to level the playing field for WOSBs to compete for federal contracts, provide a tool for procuring agencies to meet their WOSB contracting goal and help create and retain more jobs for WOSBs.