Women–Owned Small Business and Federal Contracting
by Chris Poponak – SMB Government Compliance Analyst
According to Samson Haileyesus (smallbiztrends.com,) women entrepreneurs own nearly half of all business enterprises in the United States. These same businesswomen employ almost nine-and-a-half million workers, and they generate nearly two trillion dollars in revenue across all industries. Also, according to Haileyesus, “most women-owned firms are small businesses with the top employment industries being health care; accommodation and food services; and administrative support. These three sectors account for 47% of total industry employment by women-owned businesses.”
In order to enhance the competitiveness of women-owned small businesses (WOSB,) the federal government has enacted the Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contracting Program. According to the United States Small Business Administration (SBA,) “the Federal Government’s goal is to award at least 5% of all federal contracting dollars to women-owned small businesses each year.” According to Lisa Froelings (smallbiztrends.com,) the federal government took almost twenty years to meet its 5% goal when it awarded $17.8 billion of all contracts to women-owned small businesses in fiscal year (FY) 2015.
Anyone competing for federal procurement opportunities knows that the process and the requirements are quite challenging. In order to assist women entrepreneurs in winning federal contracts, the SBA has partnered with several other government agencies and private sector stakeholders to make resources available for women entrepreneurs. One such resource that the SBA launched earlier this year is called “Journey 6.” Journey 6 is part of SBA’s bid to help improve the competitiveness of women-owned small business by offering small business content and tools. Part of the SBA’s ASCENT e-learning platform, Journey 6 is six e-learning courses to help women business owners. These courses are:
Government As Your Customers: where users gain an understanding of how to see the government as a customer
Set-Aside Certifications: this guides the users on what is needed to plan and pursue federal government contracting certifications
Government Contracting Opportunities: helps users to evaluate contracting opportunities with local, state, and federal governments
Government Subcontracting Opportunities: helps users to identify federal subcontracting opportunities
Federal Solicitations: helps users analyze the components of the federal solicitation process
General Services Administration (GSA) Contracts: helps users analyze opportunities for General Services Administration (GSA) contracts
Women small business owners can enroll in Journey 6 by registering on the SBA’s ASCENT e-learning platform.
As a Woman-Owned Small Business, SMB Accounting & Consulting stands ready to assist and support WOSB’s and all small businesses that are striving to win federal contracting opportunities. We can help your small business in all phases of the federal contracting process; from set-up & registration to management of already-awarded contracts. Please contact us to discuss ways in which we can help you achieve your goals.
SOURCES:
SBA Launches Journey 6 to Help Women Business Owners Compete for Federal Contracts
U.S. Government Hits Goal for Women Owned Small Businesses
Latest Small Business Grants for Women and Minorities
Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contracting Program