SBA Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB / EDWOSB) Federal Contract Program
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
Contract access (no cash award)
Set-aside access for women-owned firms
A federal certification program that lets women-owned small businesses compete for contracts the government sets aside specifically for them. The federal government aims to award at least 5% of all federal contracting dollars to women-owned small businesses each year, and certified WOSBs/EDWOSBs can win set-aside and sole-source contracts in industries (identified by NAICS code) where women are underrepresented. There are two tiers: WOSB (at least 51% owned and controlled by women who are U.S. citizens) and EDWOSB (additionally economically disadvantaged — personal net worth under $850,000, three-year average AGI of $400,000 or less, and personal assets of $6.5 million or less). Certification is free through MySBA Certifications, or via one of four SBA-approved third-party certifiers. It does not provide cash; it unlocks access to a reserved slice of the federal procurement market.
- Funding type
- Program
- Level
- Federal
- Amount range
- Contract access (no cash award)
- Realistic amount
- There is no grant. Value depends entirely on contracts won — ranging from small simplified-a…
- Deadline
- Rolling — apply anytime
- Status
- active
- States
- Nationwide
- Payment model
- in-kind
Who qualifies
- Must be a small business under SBA size standards for its primary NAICS code
- At least 51% directly and unconditionally owned and controlled by one or more women who are U.S. citizens
- Women must manage day-to-day operations and make long-term decisions
- For EDWOSB: each owning woman's personal net worth must be less than $850,000 (retirement funds excluded)
- For EDWOSB: three-year average adjusted gross income of $400,000 or less
- For EDWOSB: personal assets of $6.5 million or less
- Must be registered and active in SAM.gov with a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)
Hard requirements
- Reserved for women owned businesses
- Must be women-owned
How to apply
-
1
Register in SAM.gov and confirm size standard
Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier and complete an active SAM.gov registration. Confirm your firm is small under its primary NAICS code and that the NAICS is one where WOSB or EDWOSB set-asides are authorized.
~6 hrs
-
2
Gather ownership, control, and (for EDWOSB) financial documents
Assemble formation documents, ownership records, operating agreements, resumes, and — for EDWOSB — personal financial statements demonstrating the net worth, income, and asset thresholds. Documentation must clearly show 51%+ women ownership and women's day-to-day control.
~8 hrs
-
3
Apply through MySBA Certifications
Create an account at certify.sba.gov, complete the WOSB or EDWOSB application, and upload supporting documents. Alternatively, obtain certification through an SBA-approved third-party certifier (e.g., WBENC, U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce) and link it to SBA.
~6 hrs
-
4
Respond to SBA review and maintain certification
Respond promptly to any SBA requests for clarification. SBA aims to decide within 90 days. Once certified, recertify every three years and update your profile on any change of ownership or control.
~3 hrs
Certification is the easy part — winning is the work. Before you certify, run an award history search on USAspending.gov for your NAICS codes to confirm agencies actually issue WOSB set-asides there; many firms certify into NAICS where no set-asides exist and see no benefit. If you already hold WBENC certification, you can shortcut the SBA process via the third-party path.
Deadline & timing
Certification applications are accepted year-round through MySBA Certifications. SBA aims to make a determination within 90 calendar days of a complete application. Recertification is required every three years; as of November 2025 the annual attestation requirement is in abeyance.
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Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.