1. How can I certify my business as woman-owned? 2. What kinds of federal certification programs exist and how can they help me win federal contracts? 3. How can I learn more about doing business with the federal government as a woman-owned business? 4. How can I find the nearest Women’s Business Center? 5. Are there any mentoring programs? 1. How can I certify my business as woman-owned? There are two private national women's business organizations that certify qualified women-owned businesses. The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) offers comprehensive certification for women-owned businesses administered through fourteen regional affiliates and accepted by more than 400 national corporations as well as state and local government agencies. Visit www.wbenc.org for more information about this program. The National Women's Business Owners Corporation (NWBOC) is another private certification organization. NWBOC has launched a national certification program for women-owned and controlled businesses as an alternative to the multiple state and local certifications required by many public and private-sector agencies or prime contractors. Visit www.nwboc.org for more information about this program. Additionally, there are several federal certification programs that can help women-owned businesses receive federal contracts or subcontracts. However, at this time there is no requirement for federal government certification as a woman-owned small business. For federal procurement, you may self-certify in the Central Contractor Registration. See www.ccr.gov for more information. 2. What kinds of federal certification programs exist and how can they help me win federal contracts? Majority women-owned businesses are not required to obtain third-party certification to do business with the federal government. Women business owners can self-certify in the Central Contractor Registration at www.ccr.gov . However, there are several federal certification programs for which some women-owned business may qualify: The 8(a) Program The 8(a) Program is the first and best known of the SBA's contracting-related certification programs. This nine-year program provides business development assistance to all its participants. Some of the participants also receive federal contracts reserved for the 8(a) program through sole source or limited competition awards. Each year, millions of dollars in 8(a) contracts are awarded to program participants. To learn more about or apply for the 8(a) program, visit http://www.sba.gov/8abd/or call your nearest SBA district office. You can locate this office by calling the SBA's Answer Desk at 1-800-827-5722. Almost all SBA district offices also have regularly scheduled presentations about applying to the 8(a) program. The SDB Program The SDB Program is a related SBA program, though it is much newer than the 8(a) program. Being certified in this three-year program is easier than in the 8(a) program. (Firms certified as 8(a) participants are automatically also certified immediately as SDB firms.) The SDB program is open to many startup businesses because there is no requirement that a firm first establish a "potential for success." There is no business development provided by the SBA to participants in the SDB program and there are no set-aside contracts. However, there are some very real contracting benefits for SDB certified firms.
Most of the benefits go to the SDB firms in about 50 industries in which minority
small businesses have been historically under-represented in government contracting.
In full and open procurements, SDB firms, when bidding as primes, also receive
a price evaluation adjustment. To learn more about this program and how to apply, visit www.sba.gov/hubzone , email HUBZone@sba.gov , or phone 202-205-8885. |
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