WELCOME

Dear friends:

After more than a decade, the WOSB/EDWOSB Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contracting Set-Aside Program has finally launched.  

The U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce is very honored to have been part of the historic decade-long effort of Congress, women-owned firms and leaders, the SBA and other federal agency and advocate supporters that finally resulted in providing much needed federal contracting set-asides for women-owned firms in certain underrepresented industries.

There is great excitement at this time as women-owned firms and federal agencies gear up to take advantage of this historic program.

But, there is still much to do to bring about parity for women-owned small business federal contractors.  Even though women own nearly one-third of all businesses in the U.S., the paltry federal goal for contracting with women-owned firms remain at only five percent.  And, after decades of failure, the federal government has still not met even this most modest of goals.

This is a most opportune time to make sure that, (1) the WOSB/EDWOSB program is implemented expediently and put into use all across the federal agencies and the U.S., (2) WOSB/EDWOSB's eligible for the program do everything possible to maximize our new opportunities, (3) women-owned firms not in this program continue to secure access to federal contracts and growth, and (4) that we come together to strongly brand and articulate our positions.  It is our right to secure our fair share of federal contracting dollars (paid for by our taxes) and that the five percent goal for contracting with women-owned firms (which is set too low) is now viewed as a ceiling instead of a floor -- thereby suppressing our growth. 

Through the WOSB National Council™, we will advance opportunities for women-owned small business federal contractors and advocate for our fair share of federal (taxpayer supported) dollars. 

I want to thank the National Association of Small Business Contractors for coming together with the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce to form the WOSB National Council™.  As the leading independent national trade association for small business federal contractors, the NASBC a is very important partner.  NASBC helps us to work hand-in-hand with non-women-owned small business federal contractors making teaming connections, access to potential partners and experience, and joining together to raise our voices in advocacy for the rights and opportunities of America's small businesses.

I hope you will join us for the Fall Meeting and join the WOSB National Council™.

Sincerely,

Margot Dorfman, CEO
U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce 

WOSB National Council™ Winter Meeting

March 27, 2012 -- Washington, DC

Driving women-owned business growth through federal contracting 

Our Winter meeting for the WOSB National Council is part of the 8th Annual National Small Business Federal Contracting Week.  Join us for just the WOSB National Council Meeting, or join us for the full week which includes The Small Business Summit and a special Spotlight on the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.

We have a huge, huge commitment from federal agencies and primes attending National Small Business Federal Contracting Week and know that the WOSB National Council Winter Meeting will be a great success.

>>Learn more here.    
>>Go to the main website for the 8th Annual National Small Business Federal Contracting Week.


WOSB National Council™ Established


Driving women-owned business growth through federal contracting
 

HOT NEWS:  U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce Approved as Third Party Certifier for New Federal Women-Owned Small Business Set-Aside Program; Accepting Applications Now

On June 30, 2011, The U.S. Small Business Administration approved the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce as a Third Party Certifier for the Women-Owned Small Business ("WOSB") Federal Contracting Program.  

After more than a decade, the WOSB federal contracting set-aside program is finally active.  If your firm would like to secure a certification from the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce, please start here.


WOSB National Council Summer Conference 
July 27 - 28, 2011 (Washington, DC) 

Conference Agenda - Registration - Location 

SOLD OUT:  This conference is sold out.


Click to launch the full agenda/program in a new window

Agencies & Prime Contractors Confirmed:  Defense Logistics Agency, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Goddard Space Flight Center, HQ U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, NASA, National Energy Technology Laboratory, NAVFAC, Sandia National Labs, Small Business Administration, Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Air Force - Bolling AFB, U.S. Army - Mission and Installation Contracting Command - Ft Myer, U.S. Dept of Homeland Security, U.S. Dept of Transportation, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, U.S. Dept. of Education, U.S. Dept. of Energy, U.S. Dept. of Labor, U.S. Dept. of State, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Navy, USAID, Aptima Inc, Bechtal, IBM, The SI Organization, Inc., Weston Solutions


Women-owned businesses continue to fight for market share in the federal contracting arena.
While many of our women-owned firms may benefit from the implementation of the more than decade old WOSB/EDWOSB Women-Owned Federal Contracting Set-Aside Program, thousands more will continue to compete without this program.  

It is vitally important that women-owned small business contractors come together to leverage every opportunity available to us to seize more federal contracting awards through increased access to agencies and primes, use of small business set-asides (including the new WOSB/EDWOSB program), education, access to resources, and advocacy. 

To increase the focus on women-owned small business federal contractors and provide a strong organization to support the growth of our federal contracting opportunities, two of our nation's leading independent trade associations have come together to establish the WOSB National Council

The Summer Conference marks the formal launch of the WOSB National Council -- the National Association for Women-Owned Small Business Contractors which is facilitated jointly by the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce™ and the National Association of Small Business Contractors. Learn more about joining the WOSB National Council.

It is especially important that the WOSB National Council be formed now with regional and industry leaders established -- as we are finally achieving the implementation of the WOSB/EDWOSB Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contracting Set-Aside Program.  Over the next months and years, women-owned small businesses must be vigilant in our commitment to growth through federal contracting and advancing greater opportunities for women-owned firms through monitoring set-asides, the annual federal government WOSB purchasing goals and related policies and practices that may impact our growth.

Learn more about the WOSB National Counciland how your firm can benefit