Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) & Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) Sole Sourcing

WOSB AND EDWOSB SOLE SOURCING THROUGH
ADVANCED COMMUNICATION CABLING, INC.

On Sept.14, 2015 SBA issued a final rule allowing sole-source awards for Women-Owned Small Business (WOSBs) and Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Businesses (EDWOSBs) for contracts of less than $4.5 million ($7 million for manufacturers) in cases where a certain WOSB is the only company capable of fulfilling the government’s requirements.

Now Contracting Officers have the ability to perform Sole Source acquisitions with a Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) due to the addition of FAR 19.1506. Under FAR 19.1506, a Contracting Officer generally must consider a WOSB or Economically Disadvantaged WOSB (EDWOSB), Sole Source award before considering small business set-asides. Sole Source authority provides Contracting Officers the ability to procure services in a streamlined and shortened timeframe.

The Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contracting Program (WOSB Program) was created to help provide a level playing field for women business owners. When buying goods and services, the federal government limits competition for certain contracts to women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) and economically disadvantaged women-owned small businesses (EDWOSBs) that participate in the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) WOSB Program. Becoming certified for the WOSB Program means your business is eligible to compete for WOSB Program set-aside contracts within eligible industries. These contracts are in industries where women-owned small businesses are underrepresented.

Some contracts are restricted further to EDWOSBs. The SBA maintains a list of those eligible industries and their NAICS codes.

The federal government’s goal is to award at least 5 percent of all federal contract dollars to women-owned small businesses each year.

If you are an End-User and have additional questions, please feel free to contact us directly or the Kentucky SBA listed below. 

Ruth A. Fritz
President/Owner
Advanced Communication Cabling, Inc.
Phone: (517) 524-2224
Email: Ruth@AdvancedComCabling.net

U.S. Small Business Administration | Kentucky District Office
600 Dr. M.L. King Jr. Place, Room 188 | Louisville KY 40202
Phone: (502) 582-5971