• To help provide a level playing field for women business owners, the government limits competition for certain contracts to businesses that participate in the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contract program.
• Assist federal agencies to meet statutorily established government-wide contracting goals for women owned small businesses.

These contracts for good and services are for specific industries where women-owned small businesses are underrepresented. Only contract requirements in industries designated by the SBA as underrepresented or substantially underrepresented are eligible for set-asides under the women-owned small business program. Some contracts are restricted further for economically disadvantaged women-owned businesses (EDWOSBs) See a list of the eligible NAICS codes that are eligible for WOSB and/or EDWOSB contracts.

As stated above, some contracts are restricted further to economically disadvantaged women-owned small businesses (EDWOSBS). The above link defines which NAICS codes are designed as WOSB or EDWOSB.

Again, only contract requirements in the list of industries (NAICS) designated by the SBA as underrepresented or substantially underrepresented are eligible for set asides under the new women’s program. If your business does not operate within one of the designated NAICS codes, the WOSB or EDWOSB program will not benefit your firm.

The program opens many doors for women entrepreneurs. However, not all contract opportunities are eligible and there are limitations.

The women-owned small business program is defined by several key rules:

• The program applies only to contracts in designated industries, as described above.
• The maximum dollar amount of contracts is limited ($4.5M for service contracts and $7M for manufacturing contracts.
• Only women-owned small businesses or economically disadvantaged women-owned small businesses are eligible.
• Competition is required for WOSB contract awards.

Joining the WOSB Federal Contracting Program makes a business eligible to compete for federal contracts set aside for the program. Firms can still compete for contract awards under other socio-economic programs they qualify for.

If you would like a WOSB or EDWOSB Program eligibility analysis, please schedule a call with one of our experts.

You are also welcome to review the basic eligibility requirements below. Generally, to be approved into the WOSB or EDWOSB Program you must meet these basic eligibility requirements:

• Have a primary NAICS code in an industry designated by the SBA as underrepresented or substantially underrepresented. See a list of the NAICS codes that are eligible for WOSB or EDWOSB contracts.

WOSB

1. At least 51% owned and controlled by one or more women who are U.S. citizens.

2. Ownership must be direct and not subject to conditions.

3. A woman or women must manage day to day operations and provide verifying documents.

4. Meet small business size standards for primary NAICS code.

EDWOSB

1. Own at least 51% of business and satisfy all conditions for a WOSB, as listed above.

2. The applicant(s) must have an adjusted net worth of less than $850,000 at the time they apply for EDWOSB Certification. Adjusted net worth = Assets – liabilities – (Equity in primary residence + value of ownership interest in business concern + IRA/401(k) or Other Retirement Accounts). Complete our adjusted net worth calculator to help determine yours.

3. The applicant(s) AGI (Adjusted Gross Income) cannot be more than $400,000 averaged over the last three tax years.

4. Have a market value of all assets that does not exceed $6.5 million (including business value and primary residence).

Keep in mind that each WOSB or EDWOSB application is unique and document requirements may vary for each Application.

Below is a general list of items that will need to be included within your WOSB or EDWOSB application. Your unique application may require additional items not specified below.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Principals may include the following: Owner(s), Officers, Directors, Members, Partners and Key employees.

Women Owned Small Business (WOSB) Information:

Qualifying individual(s) include all women claiming 51% ownership:

The following items and documents must be active and/or provided:

• An active registration in the System for Award Management for the firm, available at SAM.GOV (Note: The firm’s UEI and EIN, and MPIN must exactly match SAM registration).
• Proof of U.S. citizenship (i.e., state-issued birth certificate, certificate of naturalization, or an unexpired passport) for qualifying individual(s).
  • If your name differs from your submitted citizenship document (ex. Marriage), you may have to provide a poof of name change (ex. state filed documents -official name change, marriage license, unexpired passport, unexpired military ID (front and back copy)
• Resume
• Technical Licenses, in applicable

Existing Certification

• 8(a) Program Participant
  • Most recent annual review letter OR firms in their first program year may submit their initial approval letter

• TPC-Certified
  • Certificate from one of the four SBA approved third party certifying organizations

• CVE-Certified
  • Certification letter from Department of Veterans Affairs’ Center for Verification and Evaluation

Firms that do not have these certifications will respond NO to questions within this section and will be advanced to the next card

Firm Ownership

• Trust agreement if a trust currently holds the qualifying individual’s ownership interest
• Letter of explanation for any executory agreements

If your firm is a Corporation:

• Articles of Incorporation. (Only submitting the Secretary of State (SOS) seal certificate is not acceptable. You must also submit a copy of the firm’s Articles of Incorporation along with the certificate with the SOS seal certificate.)
  • Firms operating in another state should submit foreign filing documentation for that state and certificate of good standing from the original domestic State.
• Copies of stock certificates (front and back) and Stock Ledger. We review for accuracy and we will even draft current dated stock certificates and a ledger to ensure current ownership is reported correctly.
• Corporate Bylaws and any amendments. We review for unconditional control requirements and will even draft a current dated version if you do not have the required document or need an amended document to meet unconditional control requirements.
• DBA (Doing Business As) or Trade Name Certificate reflecting state filing seal, if applicable.
• Meeting minutes – Most recent meeting minutes (signed and dated) noting the election of the officers and directors
• Joint Venture agreements, if applicable
• Buy/Sale agreements, if applicable
  • Stock ledger should reflect changes executed from this agreement

If your firm is a Limited Liability Company (LLC):

• Articles of Organization and any amendments (Only submitting the Secretary of State (SOS) seal certificate is not acceptable. You must also submit a copy of the firm’s Articles of Organization along with the certificate with the SOS seal certificate.)
• Operating Agreement and any amendments. We review for unconditional control requirements and will even draft a current dated version if you do not have the required document or need an amended document to meet unconditional control requirements.
• DBA (Doing Business As) or Trade Name Certificate reflecting state filing seal, if applicable.
• Meeting minutes – Most recent meeting minutes (signed and dated) noting the election of the officers and directors
• Joint Venture agreements, if applicable
• Buy/Sale agreements, if applicable
  • Stock ledger should reflect changes executed from this agreement

If your firm is a Sole Proprietor:

• DBA (Doing Business As) or Trade Name Certificate reflecting state filing seal, if applicable.

If your firm is a Partnership:

• DBA (Doing Business As) or Trade Name Certificate reflecting state filing seal, if applicable.
• Partnership Agreement and any amendments. We review for unconditional control requirements and will even draft a current dated version if you do not have the required document or need an amended document to meet unconditional control requirements.

Economically Disadvantaged Women Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) Information:

Qualifying individual(s) include all women claiming 51% ownership:

The following items and documents must be active and/or provided:

• An active registration in the System for Award Management for the firm, available at SAM.GOV (Note: The firm’s UEI and EIN, and MPIN must exactly match SAM registration).
• Proof of U.S. citizenship (i.e., state-issued birth certificate, certificate of naturalization, or an unexpired passport) for qualifying individual(s).
  • If your name differs from your submitted citizenship document (ex. Marriage), you may have to provide a poof of name change (ex. state filed documents -official name change, marriage license, unexpired passport, unexpired military ID (front and back copy)
• Resume.
• Joint Venture agreements, if applicable.
• Technical Licenses, in applicable

Firm Ownership

• Trust agreement if a trust currently holds the qualifying individual’s ownership interest
• Letter of explanation for any executory agreements

If your firm is a Corporation:

• Articles of Incorporation. (Only submitting the Secretary of State (SOS) seal certificate is not acceptable. You must also submit a copy of the firm’s Articles of Incorporation along with the certificate with the SOS seal certificate.)
• Copies of stock certificates (front and back) and Stock Ledger. We review for accuracy and we will even draft current dated stock certificates and a ledger to ensure current ownership is reported correctly.
• Corporate Bylaws and any amendments. We review for unconditional control requirements and will even draft a current dated version if you do not have the required document or need an amended document to meet unconditional control requirements.
• DBA (Doing Business As) or Trade Name Certificate reflecting state filing seal, if applicable.
• Meeting minutes – Most recent meeting minutes (signed and dated) noting the election of the officers and directors
• Joint Venture agreements, if applicable
• Buy/Sale agreements, if applicable
  • Stock ledger should reflect changes executed from this agreement

If your firm is a Limited Liability Company (LLC):

• Articles of Organization and any amendments (Only submitting the Secretary of State (SOS) seal certificate is not acceptable. You must also submit a copy of the firm’s Articles of Organization along with the certificate with the SOS seal certificate.)
• Operating Agreement and any amendments. We review for unconditional control requirements and will even draft a current dated version if you do not have the required document or need an amended document to meet unconditional control requirements.
• DBA (Doing Business As) or Trade Name Certificate reflecting state filing seal, if applicable.
• Meeting minutes – Most recent meeting minutes (signed and dated) noting the election of the officers and directors
• Joint Venture agreements, if applicable
• Buy/Sale agreements, if applicable
  • Stock ledger should reflect changes executed from this agreement

If your firm is a Sole Proprietor:

• DBA (Doing Business As) or Trade Name Certificate reflecting state filing seal, if applicable.

If your firm is a Partnership:

• DBA (Doing Business As) or Trade Name Certificate reflecting state filing seal, if applicable.
• Partnership Agreement and any amendments. We review for unconditional control requirements and will even draft a current dated version if you do not have the required document or need an amended document to meet unconditional control requirements.

Personal Financial Information – Required for each woman claiming economic disadvantage and for each woman’s spouse.*

• Signed 1040 personal tax returns (last three filing years) including all schedules, attachments, W-2’s, 1099’s and proof of payment for any tax owed.
• A current personal financial statement and supporting statements for the following: (Checking/Savings, IRAs with terms and conditions including a signed and dated certification attesting to the fact the accounts have a penalty for withdrawal, Life Insurance (Cash Surrender only), Stocks/Bonds, Mortgage, Deeds, Fair Market Value for Real Estate, Any Other Assets (Boats, RV’s, Motorcycle, Other Business Ownership, etc.), Automobile Title/Registration and associated loans, Credit Cards, Home equity or any other Loan Agreements (Student, etc.).

*Note: SBA may consider a spouse’s financial situation in determining whether qualifying individual(s) are economically disadvantaged where the spouse has a role in the business (e.g., an officer, employee or director) or has lent money to, provided credit or financial support to, or guaranteed a loan of the business.

We have worksheets, samples, and templates that assist in collecting and developing most of the information requested.

For example, if you do not have a set of bylaws or an operating agreement, we will assist in the creation of these documents.

It typically takes a minimum of 1-2 weeks to prepare the WOSB or EDWOSB Application, although this time frame can be shorter or longer depending on the degree of complexity of your Application.

Be cautious if any other consultant tells you that they can prepare your application in just a few days, as this is sure to result in a denial. It takes time to properly compile, review and complete all of your documentation.

When the SBA has determined that your WOSB or EDWOSB Application is deemed complete, it is estimated to take approximately 90-120 days to be notified of a decision by the SBA. This time frame can be shorter or longer depending on the degree of complexity of your application.

We maintain a very high success rate for our WOSB or EDWOSB Application Completion Service.

We are able to reach this success rate by doing an extensive qualifying interview with every client to make sure they pass our qualification test for the WOSB or EDWOSB Program prior to engagement.

Even if you don’t qualify, we will tell you what you must do so you can apply in the near future.

1. We live and breathe SBA Certification!

• We keep up to date on all of the latest daily SBA Program changes.
• We have a detailed understanding of the current SBA Women Owned Small Business Regulations.
• We review all of the latest SBA OHA (Office of Hearings and Appeals) cases on WOSB and/or EDWOSB Certification.

2. We have a very strong success rate!

• We maintain a success rate of over 99% for clients we qualify across all programs.
• We have assisted thousands of small businesses to achieve and maintain their SBA Program Certification.
• We have real references to back up our success rate, that you can contact.

3. We have 20+ years of experience within SBA Programs!

• All services performed are by Cloveer employees, not outside contractors, like some of our competitors.
• Our principals (Rick and Monica Otero) worked in their family’s 8(a) Certified business (RJO Enterprises). It was one of the country’s most successful 8(a), high-tech, information technology and electronics concerns. It was recognized for five consecutive years as one of the fastest growing companies in the nation, by Inc. Magazine.

4. We won’t waste your time!

• We attempt to pre-qualify all potential clients for our WOSB Application Service. We are not interested in wasting your time or ours if you do not qualify.
• When you ask a question, you will get a straight answer with no double talk.
• Even if you don’t qualify we will identify the workaround to your specific issue(s) so you can apply down the road, if possible.

5. We believe in Customer Service!

• We believe in treating every client with the respect they deserve as a small business.
• Our service agreements guarantee protection of your confidential information.
• All information provided to us is protected on our secure server and will never be shared with anyone.

Finally. We are the best SBA Program consultant that is available on the market. The others just try to emulate us.

You can view our list of testimonials and call any of our clients.

We offer two plans for preparing your Women Owned Small Business Application. The plans are dependent on whether you are applying or WOSB or EDWOSB Certification. Please see our fees for more information. If you are already 8a Certified, please contact us for special reduced pricing.

• You can also view the latest SBA Women Owned Small Business Regulations (CFR: Title 13:Part 127) and read up on the extensive rules and regulations that govern the WOSB Program.