Why Contracts For Women - Status of Women Owned Businesses

Even though Women Owned Businesses are the fastest growing business segment, according to information obtain from the U. S. Small Business Administration, Women Business Owners miss out on billions of dollars each year in government contracting.  The Rand Study on Women Owned Small Businesses (WOSB), authorized by the Small Business Administration, showed that Women owned businesses are underrepresented and underutilized when it comes to the awarding of government contracts.   

According the Rand Study, authorized by the Small Business Administration, the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-355) set statutory goals for procurement from women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) amounting to 5 percent of prime and subcontract contract dollars for each category.  Within their study they found that while the share of contract awards going to WOSBs has risen over time, the government has never reached its 5 percent target. This equals to billions of dollars that Women Business Owners miss out on each year in contracting dollars with the government.  The study also showed that contracts received by women owned small businesses tend to be smaller than those of other firms.

Contracts For Women, Inc. exists to help women business owners position their business to receive more contracts by providing contract identification services, vendor registration services, and certification assistance required to begin the contracting process.