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NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NASA Office of Small Business Programs, Where Small Business Makes a Big Difference
WOSB

Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB)

Eligibility Requirements

  • Must be at least 51 percent owned by one or more women who are U.S. citizens; or, if publicly owned, it must be small in its primary industry in accordance with the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA's) size standards.
  • The owner of the company must control and manage the daily business operations.
  • In order for a WOSB to be deemed "economically disadvantaged," its owners must demonstrate economic disadvantage in accordance with the requirements set forth in the final rule.

Certification Requirement

  • Women-Owned Small Businesses may self-certify or use a third-party certifier.

Procurement Incentives

  • NASA goals are 5 percent of the total prime and subcontract value.
  • There is currently pending authority in the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) for sole-source contracts to Women-Owned Small Businesses for certain NAICS codes. There is set-aside authority in the FAR for set-asides for Women-Owned Small Businesses in certain NAICS codes.
  • Refer to Useful Links below for more information on Women-Owned Small Businesses.

Authority/References

  • Executive Order 12138 (1979) created the National Women’s Business Enterprise Policy and established the Women-Owned Business Program.
  • The Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 (P.L. 103-355) (enacted October 10, 1994) established the annual Government-wide goal for Women-Owned Small Business concerns at 5 percent of the total value of all prime contract and subcontract awards.

Women-Owned Small Business Goals

  • Increase the number of annual contract actions and contract dollar values to Women-Owned Small Businesses.
  • Increase the number of Women-Owned Small Businesses in high-tech areas by expanding the Mentor-Protégé Program.
  • Monitor the performance of Women-Owned Small Businesses subcontracting through the use of Individual Subcontract Reports at each Center.
  • Monitor the Agency’s annual Women-Owned Small Business subcontracting dollars through the Summary Subcontract Report.
  • Provide outreach to Women-Owned Small Businesses by participating in U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce events and attending other conferences.
  • Increase communication to Women-Owned Small Businesses through greater use of the OSBP website.
  • Include training for the NASA acquisition workforce on Women-Owned Small Businesses.
  • Monitor the Federal databases to ensure that all data are entered accurately and reviewed regularly.
  • Require NASA Centers to report initiatives in support of Women-Owned Small Businesses on a semiannual basis.
  • Use an enterprise model to execute these goals and track accomplishments.

Locate a Small Business Specialist

Locations
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • OSBP Blog