PrimeRFP SCOUT · Federal Set-Aside Program
Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB)
Federal contracts reserved for women-owned small businesses — a major socio-economic category with a 5% statutory goal that agencies continue to miss.
$957M
TTM Obligated
0.12%
% of Federal (TTM)
2,201
Awards ≥$100K
DoD
Top Agency
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What is Women-Owned Small Business?
Federal contracts reserved for women-owned small businesses — a major socio-economic category with a 5% statutory goal that agencies continue to miss.
Certification Process
Prove 51%+ ownership and control by a U.S. woman, register in SAM.gov, obtain DUNS number, provide IRS tax documentation, and apply for certification through an approved Third-Party Certifier (online, typically 30–60 days). Must be small by NAICS size standard.
Business Development Strategy
WOSB reached 4.2% of eligible contracting in FY2025 — missing the 5% goal. SBA did not publish a WOSB dollar total in the FY2025 release; ~$27B is derived from the 4.2% share of the ~$639B eligible prime base ($179B ÷ 28%). Entry barrier remains lower than 8(a); subcontracting demand from primes is still strong.
Top Agencies Buying Women-Owned Small Business
| Rank | Agency | SCOUT TTM |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Department of Defense | $474M |
| #2 | Department of Homeland Security | $137M |
| #3 | Department of Health and Human Services | $133M |
| #4 | Department of Commerce | $74M |
Designated WOSB set-aside obligations · Aug 2025 – Aug 2026
Market Opportunity
Current designated market (SCOUT TTM)
$957M
0.12% of federal TTM · 2,201 awards ≥$100K
Momentum inside the window
CY2025 $0.5B → CY2026 (partial) $0.5B
Calendar buckets from the same TTM extract — not full fiscal years
Official annual picture (SBA)
~$27B · ~4% CAGR ↓
FY2025 Procurement Scorecard
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it take to be certified as a WOSB?
You must be a U.S. woman (citizen/permanent resident) with 51%+ ownership and control of a small business, meet NAICS size standards, and apply through an approved Third-Party Certifier. No economic disadvantage requirement. Certification takes 30–60 days and is good for 3 years.
Did WOSB meet its FY2025 contracting goal?
No. Women-owned small businesses received 4.2% of eligible federal prime contracting in FY2025 — short of the 5% statutory goal. Dollar totals were not published in the SBA release; derived share implies roughly $27B. Source: SBA FY2025 Procurement Scorecard.
What federal agencies have WOSB contracting programs I should target?
HHS, DoD, GSA, VA, and DHS are historically the most active WOSB buyers. Each agency has evolving WOSB goals and contracting vehicles — PrimeRFP SCOUT tracks all WOSB-specific RFPs and task order opportunities.
SCOUT figures mark designated WOSB set-aside obligations from USASpending (≥ $100,000 · obligations_only) for Aug 2025 – Aug 2026. Share of federal uses the same TTM denominator ($787B). Distinct from the SBA scorecard annual context above.
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