Women-Owned Federal Contractors: A Growing Force in Government Procurement
The federal government has set a statutory goal of awarding 5% of all federal contracting dollars to Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSBs). In FY 2024, 6.64 billion was awarded to WOSBs across 13,957 companies—representing 3.44% of the 73.68 billion in total federal contract awards. While this falls short of the 5% target, the trend is upward: WOSB awards grew from 2.6 billion in FY 2022 to 0.9 billion in FY 2023.
WOSB and EDWOSB Set-Aside Programs
The SBA administers two key set-aside designations under the WOSB Federal Contract Program:
- WOSB
- Available across 646 NAICS codes where women-owned businesses are underrepresented. Requires 51%+ ownership and control by women who are U.S. citizens.
- EDWOSB
- Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business—covers an additional 113 NAICS codes and allows sole-source awards up to million for services and million for manufacturing.
Top Industries by WOSB Contract Volume
| Industry Sector | Key NAICS Codes |
|---|---|
| IT Services & Solutions | 541512, 541519, 518210 |
| Professional Services | 541611, 541612, 541618 |
| Construction & Facilities | 236220, 561210, 561720 |
| Engineering & Technical | 541330, 541712, 541715 |
| Healthcare & Social Services | 621111, 624190, 541714 |
Where WOSBs Are Concentrated
The top states for WOSB federal contractor headquarters are Virginia, Maryland, and Florida—reflecting proximity to Washington, D.C. and major military installations. Texas and California round out the top five, driven by defense and technology spending.
Key Contract Vehicles for WOSBs
Successful women-owned contractors typically hold positions on major government-wide acquisition contracts (GWACs) and indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) vehicles, including GSA Schedule, NASA SEWP, NIH CIO-CS, OASIS Small Business, and agency-specific BPAs. These vehicles significantly expand a WOSB’s addressable market across federal agencies.