SBA 8(m) / edWOSB Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business Program
The SBA released their Final Rule on the WOSB program to include a new certification called edWOSB (ed = economically disadvantaged) effective February 2011. This new program enhances the previous WOSB program which was very limited in supporting women business owners. This means that potential government customers have an opportunity to contract quality services from a great, innovative company with much less administrative overhead and shorter acquisition timeframes than conventional contracting requires.
Applicable Industries
Since Axiom Group's primary NAICS codes qualify for the edWOSB’s that are underrepresented or significantly underrepresented, this means that potential government customers have an opportunity to contract quality services from a great, innovative company with much less administrative overhead and shorter acquisition timeframes than conventional contracting requires.
The program identifies 45 NAICs codes for industries in which WOSBs are underrepresented. Of these 45, Axiom's core competencies include:
5415 - Computer Systems Design and Related Services 5416 - Management, Scientific, and Technical Services 5419 - Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 5612 - Facilities Support Services 5614 - Business Support Services
The program identifies 38 NAICs codes for industries in which WOSBs are substantially underrepresented. Of these 38, Axiom's core competencies include:
5182 - Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services 5191 - Other Information Services
Program Summary
Set-Asides are available for projects with value of less than $3 million non-manufacturing and $5 million for manufacturing
5% of all federal spending is set-aside for WOSB/edWOSB
5% subcontracting requirement to WOSB/edWOSB from large prime contractors
Equal playing field with other programs such as HUBZone, SDVOSB & 8(a)
Creates processes and guidelines for contracting officers to award set-aside contracts to WOSB/edWOSB
