GSA Blog

2018 Woman-Owned Small Business Workshop

Today, GSA’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) and the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce (USWCC) hosted the 2018 Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Workshop in commemoration of Women’s History month. This event is part of a larger effort that GSA OSBU is leading to educate small businesses about harnessing the power of data analytics to support business development using the Federal Procurement Data System.  

GSA OSBU Associate Administrator Charles Manger noted, “We were inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit that filled this event. We want to ensure our woman owned small businesses have the tools they need to be successful, and today, I believe, was beneficial for every business in attendance.”

Today’s event focused on market analysis and strategic planning for vendors looking to do business with the federal government. GSA OSBU stressed the importance of understanding the federal procurement landscape and where your small business is positioned relative to competitors, existing contracts, and upcoming opportunities.

“Getting on the GSA Schedule is just the start,” said Manger. “Small businesses need to win contracts,” “It can be very competitive and by accessing all of the tools available, we hope through this event, these small businesses can be more efficient and effective.”

More than 120 WOSBs were provided with an in-depth look at the Federal Procurement Data System where each process and data set were broken down step-by-step in plain language. The 2018 WOSB event also provided attendees with training on how to market their business in the federal space. Another part of the day was spent reviewing best practices and tips provided by successful WOSBs.

Outreach events such as the 2018 WOSB workshop,can help businesses become more successful and also increase the amount of credible small businesses in the GSA Schedules supplier pool for government agencies.