GSA Blog

How GSA opens the door for women small-business entrepreneurs

As we celebrate Women’s History Month during March, we recognize the contributions of women who have shaped our nation’s history. With more than 12 million women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) in the U.S., this segment of entrepreneurs has grown quickly, and routinely demonstrates a huge impact within the small business community. Even so, WOSBs still face barriers to resources and opportunities.  

At GSA, we’re making progress at reducing those barriers. Women-owned small businesses contribute to our economy’s strength and WOSBs are critical to government purchasing. For more than 20 years, the federal government’s goal every year has been to award at least 5% of federal contracting dollars to WOSBs, remaining laser-focused on leveling the playing field in sectors where WOSBs and economically disadvantaged WOSBs are underrepresented. 

Through our Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU), we advocate for small businesses, small-disadvantaged businesses, women-owned small businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, and small businesses in Historically Underutilized Business Zones.

We do this so small business owners can:

• Meet key contracting experts.
• Learn about the procurement process.
• Receive training.
• Use the Forecast of Contracting Opportunities Tool. 
• Learn facts about government contracting. 

GSA prioritizes expanding small and small-disadvantaged business opportunities: showcasing small business capabilities, connecting our nation’s entrepreneurs with federal procurement experts, and enhancing small business access to federal procurement opportunities. Our teams are working hard to make sure WOSBs and economically disadvantaged WOSBs get the opportunities they deserve in federal procurement.

A healthy small business community helps us meet our strategic goal of creating more opportunities. GSA is uniquely positioned to support small businesses across the nation by helping our federal customer agencies get critical products and services. Also, GSA strives to ensure doing business with us is as flexible and agile as possible by simplifying and streamlining processes.

In FY23 we’re: 

• Awarding more GSA prime contracts to WOSBs and supporting more subcontract awards to WOSBs, with a goal of at least 5% percent in each category.
• Offering more matchmaking events for increased subcontracting opportunities.  

We know the Statutory Federal Small Business Procurement Goals—and we’re exceeding them. Last year, we got an A+ from SBA for our FY22 Small Business Procurement Scorecard. That’s 12 consecutive years where we’ve achieved an “A” or higher from SBA for its annual assessment tool. We earned our A+ by meeting important small business contracting goals and showing our commitment to small business participation in federal contracting.

This month, join us and the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce for a Virtual Meet & Match:

• Register now to attend our Meet and Match event to expand your network as a WOSB with GSA prime contractors.
• While this event is focused on WOSBs, all businesses are welcome to attend. To learn more about GSA’s commitment to the small business community, visit the GSA Small Business website.