Are there any special procurement programs and preferences for women-owned businesses?
The Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 establishes a 5 percent government-wide goal for contract awards to small, women-owned businesses. The Small Business Administration (SBA) is determined both to establish aggressive goals and to develop meaningful initiatives in cooperation with other SBA program areas and other agencies to ensure that these new goals are achieved. Establishment of the Women-Owned Business Procurement Pilot Program is one example of such an initiative. Each of the 11 Federal agencies the SBA has identified to participate in the pilot program has designated a women-owned business “advocate” to act as a liaison. Together with other resource partners, SBA and these agencies are developing a systematic approach to expand the pool of women-owned firms receiving Federal contract awards. The SBA and the liaisons from each of the agencies provide outreach, training, and marketing assistance to women-owned businesses.
