By: Edward T. DeLisle

As of Friday, February 4, 2011, women-owned small businesses could begin taking steps to participate in a new federal contracting program just for them. The new Women-Owned Small Business ("WOSB") Federal Contract Program (the "Program") will be fully implemented over the next several months, with the first contracts expected to be let during the fourth quarter of this year.

The Program will provide greater access to federal contracting opportunities for WOSBs and economically-disadvantaged women-owned small businesses (EDWOSBs).  It allows contracting officers, for the first time, to set aside specific contracts for certified WOSBs and EDWOSBs, which will assist federal agencies in achieving the existing five percent statutory goal of federal contracting dollars for WOSBs.

Complete information and eligibility requirements of the Program are listed on the SBA website.

Edward T. DeLisle is a Partner in the firm and a member of the Federal Contracting Practice Group.