What NAICS codes qualify for WOSB set-asides?

SBA publishes the list of industries where contracting officers may restrict competition to the Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract program. A WOSB certification opens set-asides only in those codes.

The two designations. Under 13 CFR 127.503, WOSB set-asides apply in industries SBA designates as ones where women-owned small businesses are substantially underrepresented, and EDWOSB set-asides apply in industries where they are underrepresented. SBA's list marks each code WOSB or EDWOSB. Of the 733 eligible codes, 626 are open to all WOSB program participants and 107 only to SBA-certified EDWOSBs. An EDWOSB also counts as a WOSB, so an EDWOSB can compete in both.

What the list covers, by sector. Counting the 733 codes on SBA's list: manufacturing (31-33), 331; transportation and warehousing (48-49), 47; professional, scientific and technical services (54), 45; administrative and support and waste management (56), 40; agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (11), 39; other services (81), 36; health care and social assistance (62), 34; information (51), 29; finance and insurance (52), 22; construction (23), 19; real estate (53), 19; arts and recreation (71), 19; mining (21), 15; utilities (22), 14; accommodation and food services (72), 13; and educational services (61), 11. Wholesale trade (42) and retail trade (44-45) have no codes on the list.

How the list is set. Congress requires SBA to study every five years which industries have underrepresentation of women-owned small businesses in federal contracting. The list SBA currently publishes uses 2022 NAICS codes, with an effective date of October 1, 2022.

How to check a code. Download SBA's spreadsheet, find your 6-digit code and read the set-aside column. What matters is the NAICS code the contracting officer assigns to the solicitation, not only your primary code.

When a contracting officer can set aside. The officer needs a reasonable expectation, based on market research, that two or more WOSBs (or EDWOSBs, for EDWOSB codes) will offer and that award can be made at a fair and reasonable price. Below that, FAR 19.1506 allows a sole-source award up to $8.5 million for manufacturing codes and $5.5 million for others. 13 CFR 127.503 still prints older figures of $7 million and $4.5 million; contracting officers apply the FAR.

The economic test for EDWOSB. Each woman owner must have personal net worth under $850,000, average adjusted gross income of $400,000 or less over three years and assets of $6.5 million or less. WOSB status alone has no economic test, only the ownership, control, citizenship and size requirements.

If your code is not on the list. WOSB certification will not open set-asides in it. Small business set-asides, HUBZone, 8(a) or VetCert may still apply depending on your firm, and corporate WBE certification from WBENC works independently of SBA's list.