The Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contracting Program is a federal set-aside category that reserves certain government contracts specifically for qualifying women-owned firms. If you run a business in Nebraska and want access to those contracts, here is what you need to know.
What WOSB certification is
WOSB is a Small Business Administration program created under the Small Business Act. It gives contracting officers the authority to restrict competition to women-owned small businesses in industries where women-owned firms are statistically underrepresented in federal contracting. The SBA has designated 83 NAICS codes as WOSB-eligible. Some of those codes carry an additional tier called EDWOSB (Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business), which has tighter financial thresholds.
A WOSB set-aside contract can be awarded to any certified WOSB. An EDWOSB set-aside can only go to firms that also meet the economic disadvantage criteria.
Eligibility requirements
To qualify as a WOSB:
Ownership. At least 51% of the business must be unconditionally and directly owned by one or more women who are U.S. citizens.
Control. Women must control the business, both operationally and in terms of long-term decision-making. The highest officer position must be held by a woman, and she must work in the business full-time during normal business hours.
Small business size. You must meet the SBA's size standards for your primary NAICS code. The most commonly cited threshold is $30 million in average annual receipts for manufacturing and other industries, but size standards vary by NAICS code. Some service industries cap at $8 million or $16.5 million. Check the SBA's size standards table for your specific code before you assume you qualify.
EDWOSB additional threshold. If you want EDWOSB designation, the economically disadvantaged owner's personal net worth must be below $850,000 (excluding the value of the business and primary residence), personal assets must be below $6.5 million, and adjusted gross income averaged over the past three years must be below $400,000.
How to apply
There are two paths: SBA self-certification and third-party certification.
SBA self-certification. You create an account at certify.sba.gov, complete the WOSB application, and upload supporting documents. Required documents include personal financial information, a signed WOSB Program Certification document, proof of citizenship, and business ownership evidence such as operating agreements, bylaws, stock certificates, or similar instruments. The SBA does not charge a fee for self-certification.
Self-certification has one practical drawback: the SBA audits a percentage of self-certified firms. If you are audited and cannot substantiate your application, you lose your certification and may be barred from future programs.
Third-party certification. Four organizations are SBA-approved to certify WOSBs independently: the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the National Women Business Owners Corporation (NWBOC), the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce. Third-party certification involves a more rigorous document review, and some organizations charge fees (WBENC charges annual dues based on revenue tier). Once certified by an approved third party, you upload proof of that certification to certify.sba.gov to activate your WOSB status in the federal system.
Third-party certification is generally considered more defensible in an audit and carries more weight when you are pursuing corporate supplier diversity programs alongside federal contracting.
What WOSB certification unlocks
The main benefit is access to set-aside contracts in 83 NAICS industries. When a contracting officer has a requirement in one of those codes and reasonably expects at least two qualified WOSBs to compete, they can restrict the solicitation to WOSBs. Competition narrows, which improves your odds.
Beyond set-asides, WOSB status appears in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) and in federal procurement databases. Contracting officers searching for women-owned vendors can find you. That visibility matters for sole-source awards, which are allowed up to $7 million ($4 million for manufacturing) when only one WOSB can meet the requirement.
The SBA's WOSB program does not have an expiration built into the certification itself, but your SAM.gov registration must be renewed annually. If your SAM registration lapses, your WOSB status is effectively invisible to federal buyers.
Nebraska's federal contracting landscape
Nebraska has a significant federal footprint. Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue is home to U.S. Strategic Command and is one of the larger military installations in the midwest. The Department of Veterans Affairs operates the VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System across multiple facilities. The Department of Agriculture has substantial operations in Lincoln and Omaha tied to farm programs and rural development. The Army Corps of Engineers manages Missouri River infrastructure throughout the state.
These agencies collectively represent hundreds of millions in annual contract spend covering construction, IT services, professional services, healthcare support, logistics, and facility maintenance. Many of those NAICS codes fall within the 83 WOSB-eligible industries.
Federal contract spending in Nebraska also flows through civilian agencies such as the General Services Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Social Security Administration, which has a significant presence in the Omaha area.
Free help from Nebraska PTAC
The Nebraska PTAC (Procurement Technical Assistance Center), housed at the University of Nebraska, provides free one-on-one counseling to businesses pursuing government contracts. PTAC advisors can walk you through the WOSB application, help you read a solicitation, review your SAM.gov registration, and identify open contracts in your NAICS codes. This is part of the national APEX Accelerator network funded by the Department of Defense.
Working with a PTAC counselor before you submit your WOSB application is a practical way to avoid common errors that slow down the process. Contact the University of Nebraska's PTAC through their website to schedule an appointment.
Nebraska state-level certifications
Nebraska does not have a state WOSB equivalent that mirrors the federal program. However, the state does run programs that complement federal certification.
The Nebraska Department of Transportation certifies Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) for federally funded transportation projects under 49 CFR Part 26. DBE certification requires that the firm be at least 51% owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, and women are presumed to meet the social disadvantage criteria. DBE certification gives you access to subcontracting opportunities on NDOT highway, transit, and airport projects.
Nebraska also participates in the Unified Certification Program (UCP), which means a single DBE certification issued by the state is recognized across all federally funded transportation projects in Nebraska without separate applications to individual agencies.
If you are working with corporate buyers, WBENC certification (a third-party WOSB certifier) serves dual purpose: it satisfies the SBA's WOSB third-party requirement and it gets you into WBENC's corporate supplier database, which Fortune 500 companies use to find women-owned vendors for their supplier diversity programs.
Timeline and process steps
A realistic timeline for self-certification through certify.sba.gov is two to four weeks, assuming you have your documents organized before you start. The steps:
- Register in SAM.gov if you are not already registered. SAM registration alone can take seven to ten days for the system to process.
- Gather ownership documentation: operating agreement or bylaws, stock ledger or membership certificates, federal tax returns for the past three years, and a copy of your government-issued ID.
- Create an account at certify.sba.gov and complete the WOSB application.
- Upload documents and submit.
- The SBA reviews and either approves or requests additional information.
Third-party certification through WBENC typically takes four to six weeks and requires a site visit or video review in addition to document submission.
Once certified, update your SAM.gov profile to reflect your WOSB status, and register in any agency-specific small business portals relevant to your target buyers. Nebraska PTAC can help you identify which agency portals are worth your time given your specific NAICS codes and service area.
