In 2015, the SBA requested a new study from the Department of Commerce (DOC) of the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contracting Program which resulted in a revised list of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) industry groups in which WOSBs are underrepresented/substantially underrepresented. The study found a total of 21 four-digit industry groups that are eligible for Federal contracting (some NAICS sectors are not eligible for Federal contracts under SBA regulations) in which WOSBs are underrepresented (and therefore open only to Economically Disadvantaged (ED) WOSBs for set-aside/sole source awards) and found an additional 92 industry groups in which WOSBs are substantially underrepresented (and therefore open to both EDWOSBs and WOSBs for set-aside/sole source awards). This total of 113 NAICS industry groups is an increase of 30 from the former list of 83 industry groups – some of which were deleted and replaced with other codes. This new list of NAICS codes went into effect in March of this year. The full six-digit NAICS code lists can be found through these SBA website links: EDWOSB and WOSB .
SBA has published its full analysis of the DOC study in the related Federal Register notice that discusses which NAICS codes are no longer designated for use under the WOSB program, as well which NAICS codes are being newly designated for use under the program. Read the DOC WOSB Federal Contract Program report.
For more information on the WOSB program, please contact our office.