GSA is effective in introducing female business owners to opportunities in the federal market.

 As part of an ongoing initiative, the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) of the U.S. General Services Administration successfully linked women-owned small companies with opportunities in the federal marketplace in March. Over Women's History Month, OSDBU organized 11 events across the nation that brought together prime contract holders and more than 190 women-owned small businesses.

The U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce and EDWOSB GSA's OSDBU collaborated to host the online conference "Meet and Match: Achieving Success as a Women-Owned Small Business" on March 18. With 100 participants, this is the first significant virtual matchmaking occasion since the pandemic. The U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce's technical support team and OSDBU collaborated to make this event successful for the female small business owners in attendance.

Exodie C. Roe, III, Associate Administrator for EDWOSB GSA OSDBU, stated that "while we focus on assisting the small business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, we know women-owned small businesses will be important in significantly contributing to our nation's economic recovery."

More than $197 million, or more than 8% of the entire amount awarded by EDWOSB GSA so far in the fiscal year 2021, has gone to women-owned small firms, considerably above the five percent target.

About OSDBU:

 The Office of Small and Disadvantaged Company Utilization (OSDBU) advocates for small, small-disadvantaged, veteran, HUBZone, and women business owners. OSDBU has nationwide responsibility for GSA's small business programs and promotes enhanced access to EDWOSB GSA nationwide procurement opportunities. The OSDBU participates in initiatives that allow the small business community to interact with important contracting specialists and receive guidance on the procurement process. Small company policies are monitored, put into practice, and some legally required programs are managed by OSDBU.

EDWOSB GSA manages more than 370 million rentable square feet of real estate nationwide and over $68 billion in yearly contracts for the federal government. It also provides consolidated procurement services. The goal of EDWOSB GSA is to support the aims of the Biden-Harris administration by providing the best value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the whole government.

How the GSA Aids Women Entrepreneurs

Our economy is built on small enterprises, and small businesses with a female owner account for a significant portion of government purchases.

For more than 20 years, the federal government has established an annual objective of awarding 5% of federal contracting funds to women-owned small companies. This objective aims to level the playing field in sectors where women-owned small companies and women-owned small enterprises from economically disadvantaged backgrounds are underrepresented. The GSA is searching for chances to give even more of those funds to women-owned small businesses, so purchasers throughout the federal government are also seeking.

One of the top agency focuses for GSA is increasing small business opportunities. At GSA, we're working hard to increase the number of government procurement opportunities for women-owned small companies and women-owned small businesses from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. We're doing this by:

Awarding more than $561.7 million in GSA contracts to WOSBs in FY20, with 10.47 percent of those contracts being prime awards, and 

Setting aside $354.9 million in EDWOSB GSA contracts for women-owned small businesses in FY2021

GSA promotes small, small-disadvantaged, service-disabled veteran-owned, historically underutilized business zone, and woman-owned small business owners through its Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, participating in activities that allow the small business community to flourish.

Meet important contractors

Obtain guidance on the purchasing procedure

Find helpful resources: Federal Procurement Data System, forecasting tool for contracting opportunities, and training

GSA aims to surpass SBA's procurement objectives. For our FY19 Small Business Procurement Scorecard, the SBA gave us an A+. We have now received at least an "A" from the SBA for ten years running thanks to this accomplishment. Federal agencies that achieve significant small business contracting goals and other indicators of demonstrated dedication to small business participation in federal procurement are given an A+ rating.

A thriving small business community aids EDWOSB GSA in achieving our strategic objective of expanding opportunities. By assisting our federal client agencies in acquiring essential goods and services, GSA is in a unique position to support small businesses across the country. By refining and optimizing processes, GSA aims to make doing business with us as fluid and nimble as possible.