Questions
Federal contracting, answered
Including the answers that cost us a sale. If certification will not help you, we would rather say so now than take your money.
Is WOSB certification free?
Yes. You apply yourself at certify.sba.gov and SBA charges nothing. Companies that offer to file for you charge $500 to $3,000. That is a real service if you want the help, but it is optional, and it does not make approval faster or more likely.
How long does certification take?
SBA says it will decide within 90 calendar days of receiving a complete package whenever practicable. A Request for Information restarts that clock, so a clean application is about three months and a messy one can run past six. You also need an active SAM.gov registration first, which GSA says to allow at least ten business days for.
What is the difference between WOSB and EDWOSB?
EDWOSB is the broader certification, which surprises almost everyone. SBA designates 733 industries under this program. 626 are open to any certified WOSB, and 107 are limited to SBA-certified EDWOSBs only. Because every EDWOSB is also a WOSB, EDWOSB reaches all 733 and plain WOSB reaches 626.
Do I qualify as economically disadvantaged?
All three must be true: personal net worth under $850,000, adjusted gross income of $400,000 or less averaged over three years, and personal assets of $6.5 million or less. The net worth test is the tight one, and it excludes your primary residence and your equity in the business, so more applicants clear it than expect to.
My industry is not on the list. What now?
Then this program's set-asides do not exist for that work, and knowing that early saves you a filing fee. You can still bid open competitions. Other certifications may apply instead: service-disabled veteran-owned, 8(a), or HUBZone. If you own more than one business, check each separately.
Do I need a third-party certifier?
No. Since 2020, third-party certifications are not accepted for accessing WOSB set-aside contracts. SBA certification through certify.sba.gov is the only route that counts.
Does being certified mean I will get contracts?
No. Certification makes you eligible to compete in a much smaller field. You still have to find solicitations, decide which ones fit, and write competitive responses. Certification removes a barrier, it does not deliver work.
Can I lose my certification?
Yes, most often by accident. You must recertify annually and renew your SAM.gov registration every 365 days. A lapsed SAM registration quietly ends your eligibility and drops you out of the databases contracting officers search.
Where does your opportunity data come from?
SAM.gov contract notices, republished through the Tango API and refreshed daily. Every listing links back to the original SAM.gov notice so you can verify it yourself and respond there.
Why does this cover grants and contracts together?
Because the same business needs both and the blockers overlap almost entirely. A UEI and an active SAM.gov registration gate federal grants and federal contracts alike. Charging twice to solve one problem made no sense, so one subscription covers both.