The government-wide prime contracting goal for spending with women-owned small businesses is 5%, and this goal has never been met.

The recent implementation of sole source authority in the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contracting Program is a huge step forward and will open the federal marketplace to women business owners in pursuit of both new and larger dollar contracting opportunities. But we can’t stop there. Too many barriers and challenges remain for women in pursuit of opportunities with the federal government, the largest buyer of goods and services. When the government falls short of its minimal procurement goal, it’s a huge net loss – in terms of contracting dollars and opportunities – for women small business owners. In fiscal year 2014, it was a potential loss of $1.2 billion. Women small business owners stand to benefit greatly from increased access to the federal procurement marketplace, and so too does the economy.

Please join the National Women’s Business Council online for our next Public Meeting on Tuesday, December 8th, 2015 from 2pm-4pm to dicuss strategies for reaching the 5% goal. We have invited esteemed speakers to join us for this important dialogue. Additionally, the Council will provide updates and highlights on recent efforts and share a sneak peak, including policy recommendations, from our soon-to-be released Annual Report.

U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen is confirmed to join for brief remarks. Senator Shaheen is a member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. A fierce champion for women and a former small business owner herself, Senator Shaheen will speak about women’s entrepreneurship, and both her and the Committee’s efforts to better support women and their business endeavors.

John Shoraka, Associate Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration from the Office of Government Contracting and Business Development, will join to explain sole source authority and what it means for women small business owners and contracting officers.

A panel discussion will follow, during which panelists will discuss strategies to reach the unmet goal – like agency outreach, WOSB certification and readiness assessments, streamlining the onerous process, industry matchmaking, or pipeline investments – and share actionable advice and best practices that women can leverage to successfully navigate the process and win contracts.

Panelists include:

• Erin Andrew, Associate Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration and Director of the SBA Office of Women’s Business Ownership
• Teresa Lewis, Director of the Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization for Health and Human Services
• Rose Wang, Founder of The Binary Group and former Council Member
• Elise Hernandez, CEO and founder of Ideal System Solutions

The meeting will take place via web conference. Please RSVP below. Details will be provided upon RSVP.

We hope you can join us.