It has been clear for at least 50 years the disadvantages that small businesses face in competing for U.S. government contracts. The Small Business Act of 1953 created the Small Business Administration (SBA), an independent agency in the executive branch that counsels and assists specific types of small businesses including firms owned by minorities and other socially and economically disadvantaged individuals and firms owned by women. Women-owned small businesses, however, are underrepresented or substantially underrepresented in some industries. In 2002, the SBA Office of Federal Contract Assistance for Women Business Owners (CAWBO) organized a draft study containing a preliminary set of approximations of the representation of women-owned small businesses in federal prime contracts over $25,000 by industry. Because of the past legal challenges to race- and gender-conscious contracting programs at the federal and local levels, the SBA asked the Committee on National Statistics of the National Academies to conduct an independent review of relevant data and estimation methods prior to finalizing the CAWBO study. The Steering Committee on Women-Owned Small Businesses in Federal Contracting was created and charged with holding a workshop to discuss topics including the accuracy of data and methods to estimate the use of women-owned small businesses in federal contracting and the definition of "underrepresentation" and "substantial underrepresentation" in designating industries for which preferential contracting programs might be warranted. Analyzing Information on Women-Owned Small Businesses in Federal Contracting presents the committee's report as well as the recommendations that committees have made.

The Minority and Woman-Owned Small Business Guide to Government Contracts: Everything You Need to Know to Get Started takes the complication out of getting started in government contracting when you are a small business. Don't learn the hard way and utilize the steps outlined in this book to navigate through the massive amount of paperwork.The author, Linda Rawson, CEO, and Founder of DynaGrace Enterprises started her company, initially called Sensory Technology Consultants, in 2006. DynaGrace Enterprises is a 100 percent Women-Owned Small Business, SBA 8(a) certified and has done many millions of dollars of federal government contracts. Linda shares her knowledge of government contracting to help you get started.In this book you will learn:- Why you would consider obtaining government contracts to help your business be profitable-How to get started in government contracting including government systems that you need to register on-How to correctly setup your accounting system to ensure proper classification of revenue and expenses-How to apply for and obtain socioeconomic status to get government contract set-asides-Documented examples of how to search for government work with step-by-step instructions-How to market the federal government including marketing artifacts and social media strategies-The advantages of teaming, utilizing a joint venture or a Mentor/Prot�g� arrangement-An overview of how to respond to contracting opportunities-Some excellent human resource tipsThe Minority and Woman-Owned Small Business Guide to Government Contracts: Everything You Need to Know to Get Started helps you understand the steps required to begin obtaining government contracts.