Aliff SolutionsAliff Solutions
SBA Set-Aside Program

Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business

Subset of the WOSB program for women-owned firms whose owners also meet economic disadvantage criteria. Eligible for EDWOSB-specific set-asides in addition to WOSB set-asides.

Official U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) certification portal

Processing Time

EDWOSB certification adds economic disadvantage documentation to the WOSB application.

Term

3 years, with annual economic disadvantage re-attestation.

Certified By

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

Program Overview

EDWOSB is the more selective subset of the WOSB program for women-owned firms whose owners also meet 8(a)-equivalent economic disadvantage thresholds. The pool of EDWOSB-certified firms is smaller than WOSB-certified firms, making EDWOSB set-asides less competitive — a meaningful advantage for eligible applicants willing to maintain the additional economic disadvantage documentation.

Eligibility Requirements

  • All WOSB requirements above
  • Personal net worth under $850K (excluding primary residence and retirement)
  • AGI under $400K averaged over 3 years
  • Total assets under $6.5M

Benefits

  • Eligibility for EDWOSB set-aside contracts (more competitive niche than WOSB)
  • Eligible for both EDWOSB AND WOSB set-asides
  • Sole-source EDWOSB awards up to specific thresholds

Common Pitfalls

  • 1Outgrowing economic disadvantage thresholds without realizing it terminates EDWOSB
  • 2Inadequate financial documentation at application or recertification
  • 3Confusing EDWOSB (subset) with WOSB (parent category)

Governing FAR Clauses

FAR 52.219-29

Notice of Set-Aside for Women-Owned Small Business

FAR 52.219-14

Limitations on Subcontracting

Need help applying for EDWOSB certification?

Aliff helps firms navigate the SBA certification process, prepare a defensible application, and avoid the common pitfalls that delay or disqualify applications.

Schedule a Certification ConsultationCompare All Set-Aside Programs

Related Resources

All Set-Aside Programs

Compare 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, and EDWOSB.

FAR 52.219-1 Small Business Program Representations

Required size representation when bidding any set-aside.

FAR 52.219-14 Limitations on Subcontracting

Set-aside primes must self-perform at least 50% of the work.

Small Business Set-Aside Programs Guide

Full comparison and strategy across all federal set-aside categories.