What is the net worth threshold for EDWOSB eligibility?

Women owners must have a personal net worth below $850,000. The primary residence and the value of the business itself are excluded from this calculation. Investment accounts, rental property, and non-business assets count toward the threshold.

If my income exceeds the AGI limit in one year, do I lose EDWOSB eligibility?

The AGI test is averaged over 3 years, not applied to any single year. A high-income year that brings the 3-year average above $400,000 could affect eligibility, but one outlier year typically does not disqualify an otherwise eligible firm. SBA reviews the full 3-year picture.

Should I apply for EDWOSB or WOSB if I qualify for both?

Apply for EDWOSB. EDWOSB certification automatically confers WOSB certification — you get dual eligibility with one application. There is no advantage to applying for WOSB alone if you meet the economic disadvantage criteria.

Does EDWOSB certification ever need to be renewed?

SBA certification does not expire on a fixed schedule, but you must notify SBA if material changes affect your eligibility (changes in ownership, significant increase in personal net worth, loss of management control). SBA also conducts periodic program examinations.

Can EDWOSB firms compete in unrestricted (full-and-open) competitions?

Yes. EDWOSB certification restricts nothing — it expands your access. EDWOSB firms can compete in any unrestricted acquisition, any WOSB set-aside, any EDWOSB set-aside, and (if also 8(a) or SDVOSB certified) those set-aside pools as well.

EDWOSBSBA Program

Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business — Government Set-Aside Program

Last updated: April 2026

Researched by the BidStride Research Team

What is the EDWOSB program?

The Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) program is a subset of the WOSB Federal Contracting Program for women-owned firms whose owners meet additional economic disadvantage criteria. EDWOSB firms qualify for a broader range of set-aside opportunities than standard WOSB firms — they can compete in both EDWOSB-restricted and WOSB-restricted competitions. EDWOSB certification is administered by SBA through the same certify.sba.gov platform as WOSB.

Eligibility requirements

Must meet all WOSB eligibility requirements (51% women-owned, U.S. citizens, day-to-day management)
Women owners must be economically disadvantaged: personal net worth below $850,000, excluding primary residence and business equity
Women owners must have adjusted gross income (AGI) of $400,000 or less averaged over 3 prior years
Total assets of women owners must not exceed $6.5 million
Business must be a small business under SBA size standards for the contract's NAICS code
Business must be certified through SBA at certify.sba.gov

Benefits of EDWOSB certification

1
Eligible for EDWOSB set-aside competitions (a more exclusive pool than WOSB)
2
Eligible for WOSB set-aside competitions (dual eligibility)
3
Sole-source awards up to $4.5M (services) and $7M (manufacturing) without competition
4
Stronger competitive positioning in evaluations that distinguish between WOSB and EDWOSB
5
Same SBA-administered certification with no recurring fees

How to apply for EDWOSB certification

1
Confirm the women owners meet all three economic disadvantage thresholds (net worth, AGI, total assets)
2
Gather financial documentation: personal tax returns (3 years), personal financial statement, business financial statements
3
Apply through certify.sba.gov — select EDWOSB (which automatically includes WOSB certification)
4
SBA reviews ownership, citizenship, management control, and economic disadvantage documentation
5
Processing time is typically 30–90 days
6
Monitor SAM.gov to confirm both EDWOSB and WOSB designations appear after certification

Apply on SBA’s official certification portal

How EDWOSB appears in solicitations

When a contracting officer restricts a procurement to EDWOSB firms, you will see language like this in the solicitation header:

“This acquisition is set aside for exclusive competition among Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) concerns.”

Look for this language in the SAM.gov opportunity description or the solicitation’s Section B (Contract Clauses) and solicitation preamble.

Relevant FAR clauses for EDWOSB contracts

FAR 52.219-29

Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole Source Award to, Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business Concerns

Notifies the contractor that the acquisition was restricted to EDWOSB firms

View clause reference

FAR 19.1506

Women-Owned Small Business Sole Source Awards

Establishes conditions for WOSB and EDWOSB sole-source contract awards

View clause reference

FAR 19.1505

WOSB/EDWOSB Set-Aside Procedures

Describes when contracting officers shall or may use EDWOSB vs WOSB set-asides

View clause reference

Frequently asked questions about EDWOSB

Filter opportunities by EDWOSB in BidStride

BidStride filters SAM.gov opportunities by set-aside type including EDWOSB. Set your certifications once — your daily bid feed shows only the contracts your firm is eligible to pursue.

All set-aside programs

This guide is for informational purposes only and reflects the BidStride Research Team’s summary of publicly available SBA and FAR program information. Eligibility requirements and set-aside thresholds are subject to change by regulation. Always verify current requirements at SBA.gov and consult a procurement attorney for certification decisions. BidStride does not provide legal advice.