Give Me 5:  Working to Increase the Number of Federal Contracts to Women Businesses

Women Impacting Public Policy and American Express OPEN recently launched Give Me 5tm: Education and Access for Women in Federal Contracts. Give Me 5 is an initiative designed to help women business owners apply for and secure federal procurement opportunities. Give Me 5 derives its name from the Equity in Contracting for Women Act (2000), which stipulates that federal contracting officers award 5% of all contracts to women-owned businesses. With women presently receiving 3.4% of federal contract dollars, Give Me 5 aims to increase the representation of women-owned businesses that win government contracts by providing resources and information to make it easier for women to register their businesses with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR), the first step to gain eligibility to apply for federal contracts.

Federal contracts represent an enormous opportunity for the growth of women’s entrepreneurship. Women business owners could gain more than $6 billion in annual revenues by reaching the 5% contracting goal, according to a statement issued by the U.S. House of Representatives Small Business Committee in March 2007. Through a blend of seminars, events and online resources, the Give Me 5 initiative can help women understand key steps they must take to prepare to apply for federal contracts, including registering a business with the CCR, certifying a business as woman-owned, identifying contract opportunities and writing solid proposals. Please contact Megan Markoff at mmarkoff@wipp.org or at (415)434-4314 for more information on the program and how to get started with CCR registration. And visit us online at www.GiveMe5.com.

Give Me 5 is developing a series of trainings to educate the women’s business community on the whole process of federal procurement. There are two introductory trainings scheduled in November and we invite you to participate

Give Me 5 Training 101 - An overview of federal procurement and the Central Contractor Registration. Topics to be discussed include the tremendous business opportunity for women business owners to expand their business, particularly during these tough economic times; and CCR Registration, including information you need to register, how to register, and how to build your SBA profile after registration. The teleconference will be on Wednesday, November 12th at 3pm EST, and led by the co-chair of WIPP’s Procurement Committee, Gloria Larkin, President, TargetGov. Click here to register.

Give Me 5 Training 102 – You’re on the CCR, what’s next? Top level guide on what business owners should be doing after they complete their registration on the Central Contractor Registration. Topics to be discussed include a review of the CCR record, SBA profile, the Small Business Dynamic Search Process, an overview of how the federal government buys products and services, and what are prime and subcontracts and what would be best for your business. The training will be on Monday, November 24th at 3pm EST, and led by the co-chair of WIPP’s Procurement Committee, LaVern Jackson, President, Join Logistics Managers, Inc. Click here to register.