WOSB certification in Colorado

To get WOSB certified in Colorado, register in SAM.gov, confirm you meet SBA's rules for small businesses at least 51% owned and controlled by women who are U.S. citizens, and apply free on MySBA Certifications. Colorado APEX Accelerators helps Colorado businesses apply at no cost.

1. 01

   Register in SAM.gov

   Every certification and federal award needs an active SAM.gov registration and Unique Entity ID. Registration is free and must be renewed every 365 days.^[1]

2. 02

   Check WOSB eligibility

   The business must be small and at least 51% owned and controlled by women who are U.S. citizens; women must manage day-to-day operations and make long-term decisions.^[3]

3. 03

   Get free help in Colorado

   Colorado APEX Accelerators: free counseling on SAM.gov, certification and bidding.^[9]

4. 04

   Apply on MySBA Certifications

   SBA's application at certifications.sba.gov is free; approved third-party certifiers charge a fee.^[2]

5. 05

   Register with Colorado too

   WOSB covers federal contracts. To sell to Colorado agencies, register on ColoradoVSS vendor registration (free).

6. 06

   Add the Colorado certification

   Certify Colorado, through OEDIT Minority Business Office.^[11]

APEX Accelerators, funded by the Department of Defense, help with registration, certification and bids. SBA district offices run certification outreach and answer program questions.

APEX Accelerators

• Colorado APEX Accelerators

SBA district office

• SBA Colorado District Office

Colorado certifies its own programs separately from SBA, for Colorado state contracts. WOSB does not carry over automatically; apply to this one on its own terms:

• Certify Colorado, OEDIT Minority Business Office. Pays up to $2,000 toward the cost of third-party certifications.^[11]

Highway, transit and airport contracts paid with U.S. DOT funds use Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certification, issued in Colorado by the Colorado Unified Certification Program (CDOT and the City and County of Denver). It is separate from WOSB. Since October 3, 2025, DBE applicants no longer qualify by race or sex presumption: each owner submits a personal narrative of disadvantage and a personal net worth statement, under a $2,047,000 cap, and existing DBEs are being reevaluated.^[12][13][14]

55 open bids in Colorado right now; 0 name WOSB in the title.

No open bids right now. Browse all open bids

• WOSB and EDWOSB set-asides are allowed only in NAICS codes SBA lists as underrepresented for women-owned firms.^[3]
• Sole-source awards are allowed up to $8.5 million for manufacturing and $5.5 million for other work when two or more offers are not expected.^[5]
• The government-wide goal is 5% of prime contract dollars to women-owned small businesses.^[3]

1. sam.gov/entity-registration
2. certifications.sba.gov/
3. sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-assistance-programs/women-owned-small-business-federal-contract-program
4. federalregister.gov/documents/2020/05/11/2020-09022/
5. acquisition.gov/far/19.1506
6. acquisition.gov/far/2.101
7. uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section644&num=0&edition=prelim
8. sba.gov/district/colorado
9. coloradoapex.org/
10. dhr.colorado.gov/supplier-diversity/business-certifications
11. oedit.colorado.gov/programs-and-funding/awards/certifications/certify-colorado
12. codot.gov/business/civilrights/smallbusiness/dbe
13. federalregister.gov/documents/2025/10/03/2025-19460/
14. transportation.gov/mission/civil-rights/disadvantaged-business-enterprise/september-2026-final-rule