WOSB certification in Florida

To get WOSB certified in Florida, 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. Florida APEX Accelerator (University of West Florida, with regional offices) helps Florida 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 Florida

   Florida APEX Accelerator (University of West Florida, with regional offices): free counseling on SAM.gov, certification and bidding.^[10]

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 Florida too

   WOSB covers federal contracts. To sell to Florida agencies, register on MFMP Vendor Information Portal registration (free).

6. 06

   Add the Florida certification

   Minority-, woman- and veteran-owned small business certification, through Department of Management Services, Office of Supplier Development.^[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

• Florida APEX Accelerator (University of West Florida, with regional offices)

SBA district offices

• SBA North Florida District Office
• SBA South Florida District Office

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

• Minority-, woman- and veteran-owned small business certification, Department of Management Services, Office of Supplier Development.^[11]

Highway, transit and airport contracts paid with U.S. DOT funds use Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certification, issued in Florida by the Florida Unified Certification Program (FDOT Business Growth & Engagement Office). 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]

163 open bids in Florida 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/north-florida
9. sba.gov/district/south-florida
10. flapex.org/
11. dms.myflorida.com/business_operations/state_purchasing/office_of_supplier_development_osd/get_certified
12. fdot.gov/BusinessGrowth/dbecertification.shtm
13. federalregister.gov/documents/2025/10/03/2025-19460/
14. transportation.gov/mission/civil-rights/disadvantaged-business-enterprise/september-2026-final-rule