WOSB certification in Missouri

To get WOSB certified in Missouri, 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. Missouri APEX Accelerator (University of Missouri Extension) helps Missouri 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 Missouri

   Missouri APEX Accelerator (University of Missouri Extension): 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 Missouri too

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

6. 06

   Add the Missouri certification

   MBE, WBE and Service-Disabled Veteran Enterprise (SDVE) certification, through Office of Administration, Office of Equal Opportunity.^[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

• Missouri APEX Accelerator (University of Missouri Extension)

SBA district offices

• SBA Kansas City District Office
• SBA St. Louis District Office

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

• MBE, WBE and Service-Disabled Veteran Enterprise (SDVE) certification, Office of Administration, Office of Equal Opportunity.^[11]

Highway, transit and airport contracts paid with U.S. DOT funds use Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certification, issued in Missouri by the Missouri Regional Certification Committee (MRCC) (MoDOT with St. Louis, Kansas City and regional transit agencies). 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]

126 open bids in Missouri 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/kansas-city
9. sba.gov/district/st-louis
10. extension.missouri.edu/programs/apex-accelerator
11. oeo.mo.gov/
12. modot.org/missouri-regional-certification-committee-mrcc
13. federalregister.gov/documents/2025/10/03/2025-19460/
14. transportation.gov/mission/civil-rights/disadvantaged-business-enterprise/september-2026-final-rule