Free Webinar – Leveraging Women-Owned Small Business Certifications to Win Contracts

Women business owners are working harder for government contracting opportunities. According to a recent survey from American Express OPEN, they invested $86,643 seeking federal contracts in 2010, up 23% from their 2009 investments of $70,512. Currently, just over one-third (37%) of active women contractors who have self-certified as a woman-owned small business (WOSB) report that the designation has been useful to them, with 17% saying that it’s been very or extremely useful.

Given recent efforts to enhance the WOSB Procurement Program and make it easier for women-owned businesses to win federal contracts, the WOSB certification will certainly become more beneficial. To help women-owned businesses maximize the year-old federal contracting program and receive their fair share of federal contracting dollars, American Express OPEN and Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) are offering a free web tutorial on Wednesday, April 4. This educational webinar is part of Give Me 5, a national program created by American Express OPEN and WIPP to help women business owners get their full 5% share of federal contracts. 

In this one-hour webinar, Give Me 5 instructor Gloria Larkin, President of TargetGov, explains the unique requirements of the WOSB Procurement Program. The session will take a look at what happens after women entrepreneurs self-certify their business and walk them through the four required steps in order to compete for a WOSB set aside contract.

Business owners who are interested in joining the webinar can register at http://www.giveme5.com/events.

Additional information can be found below:

Give Me 5 131: Using your WOSB Certification to Win Contracts

Date: Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Time:  3 PM ET/ 12 PM PT

Where: Virtual

Related articles

• Opening Doors for Women-Owned Businesses (openforum.com)
• The $27 Billion Opportunity for Women Business Owners (openforum.com)

Free Webinar Teaches Small Business Owners How to Write Successful Proposals

Small businesses are working harder for government contracting opportunities. According to American Express OPEN’s government contracting survey, small business contractors invested an average of $103,827 seeking federal contracts in 2010, an increase of 21% over 2010. Since small businesses are investing more time and money in growing their businesses through government contracting, learning how to write a well-developed proposal can not only save business owners time and money but also make the difference in winning a major contract.

To help business owners get contract ready and achieve contract success, American Express OPEN and Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) are offering a free web tutorial on Wednesday, March 28. This educational webinar is part of the Give Me 5 program,a national program created by American Express OPEN and WIPP to help women business owners get a leg up on selling to the world’s largest customer: the U.S. government.

In this one-hour session, Give Me 5 instructor Barbara English will teach business owners step by step instructions on how to write winning proposals on federal government solicitations. Business owns will also learn in detail the contents of an RFP, understanding pricing tools and whether "to bid or not to bid".

Additional information can be found below:

Give Me 5 129: How to Write Successful Proposals (Part 1)

Date: Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Time:  3 PM ET/12 PM PT

Where: Virtual

Business owners who are interested in joining the Webinar can register at:  http://www.giveme5.com/events .

Related articles

• Government Contracting Insights: Marketing To Government (openforum.com)
• The $27 Billion Opportunity for Women Business Owners : Innovation :: American Express OPEN Forum (spiceofyourlife.wordpress.com)
• No Taxes? No Way (businessweek.com)
• Opening Doors for Women-Owned Businesses (openforum.com)
• Something Small Biz Could Love: Risk Help From DoD - Aol Defense (govconchannel.com)

Free Webinar for Small Business Owners on How to Succeed in Federal Procurement through Subcontracting

Due to set aside requirements in federal procurement, small businesses are a valuable resource for large companies seeking federal contracts. Partnering with a large prime contractor also has its benefits for small businesses - including building past performance history, learning the ropes from more experienced contractors and accessing more contracting opportunities. According to an American Express OPEN survey, business owners who perform as subcontractors win 50 percent more contracts versus the average small business contractor. 

To help small business owners learn how to market to prime contractors and perform effectively as a subcontractor, American Express OPEN and Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) are offering a free web tutorial on Wednesday, May 18. This one-hour session will teach small business owners:

·         How to promote their unique value proposition within their industry and with government prime contractors

·         The necessary credentials required of government contractors

·         How to strengthen relationships with prime contractors to find new opportunities and build past performance for federal contracting

This educational webinar is part of the Give Me 5 program, a national program created by American Express OPEN and WIPP to help women business owners get a leg up on selling to the world’s largest customer: the U.S. government.

Additional information can be found below:

Give Me 5 140: Getting Prepared for Subcontracting

Date: Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Time: 3:30 ET / 12:30 PT

Where: Virtual