The Small Business Administration (SBA) created the 8(a) certification program to help disadvantaged small businesses compete with their thriving counterparts in the government contracting arena. According to the 2013 SBA Procurement Scorecard, 6.70% of small, disadvantaged businesses received contracts they applied for. The program entails two phases over the course of nine years including a developmental and transition stage. However, an ala...

Women business owners are investing more time and money in seeking federal contracting opportunities. In fact, a survey by American Express OPEN found the investment among women-owned firms is up 59% since 2011 to a yearly average of $112,112. Regardless of winning a contract, debriefing after the application process is a valuable practice. To help women business owners learn how to take full advantage of the opportunity to debrief after the c...

Designed to help small business owners boost their business through government contracting, American Express OPEN Forum: Government Contracting is hosting this full day program to provide attendees with resources and tools on ways to secure government contracts. Guests will have the opportunity to build connections and grow business with government contracts by gleaning insights from government contractors and officials and gaining hands-on e...

At the end of 2014, President Obama signed a $1.1 trillion spending bill for FY2015. With a final budget for the year intact, government agencies will have a clearer understanding of upcoming contracts and look to small businesses to help fulfill their contracting goals. For some contracts, a facility clearance is required to make sure the person or company is eligible for access to classified information. To help women business owners learn h...

To help women business owners understand and effectively manage the GSA Schedule Contract ordering process as well as highlight issues regarding contract compliance and maintenance, the Give Me 5 program is hosting a free webinar led by Courtney Fairchild, President and CEO, Global Services. The Give Me 5 program was created by American Express OPEN and Women Impacting Public Policy in 2008 to help women business owners get a leg up on selling...

WHAT: On Monday, November 3rd,American Express OPEN will host OPEN Forum: CEO BootCamp, a free program designed to help women entrepreneurs grow their enterprises and reach their full potential as CEOs. Attendees will have the opportunity to network and participate in conversations focusing on leadership, self-promotion, finance and more. WHO: CEO BootCamp is open to all women entrepreneurs, regardless of industry, size or revenue. A full line...

As the world’s largest customer, the U.S. government is a reliable client with an endless need for products and services and has a goal to set aside 23 percent of all expenditures for small businesses and 5 percent for women-owned businesses. Government contracting can be a lucrative growth strategy for women business owners that are willing to dig in and work hard. In fact, a recent American Express OPEN survey found that while women be...

Although the federal government did not reach its goal of awarding 5% of contracts to women-owned small businesses (WOSB) in FY2013, some individual agencies exceeded it. According to the Small Business Administration (SBA) Federal Procurement Scorecard, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded 8.32% of contracts to WOSBs last year. To help women business owners learn how to successfully bid for contracts with the USDA, the Give Me 5...

WHAT: ChallengeHER is a national initiative designed to promote the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contract Program, bring more women-owned firms into the federal government’s supply chain provide an avenue for government agencies to meet qualified women-owned small business contractors. The Norfolk ChallengeHER event will educate female entrepreneurs about how they can participate in the WOSB Program and provide them with res...

Bid protests allow government contractors to challenge a lost contract with the Government Accountability Office (GOA) and have become a significant part of the federal procurement process to insure the system works properly. According to the GOA, the government closed 2,389 bid protests during FY 2013. To help women business owners navigate the bid protests procedure, the Give Me 5 program is hosting a free webinar on the topic taught by Pam...