New Web site offers business information for women

In a Sept. 11 ceremony at the White House, the Office for Women's Initiatives and Outreach, the Interagency Committee for Women's Business Enterprise and the National Women's Business Council launched a new Web site at www.WomenBiz.gov.

WomenBiz.gov is the official G2B (government to business) Web site for women-owned businesses selling to the government.

There are now more than 100 procurement and acquisition sites hosted by federal agencies, most of which are not linked. To make this information more easily accessible, WomenBiz.gov was created to serve as the flagship of all government outreach efforts to women-owned businesses, according to a release from the Office for Women's Initiatives and Outreach.

The new site brings together in one location six volumes of government information on federal acquisition. It also gives women-owned businesses direct access to the tools and government networks that will enable them to tap into the $190 billion federal procurement market.

An exclusive feature of the site is the subcontracting opportunities page that maintains the directories of prime contractors and their opportunities for 10 of the largest procuring agencies in the federal government. The site also offers instruction on how to get started in selling to the government, the release stated.

Executive Order 13157, reaffirming the administration's commitment to increasing opportunities for women-owned small businesses, was issued May 23 by President Clinton. The order requires departments and agencies to develop long-term comprehensive strategies to expand opportunities for women-owned small businesses.

By streamlining access to the federal contracting marketplace, WomenBiz.gov is just one of many initiatives that will help to achieve the goal of providing equal access to the federal procurement market, according to the release.

In addition to the Web site launch, two awards were presented during the ceremony. The Department of State received the Dietra L. Ford Award of Excellence for its exemplary performance in meeting aggressive contracting goals and developing strategic initiatives in contracting with women-owned businesses.

In addition, the NWBC presented its Seat At the Table Awards to four individuals whose efforts increased access and opportunities for women entrepreneurs.