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# DLA small-business specialists uplift women entrepreneurs

By Irene Smith

                FORT BELVOIR, Va.  –              
Members of the Defense Logistics Agency’s Office of Small Business Programs are working to support women-owned small businesses and connect them to government contracts.

The agency’s Women-Owned Small Business Program, or WOSB, was designed to help level the playing field and reserves certain contracts for competition among women-owned small businesses.

“The federal government’s goal is for 5% of all federal prime contracting dollars to be awarded to women-owned small businesses annually,” said Greg Thevenin, associate director of DLA Energy’s Office of Small Business Programs. “Through the WOSB program, women small-business owners could potentially earn hundreds of millions of dollars in the federal marketplace.”

According to the National Women’s Business Council’s 2023 annual report, 14 million women-owned businesses make up 39.1 % of all U.S. businesses – a 13.6% increase from 2019 to 2023. The impact of women-owned businesses adds $1.8 trillion to America’s gross domestic product every year.

DLA provides training and guidance to increase opportunities for women-owned small businesses to participate in DLA contracts as prime contractors or subcontractors.

                240321-D-FL845                            Janel Thompson, right, a small-business analyst for Defense Logistics Agency Energy, explains DLA procurement opportunities available to women-owned small businesses and how to register in the System for Award Management March 20, 2024, during the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council Conference in Denver, Colorado. Photo by Irene Smith            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Irene SmithVIRIN: 240321-D-FL845-1002Events such as the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council Conference, held March 19-22 in Denver, Colorado, gives DLA small-business specialists unique opportunities to introduce small firms to DLA. Small-business professionals from DLA Headquarters, DLA Distribution, DLA Troop Support and DLA Energy attended.

“This was a first for DLA,” Thevenin said. “Engaging with over 5,000 influential women business owners and Fortune 500 companies in one venue was impressive.” 

The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council is the largest third-party certifier of businesses owned, controlled and operated by women in the United States and is a leading advocate for women-owned businesses.

The conference allowed women with businesses in fields like logistics, energy, food, construction and technology to connect with small-business professionals and procurement representatives from federal, state and local government agencies.

“We were well received by every vendor we spoke with, and many were appreciative that a federal agency was present,” said Janel Thompson, a small-business professional with DLA Energy.

On-site DLA representatives helped answer questions about how to do business with the federal government, she added.

Francine Morris, director of government contracting for the Small Business Administration’s Office of Government Contracting and Business Development, shared information on SBA program changes, financial resources, and enhancements that can help small businesses grow and positively impact communities.

“The federal government spends over $600 billion purchasing goods and services annually, and there are a number of resources available to foster contracting with small businesses,” Morris said.

Networking events that divided attendees into regional areas provided touchpoints for local support and resources.

Small-business specialists at DLA major subordinate commands develop and implement strategies to broaden opportunities for small businesses in historically underutilized business zones as well as small disadvantaged businesses; women-owned small business; veteran-owned businesses; and service-disabled, veteran-owned small business. 

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Small Businesswomen-owned small businesseswomen ownedOffice of Small Business ProgramsSmall Business Administration