EDWOSB Law and Legal Definition
To qualify as a Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), a business must be not less than 51 percent owned by one or more women who are “economically disadvantaged” (i.e. an EDWOSB). However, Small Business Administration may waive this requirement of economic disadvantage for industries in which WOSBs are “substantially underrepresented.” The ownership of the business must be direct as defined in (13 CFR 127.201(b).
On December 21, 2000, Congress enacted the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 2000, Public Law 106-554. Section 811 of that Act added a new section 8(m), 15 U.S.C. 637(m), authorizing Federal contracting officers to restrict competition to eligible Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSBs) or Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSBs) for Federal contracts in certain industries.
