Round 1

*Questions are due on Tuesday, May 17th. Proposals are due on May 31st. For more information about the research topics and the solicitation process, please click the links below.

• Survey Development on Women-Owned and Women-Led Businesses

In an effort to catalog and fill the data gaps left in the data available on women in business, we are contracting for the development of a new survey methodology.  The Council seeks a contractor who shall produce a survey instrument; develop a sampling strategy; produce a comprehensive report; and create a package for Office of Management and Budget approval of the survey.

• Social Entrepreneurship Amongst Women

More than half of existing social entrepreneurship enterprises have been founded in the last 10 years, and it’s hypothesized that women may have a particular interest in this type of socially-conscious business venture. The Council seeks to contract for research that will provide insight into the available demographic and other descriptive quantitative information of social venture founders; challenges and opportunities faced by women; and rationale regarding profit, non-profit, or hybrid status.

• Commercialization Amongst Women in STEM Fields

In an effort to prescribe policies that can be designed, revised, or implemented to best support women’s commercialization of STEM research, the Council seeks to contract for a research project that will identify the factors that influence differential trends in male and female intellectual property development, commercialization and business ownership in the STEM fields.

Round 2

*Questions are due on Thursday, May 19th. Proposals are due on June 2nd. For more information about the research topics and the solicitation process, please click the links below.

• Women Veterans & Business

Women account for an increasing number of veteran business owners. According to the 2012 SBO, there are over 2.5 million veteran-owned firms in the US, of which 15 percent – approximately 383,000 – are women veteran-owned. In an effort to discern how to better support women veterans and their business pursuits, the Council seeks to contract for a research project that will meaningfully describe and analyze demographic and other descriptive quantitative information about women veteran business owners, including information on receipts, employment, and industry; challenges and opportunities faced by woman veterans as they start and grow their businesses; and possible factors that could be influencing low receipt levels.

• Latina Entrepreneurship

Per the 2012 SBO, there are 1.5 million Latina-owned businesses in the country and they contribute $78.7 billion in annual revenue, which is only 5.5% of all annual business revenues. In an effort to discern how the government can better support Latinas in business, the Council seeks to contract for a research project that will meaningfully describe and analyze available demographic and other descriptive quantitative information about Latinas in business; possible factors that could be influencing low receipt levels; and unique opportunities and challenges faced by Latinas as they start and grow their businesses.

• Necessity as Driver for Women’s Entrepreneurship

Many women-owned entrepreneurial enterprises may be born more out of necessity than of opportunity. the Council seeks to contract for a research project that will outline demographic and other descriptive quantitative information about women business owners in the $0 to $50,000 range; determine the motivations of women business owners whose businesses show receipts less than $50,000, as well challenges that they face; document existing policies that may support or hinder such ventures; offer new information relevant to this women business owners, including on the effect of social or economic policies; and recommend action items that support this population.

Round 3

*Questions are due on Thursday, May 24th. Proposals are due on June 7th. For more information about the research topics and the solicitation process, please click the links below.

• Crowdfunding as a Source of Capital

Crowdfunding may be a particularly effective method for women entrepreneurs to raise capital. Indiegogo, for example, has reported that 42% of their campaigns are run by women – and that women raise more funds than men both in terms of the number of contributions and the amount of money. The changing rules of crowdfunding may have a particular impact on women in business – and on the opportunity for women to serve as investors. The Council is contracting for research that will provide additional insight into crowdfunding and recommendations.

• Growth out of the Small Business Designation

The Council has an explicit interest in research that will illuminate ways to support these women business owners as they grow. Therefore, the NWBC intends to contract for research that will provide insight into Federal contracting policies that may influence and/or impact women-owned businesses as they grow beyond the small business category.

• Miscellaneous Topics on Women in Business

The Council encourages interested parties to propose projects of relevance to women, policymakers, influencers, and other stakeholders.  Possible areas for research are wide-ranging, and include, but are not limited to: women’s participation in the craft, maker, and sharing economies; tax and investment incentives that support women-owned and women-led businesses; effects of benefits policies, such as paid family leave or affordable health care, on the launch or growth of women-owned or led businesses; women-owned small business certification; women as investors of human, social, and financial capital in women-owned and led businesses; and the economic impact of women’s business ownership and leadership. The Council particularly seeks to fund innovative and groundbreaking research. The Council recognizes that final products may include synthesized databases; conceptual schemes; literature reviews or environmental scans; original empirical research; or others not listed here.

*Please check individual listings for submission deadlines and directives for the proposals as they vary. The full proposal solicitations and synopses are listed at www.fedbizopps.gov.

The Council is committed to supporting women in business by producing best-in-class, actionable research on the most relevant issues facing aspiring and current women business owners and leaders, and identifying – through research and engagement – the unique barriers and challenges of women in pursuit of business. We use this research as a springboard for action and policy shifts and are really excited to put for these new research projects and looking for strong proposals for this innovative, best-in-class, and thoughtful research on women entrepreneurs.

Apply today for one of these exciting projects. Or send this listing around and help us spread the word about these great research opportunities with the National Women’s Business Council.