DOE's Mentor-Protégé Program
| Basic Steps in Becoming a Mentor |
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1. Discuss the possibility of establishing a mentor-protégé relationship with an eligible small business.
2. Contact OSDBU for a sample mentoring agreement and schedule of mentoring activities.
3. For additional information, access the DOE Acquisition Regulation (DEAR) 919.70; and Acquisition Letter 2005-08.
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| Mentor-Protege Program Benefits |
- Mentor can develop long-term teaming relationships with potential subcontractor which have critical skills
- Mentor authorized to award non-competitive sole source subcontracts to protégé
- Mentor can award non-competitive sole source subcontracts to other DOE protégés
- Mentor and Protégé can form teaming arrangements, e.g., joint ventures, to bid/propose on DOE, other Federal agency, and private sector contracts
- Mentor may be eligible for reimbursement of allowable costs incurred while providing assistance to the protégés performing the subcontract activities
- Protégé may be eligible for receipt of DOE and other federal agency contracts
| The Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) continually strives to increase subcontracting opportunities by encouraging prime contractors to assist small disadvantaged businesses through participation in the Department's Mentor Protégé Program. The Department of Energy's (DOE) Mentor-Protégé Program supports the following to successfully compete for Department of Energy, federal government, and private sector contracts and subcontracts opportunities for assisting eligible:
- 8(a) businesses and other small disadvantaged businesses
- Women-owned businesses
- Service disabled veteran-owned businesses
- HUBZone Businesses
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other Minority Educational Institutions to achieve further development of their technical administrative and managerial expertise
The Department of Energy's Facility Management Contractors which have been approved as mentors firms may enter into agreements with eligible small disadvantaged businesses as protégé firms to provide appropriate developmental assistance to enhance the business and technical capabilities of small disadvantage d businesses to perform as contractors, subcontractor, and suppliers.
The working arrangement between companies will promote economic and technological growth, promote and foster the establishment of long term business relationships and increase the number of small disadvantaged businesses which receive Department of Energy, and other federal agency and commercial contract.
A proven method of increasing the participation of small businesses in the award of DOE prime contracts is the use of teaming arrangements for small businesses. DOE and SBA both have in place Mentor-Protégé programs that promote teaming.
Mentor-Protégé Program Requirements
For the Mentor:
- A prime contractor performing at least one active DOE Contract.
For the Protégé:
- Must be a small business certified as an 8 (a) business, other small disadvantaged, a women-owned small business, service disabled veteran-owned small business, HUBZone small business, HBCU, or minority educational institution
- Must be eligible to receive government contracts
- Must have been in business for a period not less than 2 years prior to application
- Must be able to certify as a small business according to the North American Industrial Code for the services or supplies to be provided by the Protégé under the subcontract with the Mentor.
For a listing of our Mentors and Protégés, please click here.
SBA Mentor-Protégé Program
The SBA regulations provide for a mentor-protégé relationship whereby the mentor and an 8(a) protégé can form a joint venture or leaming arrangement to perform government contracts. The mentor has to be a current or former 8(a) firm, other small business or a large business.
Such a teaming arrangement will be recognized as 8(a) as long as the participating protégé 8(a) firm is "substantially involved" in the performance of the contract and qualifies as small for the size standard to the code assigned to the procurement.
OSDBU is the Program Manager for the DOE Mentor-Protégé Program and the information office for firms seeking to utilize the SBA Mentor-Protégé Joint Venture arrangement to bid or propose on DOE contracts.
For more information about the Mentor-Protégé Program, please contact:
Sterling Nichols, Jr.
(202) 586 - 8698
sterling.nichols@hq.doe.gov
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