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The federal government has a Mentor–Protégé Program to help small businesses grow into successful contractors. Only three companies are currently protégés under this program in Hampton Roads. Based on the size of our local industry, we would expect to see higher participation.
The Hampton Roads Defense and Homeland Security-Mentor Protégé Program has established a goal to add additional protégés over the next year. Below is an outline of the government programs, followed by the Action Plan of the DHSC to accomplish this goal. |
| General Outline of the Federal Mentor-Protégé Program
The Mentor-Protégé Program is designed to provide incentives for Prime Contractors to assist Small Disadvantaged business (SDB), Woman-owned (WO), Hub Zone (HZ) and Service Disabled Veteran Owned (SDVO) businesses to enhance their business and technical capabilities and to increase their participation as subcontractors and suppliers.
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Mentor-Protégé Program Objectives
- Provide incentives to major federal agency contractors performing under at least one active approved subcontracting plan
- Enhance protégé capabilities
- Increase the overall participation of SDBs, WOBs, HZs, SDVOs as Primes and Subcontractors on Federal contracts
- Foster the establishment of long term, mutually beneficial business relationships between protégés and mentors
Goals for the Mentor-Protégé Program
- Develop long-term, strategic business partnerships between mentor and protégé
- Increase:
- Revenues
- Technical capabilities
- Customer base/new markets
- Help meet subcontracting goals
- Enhance customer goodwill
- Personal recognition from the agencies
Program Participation
Large companies participate or plan to participate in the following Federal Agency Mentor-Protégé Programs. The process and requirements vary among programs.
DOD – OSD Army, Navy Air Force
DISA DLA, DHS
TREASURY DOE
NASA EPA
FAA SBA
Department of State Department of Energy
Overall Action Plan for DHSC’s Mentor-Protégé Program:
Identify candidate protégés most likely to successfully find a mentor
Create two new protégés located in Hampton Roads over the next 12 to 18 months
Build on that experience to further expand participation in these programs
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Action Items:
Assemble latest version of applicable instructions/rules for federal programs
Coordinate initiative with the programs of the Hampton Roads Small Business organizations
Develop survey to be sent by email to the broad list of firms for them to self-validate that they desire to participate
Identify potential Hampton Roads mentors and their contacts
Develop and conduct coaching event for all candidates to identify steps needed for protégés to enhance their image and ability to attract and present themselves to potential mentors
Host a mentor/protégé matchmaking event and mixer
Conduct semin-annual reviews with mentor/protégé teams who attain a formalized mentor/protégé agreement
Exploit promotion and publicity opportunities for local success stories
