Mentor-Protégé Program

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE's) Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) manages the DOE's Mentor-Protégé Program (MPP). By developing long-term business relationships between small businesses and DOE prime contractors, the program helps increase the overall number of small businesses that receive DOE prime contracts and subcontracts. It operates separately from the Small Business Administration’s (SBA's) Mentor Protégé Program (All Small MPP). 

The DOE MPP encourages the Department's prime contractors to assist small disadvantaged businesses (SDB) certified by SBA under section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (8(a)), other small disadvantaged businesses, women-owned small businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, veteran-owned small businesses, HUBZone small businesses, historically black colleges and universities, and other minority institutions of higher learning to enhance their capabilities and improve their abilities to perform contracts and subcontracts for the DOE and other Federal agencies.  

Find information on current DOE prime contractors participating as mentors in the program. 

TRAINING VIDEO

This video covers the background, areas of eligibility, and how to participate in the DOE's Mentor Protégé Program. It also provides resources to help promote small business engagement to advance the DOE's mission.

PROGRAM BENEFITS FOR PROTÉGÉ  

A Protégé receives a wide range of business development help from their Mentor, including:

  • Technical, financial management, and developmental assistance from an established DOE prime contractor to gain the knowledge, skills, and capabilities needed to successfully compete for DOE prime contracts;
  • Advice and mentorship on program and project management, information technology, business equipment, and workspaces;
  • Long-term relationships with small and/or large businesses to form teaming arrangements and/or joint ventures; and
  • Eligibility to receive possible non-competitive subcontracts from DOE and other federal agencies with MPP at 8(a) program thresholds of $7M for manufacturing NAICs and $4M for all other.

PROGRAM BENEFITS FOR MENTOR  

There are many benefits for a Mentor helping a Protégé develop their business, including:

  • Helping small businesses and minority institutions of higher learning expand their capacity and successfully compete for DOE prime contracts and subcontracts through developmental and technical assistance;
  • Utilizing the unique/specialized skills of the Protégé and shortening the learning curve of bringing on a new subcontractor;
  • Taking the opportunity to award non-competitive subcontracts to Protégés or other DOE Protégés in the program;
  • Identifying subcontractors and streamlining the procurement process;
  • Possibly earning credit for subcontracts awarded pursuant to MPP Agreement(s) toward subcontracting goals contained in their subcontracting plan.

RESOURCES