Protégé Qualifications

Protégé Qualifications

Applicants interested in participating in the Y-12 Mentor Protégé Program must meet the following qualifications:

Required Criteria (revised April 23, 2008)

• Be a small disadvantaged firm certified by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act, other small disadvantaged business, women-owned small business, historically black college or university, other minority institution of higher learning, or small business concern owned and controlled by service disabled veterans
• Be eligible for work under a government/federal contract
• Have been in business for a minimum of three to five years prior to applying for the Mentor Protégé Program
• Possess a strong financial balance sheet
• Have experience in the completion of a DOE/NNSA contract(s)/projects preferred
• Must exhibit competent management organization, staff level and technical experience for the purpose of performing and completing project oriented assignments
• Must have approved corporate business, marketing, human resource, health and safety and quality assurance plans;
• Must prove company ownership and management commitment and involvement

Other Criteria Given Consideration

• Experience in subcontracting with Y‑12
• Certified quality assurance program (i.e., ISO 9000 or NQA-1)
• Maintains a foreign ownership, control and interest (FOCI)
• Multisite and multiagency experience
• Bonding capacity (for construction)
• Number of employees
• Current annual revenues
• A local presence (a plus)

Exceptions to the above criteria are allowed but must be reviewed and approved by Socioeconomic Program Office

Benefits from Participating

Successful protégé candidates may receive the following benefits from participation in the program:

• Increased technical and business capability, industrial competitiveness, client-based expansion and improved financial stability
• Development of enhancements that make the company a more competitive contractor, subcontractor, or supplier to DOE/NNSA, other federal agencies, or commercial markets
• Direct, positive impact on the economy of the local community