Media contacts:
DOE-ID Tim Jackson, 208-526-8484
INL Misty Benjamin, 208-526-5940
Idaho National Laboratory receives national recognition for Small Business Mentoring Program
IDAHO FALLS � The U.S. Department of Energy recognized
Idaho National Laboratory as the 2009 Mentor of the Year for
its commitment to mentoring small businesses. The DOE Mentor
of the Year recognizes INL's Mentor-Prot�g� Program for
enhancing the capabilities of small businesses to perform
contracts and subcontracts for INL, other DOE laboratories
and federal agencies.
�INL has been instrumental with its small business
program,� said Maria M. Mitchell, Small Business Program
manager with DOE�s Idaho Operations Office. �This mentor-
prot�g� relationship is another prime example of INL�s
continued success in its outreach efforts.�
INL entered into a Mentor-Prot�g� agreement in 2006 with
Portage Environmental, Inc., a local disadvantaged small
business that wanted to transform itself to better match the
lab�s long-term mission. The result was a relationship that
has allowed INL to assist Portage in diversifying its
capability to provide task-based engineering and
environmental services.
�Our Mentor-Prot�g� Agreement with Portage demonstrates
how coaching and mentoring can help focus and grow a small
business,� INL Mentor-Prot�g� Program�s Marsha Burke said.
�The success of the mentor-prot�g� agreement is a direct
result of the time invested by BEA to help Portage succeed
through this partnership.�
As a result of INL�s mentoring efforts, Portage has
become a capable and qualified partner in the realm of
task-based services. In 2009, Portage was awarded a contract
to oversee INL�s chemical management program. Through
training, initiative and commitment, the INL and Portage
employees worked together ensuring that Portage�s
qualifications and capabilities were sufficiently developed
to undertake the work while managing risks associated with
the transition.
�Portage is pleased that DOE has recognized INL as mentor
of the year,� said Kerry Martin, Portage�s Mentor-Prot�g�
Project Manager. �Through the INL�s mentoring, Portage has
been able to expand its capabilities to support the new
nuclear missions at the Laboratory while still supporting
them through our traditional areas of engineering and
environmental services. INL has been instrumental to our
growth into new business areas and helping solidify
Portage�s business base.�
Portage has exceeded INL�s expectations and added
significant value to the services it providesthe lab. It
also completed all mentor-prot�g� related projects on or
ahead of schedule, on or below budget, with no lost time
accidents or safety issues.
�Mentoring is a fundamental component of INL�s program to
target, shape and retain small businesses,� INL Small
Business Program Manager Stacey Francis said. �We will
continue to look for other small businesses that can benefit
from these mentoring agreements and help us fulfill our
mission.�
INL is one of the DOE's 10 multi-program national
laboratories. The laboratory performs work in each of the
strategic goal areas of DOE: energy, national security,
science and environment. INL is the nation's leading center
for nuclear energy research and development. Day-to-day
management and operation of the laboratory is the
responsibility of Battelle Energy Alliance.
-DOE-ID-10-006-
Editorial Date May 13, 2010
By Brad Bugger
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