Overview
The Department of Energy (DOE) Mentor-Protégé Program is designed to encourage DOE prime contractors to assist small disadvantaged firms certified by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act 8(a), other small disadvantaged businesses, women-owned small businesses, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and other minority institutions of higher learning, and small business concerns owned and controlled by service disabled veterans in enhancing their capabilities to perform contracts and subcontracts for DOE and other Federal agencies. The program seeks to foster long-term business relationships between these small business entities and DOE prime contractors, and to increase the overall number of these small business entities that receive DOE prime and subcontract .
History
June 9, 1995
The DOE Mentor Protégé Pilot Initiative was launched. The initiative was developed to encourage DOE prime contractors to assist energy-related small disadvantaged, 8(a), and women-owned small businesses to enhance their business and technical capabilities to ensure full participation in the mission of DOE.
May 22, 2000
A formal DOE Mentor Protégé Program (MPP) was established. The program was implemented to foster long-term business relationships between DOE prime contractors, small businesses and minority institutions of higher learning. The goal of the program is to increase the number of prime and subcontracts to all small business concerns and minority institutions of higher learning. Through the developmental and technical assistance provided under MPP, small businesses are afforded the opportunity and ability to successfully compete for DOE prime and subcontract contracts. DOE is one of thirteen federal agencies with a MPP.