The Department of Energy’s Mentor-Protégé Program is designed to encourage DOE prime contractors, such as Sandia National Laboratories, to lead a program which assists small business concerns, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and other minority institutions of higher learning. The program seeks to foster long-term business relationships and increase the overall number of subcontracts awarded to small business protégés.
Timeline for Mentor-Protege Selection for FY22
The following table is an estimated timeline of key Mentor-Protégé activities. All dates are subject to change and will be updated as needed.
| Activity | Anticipated Date* |
|---|---|
| Forum to Announce next Protege Opportunity | July 20, 2021 |
| Business Opportunity Website (BOW) Posting | September 2021 |
| BOW Closing | October 2021 |
| Evaluation and Selection Process | October 2021-March 2022 |
| Finalist Interviews and Site Visits | March 2022-May 2022 |
| DOE/NNSA Review and Approvals | June 2022-July 2022 |
| Announcement of Selected and Non-Selected Applicants | July 2022 |
*Anticipated dates can change dependent upon oversigt review and approval.
Additional Mentor-Protégé opportunities will exist in future years, please reference the Business Opportunity Website for postings.
Mentor-Protégé Program Overview
| The Mentor-Protege Program is... | The Mentor-Protege Program is NOT... |
|---|---|
| A competitive opportunity – Applicants must respond to the Business Opportunities Website (BOW) posting, complete the application, send in required documentation, and being selected to be a Protégé. | A quick path for small businesses to obtain subcontracts or “pass-through” to becoming a Sandia Supplier. |
| A program to help Sandia foster long-term business relationships with small businesses. | A Joint Venture, Teaming, or Match-Making Arrangement Program. |
| A program to help protégé companies develop or enhance their ability to build solid, established, and successful businesses. | An informal Mentor-Protégé Program, Protégés must work towards completing program objectives. |
| A program to help increase the number of small businesses ability to meet requirements for DOE prime contracts and subcontracts opportunities. | A program in search for same NAICS code requirement every year (Future MPP NAICS codes focus selection TBD). |
| A program to assist small businesses that have the desire to learn, grow, and willingness to apply concepts learned to their business. |
Program Benefits for Protégé
- Receive technical and developmental assistance from Sandia.
- Gain the knowledge, skills, and capabilities to successfully compete for DOE prime contracts.
- Build relationships with Sandia and other entities.
- Be eligible to receive noncompetitive subcontracts from DOE, Sandia, and other national laboratories (at thresholds of $4M for other than construction contracts and $6.5M for construction contracts).
Applying to the Mentor-Protégé Program
- Register in Sandia’s iSupplier Portal—Link: iSupplier Registration
a. Acceptance must be granted before responding to the BOW Posting - Review MPP Opportunity Posting on Sandia’s Business Opportunities Website (BOW).
- Respond to the MPP Opportunity Posting on the BOW.
- Complete a Sandia Mentor-Protégé Application, including:
a. Application
b. Application narratives
c. Small business self-certification (SAM FAR Report or a Sandia Supplier Data Sheet)
d. Fill out the Technical Capabilities Matrixes that are relevant to your line of work - Email completed application & required documents (step 4) to SDDMPP@sandia.gov before designated time reference on BOW.
Contact Information
For more information about the Sandia’s Mentor-Protégé Program, please e-mail sddmpp@sandia.gov.