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Through the Department of Defense Mentor Protégé program (MPP), mentors—large and experienced DOD contracting companies—team with protégés—small businesses—through a mutually developed agreement to foster growth, learning and profitability, according to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA).
The MPP has three major goals:
- increase small business participation in government contracts
- increase the capabilities of small businesses to support government contracts
- facilitate the formation or enhancement of long-term business relationships
“The MPP was established to prioritize education and collaboration to improve small businesses’ competitiveness in the defense marketplace,” said Johnetta Williams, director of NGA’s Office of Small Business Programs “The goal is to increase small business government contracting participation and grow the defense industrial base.”
To qualify as a mentor, companies must be able to provide the material benefits, developmental gains, and agreed upon assistance within the context of the program. The company must also be a DOD prime contractor that is eligible for federal contracts, while having one subcontract plan.
There are several Protégé eligibility requirements for the MPP, but the primary requirements are:
- a company’s size must meet the standards set by the Small Business Administration for its North American Industry Classification System
- a company must not be owned or managed by individuals or entities that directly or indirectly have stock options or convertible securities in the mentor firm
- a company’s business entities must be owned and controlled by persons that are certified in a federal socio-economic category
- a company must provide goods or services that are critical to enhancing the capabilities of the defense supplier base and DOD needs
NGA’s MPP falls under the Office of Small Business Programs. The agency currently supports 14 active Mentor-Protégé agreements.
“These agreements are creative, unique and provide a 50% technology transfer component in the various technical areas,” said Williams. “The technical areas support NGA’s strategic approach to achieving mission success and we have seen small businesses thrive under the mentorship of major corporate entities.”
In 2022, one of NGA’s MPP teams received the Nunn-Perry award. The award is conferred to protégé companies that exhibit exemplary growth and development under their respective agreements. NGA also has two teams nominated for the 2025 Nunn-Perry award. The winners will be announced during the third quarter of fiscal year 2025.
Due to the program’s success, NGA plans to increase the agency’s MPP partnerships to 20 during FY2025 and FY2026. Mentors and Protégé companies are solely responsible for finding their cohorts, as DOD OSBPs are prohibited from influencing the teaming process. However, NGA’s OSBP MPP can provide information on current Mentor companies that have be approved to participate in the program.
For more information regarding the Mentor Protégé Program, please contact NGA’s OSBP at 571-558-8754 or email SmallBusiness@nga.mil. All eligible companies interested in the MPP program are encouraged to apply.
Source: NGA
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