Mentor Protйgй Program at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

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Mentor Protégé Program at the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS)

• An overview for businesses interested in
• DHS Mentor Protégé Program

sharon.davis_at_dhs.gov [phone] Office of
Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
(OSDBU)
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Three Major Points

• Familiarize yourself with the Mentor-Protégé web
  page
• Focus on the primary goal of this program as
  developmental assistance
• Conduct a needs assessment with the potential
  partner before submitting an application

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Three Major Type of Business Opportunities at
DHSwww.dhs.gov/openforbusiness

• Major Point 1 be familiar with the web page
• Contracts and Subcontracts
• Research and Development
• Grants to State and Local Governments

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DHS Small Business Considerations

• 8(a), HubZone, SDVOSB, WOSB
• Traditional Small Business Set-Asides
• Various pre-existing contract vehicles
• Small Business Teams or Joint Ventures
• Full Open Competition (subcontracting)
• Mentor-Protégé Program

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Background

• Mentor-Protégé Program was established in 2003 as
  a tool to support DHSs small business program
• Published in the Federal Register via the DHS FAR
  supplement on December 4, 2003

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Purpose

• Major Point 2 Focus on the Primary Goal
• Motivate and encourage approved mentors to
  provide developmental assistance to protégés
• Improve the performance of DHS contracts and
  subcontracts
• Foster the establishment of long-term business
  relationships
• Strengthen subcontracting opportunities and
  accomplishments

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Assistance Provided by Mentors

• Technical and Management
• Financial - in the form of equity investments or
  loans
• Sub-contractual support
• Assist in performance of prime contracts. Mentor
  can provide subcontracting opportunities.

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Requirements to Be a Mentor

• Large business firm (in good standing in the
  federal marketplace)
• Demonstrated commitment and capability to assist
  in the development of small business protégés
• Not on the federal Debarred or Suspended List

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Incentives for Mentor Participation

• Mentors may
• Receive additional evaluation points toward the
  award of contracts during evaluation of
  competitive offers.
• Receive credit toward attaining subcontracting
  goals contained in their DHS Subcontracting
  plan(s)
• Be eligible for an annual award presented to the
  Mentor providing the most effective developmental
  support to a protégé.

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Requirements to Be a Protege

• A small business concern that is independently
  owned and operated, not dominant in its field,
  and meets federal size standards in its primary
  NAICS code
• Not on the federal Debarred or Suspended List
• Must be registered in CCR www.ccr.gov

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Incentive for Protégé Participation

• In addition to the benefits available to mentors,
  protégés may
• Gain opportunities to seek and perform government
  and commercial contracts
• Result in significant small business development

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Mentor-Protégé Agreements benefit DHS

• Major Point 3 Conduct a Needs Assessment
• The Mentor-Protégé Agreements help support DHS
  mission by
• Strengthening subcontracting opportunities
• Achieving a potential increase in small business
  program goal accomplishments
• Establishing a relationship based on mutual
  agreement, trust, and meaningful business
  development.

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Number of Mentor-Protégé Agreements by Federal
Agency as of March 2012
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Application and Agreement Process

• The mentor-protégé team jointly submits an
  agreement to the Mentor-Protégé Program Manager
• After e-mail receipt notification, the
  application is reviewed within 10 business days
• If there are any comments on original submittal,
  we will respond within 30 days via e-mail

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Getting Started

• Key Sources of Assistance
• (locate the office in your local area)
• PTAC Procurement Technical Assistance Center
  (http//www.aptac-us.org/new/)
• SBDC - Small Business Development Center
  (http//www.sba.gov/sbdc/)
• Government Contracting Classroom Free online
  contracting courses visit http//www.sba.gov/gccl
  assroom
• www.mbda.gov Department of Commerce, Minority
  Business Development Agency (Phoenix
  Opportunities Matching database)

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In Summary What Really Works

• Relationships
• Networking
• Multiple Contracting Vehicles
• Continuous Marketing
• Being Prepared

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Remember

• "The dictionary is the only place where success
  comes before work."-- Arthur Brisbane, American
  journalist (1864-1910)
• --And--
• Homework always comes before success in the
  dictionary Small Business Procurement!