Y-12 provides opportunities for small, small disadvantaged, and woman-owned businesses and for minority institutions.

Mentor Protege Program

Y-12 is helping strengthen SCSU's research capabilities in radiochemistry. Click image for larger view.

Y-12 is helping strengthen SCSU's research capabilities in radiochemistry. Click image for larger view.

Y-12 is an active participant in the DOE Mentor Protégé Program. This program is designed to encourage DOE prime contractors to assist in the development of small businesses, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and other Minority Educational Institutions (MEIs) of higher learning. Y-12 has established mentor protégé agreements with both small businesses and HBCUs. See links for detailed information.

The DOE program provides Y-12 a mechanism for entering into integrated working agreements and for providing nonfinancial assistance to these entities. The agreements are designed to enhance the protégé's business and technical capabilities, to foster long-term business relationships between these small businesses and DOE prime contractors, and to increase the overall number of small businesses receiving awards.

Major activities currently in process include:

  • Assisting in increasing the protégés' technical and business capabilities
  • Increasing the number and value of small disadvantaged business protégé firm contracts and subcontracts
  • Introducing protégé companies to other DOE M&O contractors and small business advocates across the DOE/NNSA complex
  • Developing a guidance document, program orientation, strategic plan, assessments, reports, and small business policy
  • Introducing small businesses to several private sector firms

Y-12's SPO manages the largest Mentor Protégé Program of all NNSA/DOE management and operating contractors. Typically, Y-12 has Mentor Protégé agreements with 12 to 18 small businesses and HBCUs as part of the DOE/NNSA Mentor Protégé Initiative. The program is divided into two initiatives — small businesses and HBCUs/MEIs — because each initiative has different approaches, needs and goals. For specific information about each of our protégés, see Current Protégés.