Small Business Agreements

Y-12 management recognizes that small businesses play a critical role in the success of Y-12 and the nation. The SPO serves a vital role in driving subcontracting opportunities to small businesses. Over the last several years, Y-12 has managed as many as 20 mentor protégé agreements simultaneously.

The vast knowledge and experience gained from managing multiple agreements resulted in improvement in the management of SPO. Several new processes and techniques were developed to improve program efficiency and effective communication practices, such as standardizing guidance documents, status reporting and documentation.

The SPO developed a mentor protégé guidance document, a mentor protégé orientation, a program objective plan, and a long-term strategic plan with revised policies, standards, questionnaires, and forms related to the program. These innovative efforts resulted in Y-12 gaining national recognition by winning multiple awards.

Typically every other year, new protégé classes are admitted into the program. Classes include up to five protégés, depending on resources and qualified small businesses. SPO management strives to keep required monitoring, reporting, meetings, and graduation efficient and measurable. Participants in these and future protégé classes are selected through a rigorous and detailed selection process developed and managed by the SPO.