Seven New Recruits Join Mentor-Protégé Program at Savannah River Site

Savannah River Nuclear Solutions protégés met to share knowledge and experiences during the 2023 Mentor-Protégé Center of Excellence Day.

AIKEN, S.C. - A U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) contractor at the Savannah River Site (SRS) recently added seven new small businesses to DOE's Mentor-Protégé Program.

Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) protégés met to share knowledge and experiences during the 2023 Mentor-Protégé Center of Excellence Day.

Since 2016, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) has supported the DOE Mentor-Protégé Program, an initiative that assists small businesses in improving capabilities as subcontractors across the DOE complex. SRNS operates a Mentor-Protégé Center of Excellence, where companies exchange best practices and valuable insights.

Lori Gee, SRNS small business specialist, said SRNS aligns the skills of small businesses with business needs, focusing on areas typically dominated by larger corporations.

"This collaboration not only reinforces our commitment to innovation, development and growth, but also emphasizes the vital role of small businesses in advancing DOE missions," Gee said.

Over the past five years, SRNS has awarded more than $123 million in subcontracts to protégés, with $41 million awarded in fiscal year 2023 alone. Of the 48 protégés in the DOE program, SRNS manages 12 through its Mentor-Protégé Center of Excellence. That equates to 25% of the total - the highest number among the more than 30 facility management contractors in the Department.

Lisa Tanner, SRNS small business liaison officer, praised the program team for its dedication to small businesses.

"By sharing expertise, knowledge and resources, this program nurtures small business growth and development," said Tanner. "To meet emergent needs of the site, this program provides support in key areas, such as technology development, staff augmentation, project management and construction."

To date, two protégé companies at SRS have successfully completed the program and three are scheduled to graduate this year. US&S Facility Services, one of the graduating protégés, specializes in janitorial services and building maintenance.

"This experience as a protégé has provided us with invaluable mentorship, resources and industry insights, significantly enhancing our capabilities and competitiveness as a growing diverse business," said Euleta Alston, US&S president and owner. "The collaboration with SRNS has not only accelerated our growth but strengthened our contributions to DOE missions. We are very grateful for this program."

Typically, companies participate in the program for two years with the option for three one-year extensions.

"Our Supplier Excellence team utilizes the Mentor-Protégé Program to build a pipeline of qualified suppliers in critical supplier segments," said Dave Dietz, SRNS senior procurement director. "The program serves as an incubator for small business growth while meeting the needs for critical products and services at SRS. We are thrilled to have another great combination of firms signed this year."

Protégés that receive mentor-protégé agreements at SRS can secure subcontracts to work at other EM facilities. SRS shares mentoring insights with other DOE sites to simplify the procurement process and save federal procurement dollars through efficient purchasing methods.

-Contributor: Mackenzie McNabb