The Protection Logistics Company’s Workplace of Small Enterprise Applications will quickly have a brand new means to assist small distributors develop their capabilities as it really works to construct a extra resilient industrial base that may meet elevated challenges from rivals and adversaries.
The DLA Mentor-Protege Program will incentivize profitable DLA prime contractors to supply developmental help to small companies occupied with constructing new ability units, refining processes, or maneuvering federal acquisition processes.
“That is one other device that we’ll use to assist strengthen our protection industrial base,” stated Daniele Kurze, director of the Workplace of Small Enterprise Applications. “It is going to give small companies new alternatives to develop and be taught from massive suppliers, which can assist us fill important gaps in our provide chain down the highway.”
The MPP is an extension of a Protection Division pilot program established throughout the first Gulf Warfare. It turned everlasting beneath the fiscal 2023 Nationwide Protection Authorization Act.
DLA’s mentor-protege agreements will likely be funded by DOD, however they are going to be primarily based on DLA’s wants.
Chris Corridor, DLA’s deputy director of small enterprise, stated this system is an funding in DLA’s provide chains and can assist resolve challenges by eradicating bottlenecks or creating new sources for hard-to-fill necessities.
“This system presents a singular alternative to develop the commercial base by investing within the capabilities of small companies to enhance DLA’s means to reply to warfighters’ wants,” he stated.
The varieties of reimbursable help mentors might present are listed within the Protection Federal Acquisition Regulation Complement and embrace help in software program, stock management, manufacturing, take a look at and analysis, and high quality assurance. Mentors may additionally help proteges with common enterprise processes, comparable to personnel administration and techniques compliance.
Armenthia Massey, the MPP program supervisor, stated agreements will final three years with two, elective one-year extensions. Extensions require written justification from the mentor and closing approval from DOD.
“Every settlement specifies the duties to be completed in the direction of the protege’s development and the yr by which every milestone is to be accomplished, as decided by the mentor and protege,” Massey stated.
She added that proteges do not want prior authorities expertise, however DOD approves agreements earlier than awarding them. DLA additionally evaluates proposed agreements and contributors. Though it does not dictate which mentors and proteges work collectively, DLA can provide venues — like matchmaking periods — to assist contributors discover acceptable companions.
Kurze and her crew collaborated with DOD and army companies which have already executed mentor-protege agreements to find out how one can finest form DLA’s program.
“We have taken a focused method in specializing in important areas and establishing inside tips and repeatable processes,” she stated, including that the primary agreements will deal with supporting particular weapons techniques.
Strengthening the protection industrial base is a precedence of the Nationwide Protection Technique as DOD works to provide and maintain a full vary of capabilities to provide U.S., allied and associate forces a aggressive benefit. The Nationwide Protection Industrial Technique, launched in January, additionally highlights the necessity for creating resilient suppliers.
Extra info on the DLA Mentor-Protege Program is accessible beneath the Alternatives and Forecasts part of DLA’s Small Enterprise webpage and in DFARS Appendix I.
