The DoD Mentor/Protégé Program

The DoD Mentor-Protégé Program provides incentives for DoD prime contractors to mentor small disadvantaged businesses and women-owned small businesses, so they can better develop the technical and business capabilities to become valued suppliers for the defense industry. The program was enacted in 1990 under the direction of former Senator Sam Nunn and former Secretary of Defense William Perry.

The mentor/protégé arrangement is a winning relationship for everyone involved: mentors build mutually beneficial partnerships, protégés develop a stronger business base, and both contribute significantly to the defense of our nation. Current participants in the program include companies specializing in environmental remediation, engineering services, information technology, manufacturing, and telecommunications.

The Mentor/Protégé Relationship

ARINC joined the DoD Mentor-Protégé Program in 2003 with the goal of helping a small disadvantaged business develop its technical capabilities in order to compete more effectively for defense-related work.

A business that participates as a protégé in the program gains knowledge of state-of-the-art technologies and practices relevant to its industry, and are able to leverage ARINC’s technical expertise to bid on small business set-aside contracts. A protégé firm also enjoys the benefits of an established relationship, and the expanded market opportunities that this relationship can bring. And just as significant, ARINC offers insight and guidance into our common industry.

ARINC believes the program not only has the potential to improve business practices and infrastructure, it will lead to a mutually beneficial relationship with a valued business partner, where processes are streamlined and efficient, and technical innovation is cultivated. Quite simply, participation enhances the capabilities of both companies.

ARINC continues to entertain the development of additional Mentor-Protégé relationships, consistent with applicant qualifications, specialties, ARINC resources, and good business practices.