Harrisburg then – Today the Pennsylvania Department of General Services (DGS) announced the start of the second cohort of the Commonwealth's Mentor program program (MPP)Which couples have experienced with small, diverse and experienced companies near contractors to help them grow, compete and win government contracts.
This year's program will concentrate on providers that are approved as part of the Commonwealth Commonwealth Consulting services Invitation to the qualification (ITQ) Contract. In the 12-month cohort, the participating protégés receive targeted guidelines for navigating state procurement, the fulfillment of the contract requirements and the identification of growth opportunities.
“The Shapiro-Davis management is laser-oriented to create ladders of the possibility that small companies can grow” Lieutenant governor Austin Davis. “The Mentor Protégé program is not a handout-it is a helping hand for small business owners and entrepreneurs based here in Pennsylvania.”
The Shapiro-Davis Administration The obligation to create opportunities for small companies provides results: The Commonwealth now delivers more contract dollar to small and small diverse companies than ever – including one 45 percent rise In the past two years with shops with black property and Latino companies. For the first time the Commonwealth has exceeded 1 billion US dollars In contracts with small companies, small different companies and from veteran companies for two years in a row.
The expansion of the Mentor program program Is part of the Shapiro-Davis Administration Wider efforts to open doors to companies of all sizes and backgrounds. At the beginning of this summer, DGS started new ones Micro and medium-sized business programs To support companies that have either outgrown traditional small business criteria or who have not yet been able to compete with larger companies.
“We know programs like MPP and the micro and medium-sized business program,” said DGS Secretary Reggie McNeil. “By growing experienced contractors with companies with growth with the connection, we strengthen our manufacturer's community, increase the competition and innovation in the state contract department.”
These initiatives, which are the first of its kind in Pennsylvania, offer optimized certification, increased visibility through a dedicated supplier directory and access to procurement options that are tailored to company size and capacity.
DGS is also successful in drastically reducing the certification times to two working days. This milestone underlines the Shapiro-Davis Administration Commitment to dismantle barriers and “to do things” for companies in Pennsylvania.
The mentor protégé program has already shown clear advantages for protégés.
“Since I had entered the program, I have been able to build relationships with agencies, gain insight into the Commonwealth resources and learn how to do business with the state” Christian Brown, three 122 solutions. “As a result, three to 12 solutions recently received a contract of $ 25 million with the Commonwealth. We are now also receiving new options as a certified small company with DGS.”
The program advantages for mentor protégé participants include:
- Targeted skills development and business growth.
- Access to mentor expertise and best practice.
- Networking within the community of the Commonwealth.
- Personalized instructions for achieving the business goals.
Authorization and application
- Mentors must be an active Commonwealth Prime contractor who have a look at at least one contract price of at least $ 300,000 or more in the past three years.
- Protégés must be verified by DGS as a small company (SDB) or Veteran Business Enterprise (VBE) and listed in the consulting services ITQ #4400007410 (Commodity Code 84110000-ITQ-33).
Interested companies can learn more and apply online. Providers who cannot yet start in the ITQ consulting services can also start the pre -qualification process online in order to be justified.