The Defense Logistics Agency’s Office of Small Business Programs will soon have a new way to help small vendors expand their capabilities as it works to build a more resilient industrial base that can meet increased challenges from competitors and adversaries. 

The DLA Mentor-Protege Program will incentivize successful DLA prime contractors to provide developmental assistance to small businesses interested in building new skill sets, refining processes, or maneuvering federal acquisition processes. 

“This is another tool that we will use to help strengthen our defense industrial base,” said Daniele Kurze, director of the Office of Small Business Programs. “It will give small businesses new opportunities to grow and learn from large suppliers, which can help us fill critical gaps in our supply chain down the road.” 

The MPP is an extension of a Defense Department pilot program established during the first Gulf War. It became permanent under the fiscal 2023 National Defense Authorization Act. 

DLA’s mentor-protege agreements will be funded by DOD, but they will be based on DLA’s needs. 

Chris Hall, DLA’s deputy director of small business, said the program is an investment in DLA’s supply chains and will help solve challenges by removing bottlenecks or developing new sources for hard-to-fill requirements. 

“The program presents a unique opportunity to expand the industrial base by investing in the capabilities of small businesses to improve DLA’s ability to respond to warfighters’ needs,” he said.

The types of reimbursable assistance mentors may provide are listed in the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement and include support in software, inventory control, manufacturing, test and evaluation, and quality assurance. Mentors may also assist proteges with general business processes, such as personnel management and systems compliance. 

Armenthia Massey, the MPP program manager, said agreements will last three years with two, optional one-year extensions. Extensions require written justification from the mentor and final approval from DOD.   

“Each agreement specifies the tasks to be accomplished towards the protege’s growth and the year in which each milestone is to be completed, as determined by the mentor and protege,” Massey said. 

She added that proteges don’t need prior government experience, but DOD approves agreements before awarding them. DLA also evaluates proposed agreements and participants. Although it doesn’t dictate which mentors and proteges work together, DLA can offer venues — like matchmaking sessions — to help participants find appropriate partners. 

Kurze and her team collaborated with DOD and military services that have already executed mentor-protege agreements to determine how to best shape DLA’s program. 

“We’ve taken a targeted approach in focusing on critical areas and establishing internal guidelines and repeatable processes,” she said, adding that the first agreements will focus on supporting specific weapons systems. 

Strengthening the defense industrial base is a priority of the National Defense Strategy as DOD works to produce and sustain a full range of capabilities to give U.S., allied and partner forces a competitive advantage. The National Defense Industrial Strategy, released in January, also highlights the need for creating resilient suppliers. 

More information on the DLA Mentor-Protege Program is available under the Opportunities and Forecasts section of DLA’s Small Business webpage and in DFARS Appendix I. 

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