SRNS Expands DOE Mentor-Protégé Program with Seven New Small Business Partnerships
AIKEN, S.C. – (December 12, 2024) – Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) recently onboarded a record seven small businesses into the Department of Energy (DOE) Mentor-Protégé Program, further strengthening its commitment to fostering diverse and capable subcontractors across the complex.
Since its launch in 2015, the program has empowered small businesses to enhance their capabilities, with SRNS’ investment in the initiative increasing from $400,000 to $41 million.
Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) protégés met to share knowledge and experiences during the 2024 Mentor-Protégé Center of Excellence event. US&S Facility Services, CRC Technologies, and Strativia graduated from the program, sharing best practices with the newly enrolled small businesses.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and this program helps enhance their capabilities, enabling them to successfully compete for contracts with DOE and other federa agencies,” said Staci Peters, SRNS Senior Vice President of Business Services.
SRNS strategically aligns the skills of small businesses with current Site demands, particularly in sectors typically dominated by larger corporations. Of the newly recruited protégés, five will focus on construction, one on staffing and development, and one on supplies.
“These small businesses will bring innovative solutions and specialized skills that play a critical role in supporting our missions and expanding our supply chain capabilities,” said Dave Dietz, SRNS Senior Director, Supply Chain Procurement.
The DOE Mentor-Protégé Program features a Center of Excellence forum, where seasoned companies exchange best practices and valuable insights. A recent forum provided protégés with valuable information on government contracting. It was held in partnership with South Carolina APEX Accelerator, which helps small businesses navigate the federal contracting landscape.
“The Center of Excellence forum allows protégés to collaborate with their peers and exchange ideas,” said Jana Chavous, SRNS Lead Supply Chain Management Specialist. “Our seasoned protégés shared both their successes and lessons learned with newcomers to the program and how to do business with SRNS.”
Three companies graduated from the program: US&S Facility Services, CRC Technologies, and Strativia. Notably, CRC Technologies, a woman-owned small business, was awarded $98 million in subcontracts during its five-year tenure in the program.
"Our company culture has evolved to reflect that of SRNS and NNSA, which allows us to ensure mission deliverables and desired outcomes are achieved safely and promptly," said Bob Conner, Founder and President of CRC Technologies. "This program has significantly benefited our business, leading to controlled growth and notable improvements in company size, stability, financial health, and culture."
CRC expanded its expertise in advanced estimating and risk tools to support capital projects for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Its submittal of the NNSA CD-1 package set the standard for DOE critical decision documents and created a platform for exponential growth.
The DOE Mentor-Protégé Program lasts two years with an option for three additional one-year extensions.
The nine current protégés aim to introduce innovative solutions to support Site missions in fiscal year 2025. The program fosters shared mentoring practices Complex-wide, enhancing procurement efficiency and saving federal funds.
Established by Congress in 2000, NNSA is a semi-autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for enhancing national security through the military application of nuclear science. NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, and effectiveness of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile; works to reduce the global danger from weapons of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and militarily effective nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the U.S. and abroad. Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, a Fluor and HII partnership company, is responsible for the management and operations of the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site, located near Aiken, South Carolina.