ORAU Procurement & Partnerships proactively works with small businesses to purchase goods and services. It is the policy of ORAU to apply efforts of outreach and technical assistance to identify, qualify, and utilize companies in the following categories to the maximum extent possible that is consistent with the efficient performance of ORAU’s prime contracts:

• Small businesses
• HUBZone small businesses
• Small disadvantaged businesses
• Women-owned small businesses
• Veteran-owned small businesses
• Service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses
• Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs)
• Other minority educational institutions (MEIs)

This office utilizes the System for Award Management (SAM) and the Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) managed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) to identify potential sources, along with outreach at small business events.

ORAU invites suppliers to submit a one-page capabilty statement by email to the Small Business Program Office. Suppliers are also encouraged to review the Acquisition Forecast.

Mentor Protégé Program

The Mentor-Protégé Program is designed to encourage approved mentors (a trusted counselor or guide) to provide various forms of assistance to eligible protégé (one whose career or business is furthered by a person of experience, prominence, or influence) participants.

The purpose of the mentor-protégé relationship is to enhance the capabilities of the protégés; and to improve their ability to successfully compete for federal contracts.

The ORAU mentor-protégé program is described in more detail in the ORAU Diversity Plan, which is part of the ORAU prime contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and will be operated in accordance with DOE Mentor-Protégé Program guidelines.

ORAU may enter into mentor-protégé agreement(s) with the groups outlined above to provide developmental assistance to enhance the protégé firm’s capabilities to perform subcontracts.

Protégé Application (PDF)