Mentor-Protégé Program
It is the intent of the TPWD Mentor-Protégé Program to build effective working relationships between leaders of mature established companies and emerging minority and women owned companies in order for the latter to benefit from the knowledge and experience of the established firms.
Mission
The mission of the Mentor-Protégé Program has three key components:
- Increase the overall participation of Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs) in State of Texas subcontracting;
- Foster long-term relationships between prime contractors and HUBs; and
- Increase the ability of historically underutilized businesses to contract with the state or to receive subcontracts under a state contract.
Purpose
To identify and overcome barriers that typically inhibit or restrict the success of minority and women owned businesses currently certified as State of Texas HUBs.
Objective
To produce a broad base of high quality, competitive and profitable HUB companies through incremental improvement in their respective business practices.
Goals
Realization of competency by protégés in selected areas of identified need and increased ability by protégés to realize long-term stability in their respective industry.
Relationship
Working together in regularly scheduled meetings, mentors focus on developing protégé business plans, and implementing the actions necessary to obtain results reflected in the Mentor-Protégé Agreement.
Mentors assist selected protégés in developing implementation plans, which identify needs, actions and results required for the protégé to be a successful businessperson and contractor.
Eligiblity
Mentors and protégés who have completed a Mentor or Protégé Application and who are willing to participate by compliance with the reporting requirements as reflected in the Mentor-Protégé Agreement.
Mentors who have volunteered to assist Protégés in specific areas of business development that will enhance their ability to complete successfully.
Protégé Application, Selection and Reporting
Prospective protégé companies will submit a completed Protégé Application for consideration for selection as a sponsored protégé to the TPWD HUB Program staff. The Protégé Application is designed to collect information to ascertain eligibility and selection as listed below.
In determining the eligibility and selection of HUB Protégés, the following criteria will be used:
- (REQUIRED) Whether the Protégé is eligible and willing to become certified as a HUB; or is a currently certified HUB business;
- (REQUIRED) Whether the Protégé is willing to participate with a mentoring firm and has identified the type of guidance that is needed for its development;
- (REQUIRED) Whether the Protégé is in "good standing" with the State of Texas and is not in violation of any state statutes, rules or governing policies; and
- (DESIRED) Whether the Protégé is not involved in a mentoring relationship with another contractor / vendor.
In addition, the Protégé must meet two or more of the following criteria:
- New start up HUBs or HUBs qualified company with less than one year in operation;
- Currently certified HUB company in an eligible certification category which reflects under-utilization greater than other ethnicity/gender categories in the same industry;
- Currently certified HUB that offers goods or services in a commodity code in the top 10 spending categories as reflected in the Annual TPWD HUB Report (Comptroller's Object Code).
- HUBs or HUB qualified firms committed to participate in accordance with program rules, guidelines and processes for incremental growth and business success.
When the Protégé Application is completed and submitted, the application will be reviewed for evaluation against the basic eligibility criteria.
Once a Mentor-Protégé match is made, a final agreement will be signed by representatives of the Mentor, the Protégé and TPWD.
Mentor Application, Selection and Reporting
Prospective mentor companies will submit a completed Mentor Application for consideration for selection as a sponsored mentor. The Mentor Application is designed to collect information for staff to ascertain the following:
- (REQUIRED) Whether the Mentor is a registered bidder on the Texas Building and Procurement Commission's Centralized Master Bidders List (CMBL);
- (DESIRED) Whether the Mentor has extensive work experience and can provide developmental guidance in areas that meet the needs of the Protégé, including but not limited to, business, financial, and personnel management; technical matters such as production, inventory control and quality assurance; marketing; insurance; equipment and facilities; and/or other related resources;
- (REQUIRED) Whether the Mentor is in "good standing" with the State of Texas and is not in violation of any state statutes, rules or governing policies;
- (DESIRED) Whether the Mentor has mentoring experience; and
- (REQUIRED) Whether the Mentor can demonstrate a successful work history with government entities including city, county state or national entities.
When the Mentor Application is completed and submitted to the TPWD HUB Program, the application will be reviewed for the basic eligibility criteria as listed above. If the selection criterion does not conflict with criteria stated in the TPWD Mentor-Protégé Program policy, the mentor applicant will be notified on their acceptance as a mentor firm.
Once a Mentor-Protégé match is made, a final agreement will be signed by representatives of the mentor, the protégé and TPWD.
Mentor-Protégé Agreement
The written agreement will include, but is not limited to the following:
- Name, address, phone / fax numbers, and points of contact for both the Mentor and Protégé firms;
- A mutually agreed timeline of the agreement and reporting requirements;
- Identification of the developmental areas in which the Protégé needs guidance;
- The agreement must state that the participation by the Mentor-Protégé is voluntary. The agreement must include written documentation that participation in the agency's Mentor-Protégé Program is neither a guarantee for a contract opportunity nor a promise of business; but the Program's intent is to foster positive long-term business relationships.
Participation by TPWD in the Mentor-Protégé Agreement is limited to a period not to exceed twenty-four (24) months commencing from the date the Mentor-Protégé Agreement is signed by all parties.
Matching Mentors to Proteges
The following criteria will be used when TPWD HUB Program staff is "matching" potential Mentors to potential Protégés.
Program staff will make every effort to develop Mentor-Protégé relationships based on either:
- Mentors who share the same major programmatic responsibility as their Protégé ;
- Mentors who use the services/products offered by the Protégé in connection with a TPWD contract;
- Mentors who may be willing to allow Protégés to distribute products manufactured by the Mentor.
Geographic proximity of Mentors and Protégés will be considered in making potential matches.
Program staff will conduct Mentor-Protégé Orientations for the purposes of helping selected Mentors and Protégés understand their respective roles in a Mentor-Protégé relationship. The role of TPWD HUB Program staff will also be detailed during orientation sessions. These orientation sessions will be held prior to the finalization of any Mentor-Protégé Agreements. Attendance of the orientations is a prerequisite for inclusion in the TPWD Mentor-Protégé Program.
Who Administers the Mentor-Protégé Program?
The TPWD HUB Program Coordinator and/or designee are responsible for administration of the TPWD program. Procedures for this program are provided in the Mentor-Protégé Program Guidelines maintained by the TPWD HUB Program Coordinator.
The HUB staff is responsible for maintaining application documents, program information materials, Mentor and Protégé Application files, Mentor-Protégé Agreements.
The HUB staff is responsible for Program outreach, information dissemination and program reporting and evaluation.
Mentor-Protégé Program Reporting
On an annual basis, the TPWD HUB Coordinator or their designee will compile reports which reflect information via submitted surveys by Mentors and Protégés that document and progress made as a result of the agreements. This report should include a summary of key progress made by Protégés relative to their respective agreements. Annual program evaluation information will be collected and prepared for submission with the TPWD supplemental letter as a component of its annual HUB reporting materials. Case study format reporting will also be considered for the annual HUB report. The program efforts and results will also be reported in the agency's HUB Strategic Plan.
Any questions regarding this procedure should be directed to the TPWD HUB Program: HUB@TPWD.state.tx.us, (512) 389-4784.