Harrisburg, PA – Today, the Pennsylvania Department of General Services (DGS) announced the launch of the second cohort of the Commonwealth’s Mentor-Protégé Program (MPP), which pairs experienced contractors with small, diverse, and veteran-owned businesses to help them grow, compete, and win state contracts.
This year’s program will focus on vendors approved under the Commonwealth’s Consulting Services Invitation to Qualify (ITQ) contract. Over the 12-month cohort, participating protégés will receive targeted guidance on navigating state procurement, meeting contract requirements, and identifying growth opportunities.
“The Shapiro-Davis Administration is laser-focused on creating ladders of opportunity for small businesses to grow,” said Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis. “The Mentor-Protégé Program isn’t a handout – it’s a helping hand for small-business owners and entrepreneurs that are based right here in Pennsylvania.”
The Shapiro-Davis Administration’s commitment to creating opportunity for small businesses is delivering results: the Commonwealth is now channeling more contracting dollars to small and small diverse businesses than ever before – including a 45 percent increase in spending with Black-owned and Latino-owned businesses over the past two years. For the first time, the Commonwealth has surpassed $1 billion in contracts with small businesses, small diverse businesses, and veteran-owned business enterprises two years in a row.
The expansion of the Mentor-Protégé Program is part of the Shapiro-Davis Administration’s broader effort to open doors for businesses of all sizes and backgrounds. Earlier this summer, DGS launched new Micro and Midsize Business Programs to support enterprises that have either outgrown traditional small-business criteria or are not yet able to compete with larger firms.
“We know programs like MPP and the Micro and Midsized Business Program work,” said DGS Secretary Reggie McNeil. “By connecting experienced contractors with businesses eager to grow, we’re strengthening our vendor community, increasing competition, and driving innovation in state contracting.”
These initiatives, which are the first of their kind in Pennsylvania, provide streamlined certification, increased visibility through a dedicated vendor directory, and access to procurement opportunities tailored to business size and capacity.
DGS has also been successful in drastically reducing certification processing times to as little as two business days. This milestone underscores the Shapiro-Davis Administration’s commitment to breaking down barriers and “getting stuff done” for Pennsylvania businesses.
The Mentor-Protégé Program has already shown clear benefits for protégés.
“Since joining the program, I’ve been able to establish relationships with agencies, gain insights into Commonwealth resources, and learn how to do business with the state,” said Christian Brown, Three-12 Solutions. “As a result, Three-12 Solutions was recently awarded a $25 million contract with the Commonwealth. We now also receive new opportunities as a certified Small Diverse Business with DGS.”
Program benefits for Mentor-Protégé participants include:
- Targeted skill development and business growth.
- Access to mentor expertise and best practices.
- Networking within the Commonwealth’s vendor community.
- Personalized guidance to meet business goals.
