DOE Mentor-Protégé Program Builds Small Business Relationships in Idaho

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — Partnerships with two Idaho Falls-based small businesses through the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Mentor-Protégé Program benefit the Idaho Cleanup Project (ICP) and contractor Idaho Environmental Coalition (IEC) by helping maintain a highly skilled, qualified workforce trained in radiological safety.

Managed by DOE's Office of Small Business Programs, the Mentor-Protégé Program seeks to foster long-term business relationships between small businesses and DOE prime contractors and increase the number of small businesses that receive DOE prime contracts and subcontracts.

In 2023, IEC signed its inaugural agreement under the program with MarCom, whose employees commonly support ICP projects as radiological control technicians. MarCom also provides support in compliance, environmental management, safety and health, and nuclear operations at ICP and other DOE sites across the country.

“Our workforce has expertise in a number of skilled disciplines to support the ICP mission, and the mentorship agreement helps ensure we properly prepare them for these roles,” said MarCom President Marcella Medor. “This ultimately allows us to remain competitive as we bid for projects across the DOE complex.”

IEC signed the second of two agreements with Rivers West Construction in July last year. The Rivers West workforce supports operations at the Radioactive Waste Management Complex at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Site. Its crews removed large rocks and boulders to prepare for eventual construction of an earthen cap over a Cold War-era landfill. Additionally, Rivers West assists with general maintenance work across the Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project at the INL Site.

“Through the Mentor-Protégé Program, our team at Rivers West Construction has gained invaluable insights in management, business planning and marketing,” said Rivers West Construction President Richard Kennedy. “Working alongside IEC has given us a real partnership, helping us grow and achieve our goals together.”

Under the agreements, IEC serves as the mentor, providing employees with MarCom and Rivers West, the protégés, onsite work experience and business development expertise to enhance the companies' ability to bid on future federal contracts.

“For IEC, MarCom and Rivers West Construction, it has enabled a partnership where we gain from shared expertise,” said IEC Small Business Liaison Elisabeth Warn. “This program builds lasting relationships between DOE prime contractors and small businesses, which bring significant economic value to the communities we serve.”

-Contributor: Carter Harrison