Mentor Protégé Program (MPP)

Clayton County has implemented a Mentor Protégé Program to help eligible small businesses (protégés) gain capacity and win County contracts through partnerships with more experienced companies that are willing to fill the mentor role. The MPP’s primary objective is to facilitate the enhancement of business competencies thereby increasing the capacity of participant firms. Specifically, the MPP will deliver support services and training to participant firms in areas such as:

• Proposal and/or Bidding.
• Sales and Marketing.
• Back-office functions, Accounting, Human Resources.
• Construction Practices – Estimating, Bonding, Project Management.
• Leadership Development.

Program Qualifications

To qualify as a Protégé, a business must meet the following requirements:

• Certification with Clayton County as a SLBE
• Registered as a Clayton County Vendor
• In good standing (no active suspension or placement on any Federal, State or Local Debarment list)
• Minimum of $150,000 in previous year’s revenue
• Business must be a for-profit business

To qualify as a Mentor, a business must meet the following requirements:

• Registered as Clayton County Vendor
• Five (5) years’ minimum industry experience
• Currently performing on at least one (1) active contract with Clayton County
• Minimum of three (3) years’ experience with a state or local government, within the past ten (10) years
• References from three (3) completed projects
• In good standing – not on Federal, State or Local Debarment list
• All required documents:
  • General Contractor license
  • Application for Pre-Qualification of General Contractors

• Business must be a for-profit business concern
• Minimum financial capacity of $5 million
• Mentoring Qualifications and Resources including but not limited to the following:
  • Prior experience as a mentor
  • Training for subcontractors
  • Plan rooms
  • Dedicated Diversity Coordinator

Applying to the program

Protégé

The applicant Protégé must be approved by Central Services to participate in the Mentor-Protégé Program. After receiving an invitation, interested parties will be instructed to complete the Protégé application electronically. All interested applicants must contact us at CentralServices.Mentorship@claytoncountyga.gov and request an application link.

 Before applying, interested SLBEs should:

• Verify their SLBE certification status

 Mentor

The prospective Mentor must meet the criteria for pre-qualification set by Central Services. After receiving an invitation, interested parties will be instructed to complete the Mentor application electronically.  All interested applicants must contact us at CentralServices.Mentorship@claytoncountyga.gov and request an application link.

 Before applying, interested applicants should:

• Verify their vendor registration with Clayton County

 An applicant Protégé and the prospective Mentor shall not be affiliated in any capacity at the time of application. Businesses are considered affiliates when one party has the power to control the other or a third-party controls both. Central Services will consider factors such as ownership, management, and current relationships to determine whether an affiliation exists between the Protégé and Mentor. 

Protégé Screening

The application processing timeframe is fifteen (15) business days for screening and interviews.

Protégés will be chosen based on:

• Availability of Mentors to support and provide guidance for the Protégé development
• Interview with Stakeholder panel to determine readiness
• Whether Protégé’s capabilities align with products and services requirements of the County

Once the Protégé has been accepted into the program, a Business Development Plan -which includes measurable milestones- will be created based on the needs of the Protégé. This will allow Central Services to evaluate the technical and managerial support involved in the Mentor-Protégé relationship.

Mentor-Protégé Agreement

Central Services will only approve the Mentor-Protégé Agreement if it reasonably determines that the Mentor-provided assistance will promote actual, measurable developmental gains for the Protégé.

The Mentor should review the Protégé’s Business Development Plan to ensure that proposed developmental assistance aligns with the Protégé’s gaps.

A Mentor may provide the following types of developmental assistance to a Protégé, but not limited to:

• Management or technical assistance
• Overall business management/planning
• Cooperation projects
• Any other type of mutually beneficial assistance

At a minimum, the Mentor-Protégé agreement should contain:

• Name, address, phone, and email address of Mentor and Protégé firm(s) and a point of contact within all firms
• A description of the type of developmental program that the Mentor firm will provide to the Protégé firm, including a schedule for providing assistance and criteria for evaluation of the Protégé’s developmental success

The Mentor may implement the developmental assistance program only after Central Services’ review and written approval.

Either party may elect to dissolve the relationship at any time by providing written notice of the proposed termination, signed by the party’s authorized representative, at least thirty (30) days in advance of the proposed termination date. The notice shall state the specific reason for the dissolution and shall be simultaneously submitted to Central Services by First-class mail or email.

Mentor-Protégé Program Duration

The duration or term of the Mentor-Protégé Agreement may last for up to one (1) year with a yearly option to renew. The Mentor-Portege cohort will be monitored by Central Services for six (6) months.