Mentor–Protégé Program
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has created a Mentor Protégé Program to increase diversity and participation in the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program for contractors and consultants, focusing on drawing in underserved and underrepresented companies. We provide a seamless process to assist mentors and mentees in navigating the program.
Purpose & Goals
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has created a Mentor Protégé Program to increase diversity and participation in the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program through outreach to underserved and underrepresented companies, which directly addresses PennDOT’s 2018 Disparity Study findings.
Our program’s mission is to further the development of DBEs, including but not limited to assisting them in moving into non-traditional areas of work and/or competing in the marketplace outside the DBE program via the provision of training and assistance from other firms. The Program encompasses elements of the prime construction and prime consulting markets for increased DBEs participation and to level the contracting playing field.
Eligibility
Proteges
The Program is open to all PA UCP-certified firms. A PAUCP-certified DBE firm can register as a PennDOT Business Partner during the Program and obtain an active qualifications package in ECMS. Protégés that are exploring new market expansion for new disciplines may also apply. PennDOT’s provisional or conditional qualifications may apply in certain circumstances.
Mentors
As it relates to the consultant industry, all firms eligible to submit statements of interest through PennDOT’s ECMS procurement process can serve as mentors, including Established professional transportation engineering, environmental, planning, or related firms in Pennsylvania with a history of successful project delivery. Mentors may be experienced prime or subconsultant firms registered as PennDOT Business Partners with an Active Qualifications Package in PennDOT’s
