Supplier Diversity Program
OneZone Opportunities
OneZone Mentor-Protégé Program
OneZone is committed to the growth and development of the XBE (Minority, Women, Veteran and Disabled) Community and its ability and capacity to compete in the general marketplace. In this mission, OneZone has been developed a Mentor- Protégé Program, in partnership with The Gideon Group, to enhance the capacity and continued success rates of XBE firms, thereby increasing supplier diversity opportunities for XBE participation in locally sourced contracts.
Through hands-on technical assistance and direct experienced-based advisement, the program strives to develop working relationships between XBE firms and prime contracting firms that have a track record of success.
Program Overview
To be eligible for the program, each XBE firm must meet the designation as a small business based on State and County definitions, they must be owned by community members who are deemed disadvantaged, or underserved, lastly firms must have not exceeded over $2M in revenue.
Program Benefits
Incentives
Award Ceremony for participating organizations.
Highlighting XBE protege organizations in OneZone newsletter.
Eligibility Requirements
Mentor Requirement
Protégé requirement
Relationship Plan
Firms wishing to participate in the Program must have their Relationship Plan reviewed by OneZone and The Gideon Group. Only participants with an approved Relationship Plan can participate in the Program. The Relationship Plan must include specific coaching for the Protégé in areas such as infrastructure, operations, finance, technical, and bidding/estimating. The Relationship Plan must also include measurable benchmarks to be met by both the Mentor and the Protégé, a schedule of meetings, and a reporting schedule.
The Relationship Plan delineates the specific responsibilities and obligations of each party in the Mentor-Protégé relationship and must include a timeline by which stated obligations will be completed. The Relationship Plan must be signed by both parties.
The relationship between Mentor and Protégé is a business partnership. The Mentor cannot exercise management control over the Protégé or have any direct or indirect ownership interest in the Protégé while both parties are participating in the Program. The Protégé cannot be dependent on the Mentor and maintain best effort sustainability. Both are independent, autonomous entities who will be responsible for their own tasks and management of their own staff. If a financial business relationship emerges, neither party is required to work exclusively with their Mentor or Protégé.
Termination of Mentor-Protégé Relationship.
Once a Relationship Plan has been approved, written notice of any change in its approved status must be sent to OneZone and The Gideon Group on a timely basis. To terminate a Relationship Plan, one of the parties must submit a request, in writing, to OneZone and The Gideon Group outlining why each party feel the Relationship Plan should be terminated. The request should include any correspondence between the two parties to show a failure to meet obligations of the Relationship Plan. OneZone and The Gideon Group will concur in the termination of the Relationship Plan for cause of any of the following reasons, documented to the satisfaction of OneZone and The Gideon Group: failure of the other party to submit reports and/or attend scheduled meetings; its failure to meet task deadlines; lack of cooperation; or any material breach of the Program requirements.
Termination may affect the ability for the non-participatory party to continue in future relationships in the Program.
Reporting
Reports of activities such as completed tasks, trainings, meeting, and progress toward planned goals must be submitted to OneZone and The Gideon Group on a quarterly basis for the duration of the Relationship Plan. The report must be signed and approved by both parties prior to submittal.
Monitoring
Oversight of the Program will be performed by OneZone and The Gideon Group. OneZone and The Gideon Group will review all reports and schedule quarterly meetings with both parties to discuss progress and/or any goal shortfalls. Mentor and Protégé must attend all quarterly meetings.
This process will be put into place to evaluate reports to ensure both parties are adhering to the Relationship Plan.