NREL’s Small Business Engagement Highlights U.S. Department of Energy Program Success | News

The mentor-protégé program helps startups secure federal contracts and increase opportunities to expand the energy security and resilience market

Participation

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) continually seeks new ways to support veteran-owned businesses and disadvantaged communities across the United States. Fostering a strong commitment to small businesses is central to the lab’s mission to provide solutions for a clean energy economy.

In fact, each year more than 50% of all NREL subcontracts valued at approximately $60-$75 million are awarded to small businesses., and the lab regularly invites disadvantaged, women-owned, HUBZone, veteran-owned, and disabled veteran-owned small businesses to collaborate on short- and long-term projects.

In the United States, small businesses currently employ approximately 61.7 million Americans, nearly 47% of all private sector workers, and constitute a significant portion of the country’s economy. They also often have experience and skills that make them great potential partners for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and NREL. This is one reason why NREL regularly participates in outreach and education activities with the U.S. Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) and DOE.

One of the most effective ways NREL supports small businesses is through its many mentoring programs, such as the DOE Mentor Protégé Program (MPP). The MPP allowed NREL to share its research and technical expertise in renewable energy and advise participants on a wide range of topics, including project management, information technology, business equipment, and workspaces.

In June 2024, program participant and mentee of NREL Converge Strategies (CSL) achieved two major milestones that are already changing the trajectory of its business. In addition to completing the MPP, CSL received the Protégé of the Year award as part of the annual OSDBU Small Business Awards program. This program celebrates the outstanding achievements of individuals and organizations that promote and expand DOE’s partnerships with small businesses. Through its partnership with NREL, CSL was a great example of a company that was able to expand its capabilities and collaborate with federal and DOE laboratories.

With NREL as a mentor, CSL received a variety of assistance, including developing business partnerships with national laboratories and agencies, access to world-class research, and developing strategies to enable the team to more effectively respond to opportunities presented by other national and federal laboratories. organizations. CSL is currently on track to exceed its 2023 revenue forecast and is experiencing growth in both revenue and staff. Thanks to NREL’s mentorship, CSL successfully responded to design opportunities offered by other national laboratories, creating new business development opportunities and supporting its business mission.

CSL may be one of the newest lab partners, but it’s not the only one. NREL is always seeking new suppliers and subcontractors who can meet the laboratory’s ongoing demands for goods, services, research and development, construction and other laboratory needs.

If you would like to learn more about working directly with NREL, please visit our Small Business Pledge page or complete the Small Business Registration form.

To learn more about the DOE Mentor Protégé program, visit the OSDBU information page. NREL looks forward to hearing from you.