Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority announces Mentor-Protege Program

CA News - Published Apr 05, 2021

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), in collaboration with Silicon Valley Transit Consultants (SVTC), is initiating a new Mentor-Protege Program with the aim of assisting in the growth of small and minority businesses in the area.

The Program will launch with SVTC selecting up to eight Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) or Small Business Enterprise (SBE) sub-consultant firms to enter into a protege relationship with (with STVC as the mentor) for a minimum period of one year. For the duration of BART Silicon Valley Phase II Project (a series of contracts and improvements under the VTA), new proteges will be selected in each successive year (with some proteges having an opportunity to renew their status).

The Program's benefits are to include one-on-one time with STVC representatives with the goal of imparting critical management techniques, providing education on marketing to government agencies and primes in order to secure government contract work, and insight into improving general business practices.

"Their growth and success [referring to DBEs and SBEs] will enable the SVTC to better serve VTA and the community,” said Raul Laborin, who is heading the Mentor-Protege Program, in a statement.

Read more at https://mailchi.mp/vta.org/vta-contracting-opportunities-business-diversity-more?e=6400479491.