The Department of Defense (DoD) Pilot Mentor-Protégé Program seeks to encourage major DoD prime contractors (mentors) to develop the technical and business capabilities of small disadvantaged businesses (SDBs) and other eligible protégés.

The Department of Defense (DoD) SBIR and STTR programs fund $900 million each year in early-stage R&D projects at small technology companies -- projects that serve a DoD need and have commercial applications.

The Indian Incentive Program (IIP) is a congressionally sponsored program that provides a 5 percent rebate, on the total amount subcontracted to an Indian-Owned Economic Enterprise or Indian Organization, back to the prime contractor in accordance with FAR 26.1, FAR Clause 52.226-1 and DFARS Clause 252.226-7001. Through the generation of subcontracts to the abovementioned entities, the IIP fulfills its purpose as an economic multiplier for Native American communities. DoD prime contractors, regardless of size of contract, that contain the above referenced clause(s) are eligible for incentive payments under the FY 2003 program.

DoD prime contractors with a contract of $500,000.00 or more, that contain the above referenced clause(s), are eligible for incentive payments under the FY2004 program.

The DoD Women-Owned Small Business Program (WOSB) highlights the DoD efforts to achieve the 5% goal for prime and subcontract awards to Small Business concerns owned and controlled by women.

The program objectives are:

• To facilitate, preserve, and strengthen full participation for WOSB concerns in the DoD acquisition programs for goods and services.
  
• Through programs and activities, including outreach and technical assistance, support the growth of women-owned small business concerns.
  

This office oversees the HBCU/MI programs of the military services and other defense agencies. Their information is also collected and compiled into an annual report that is sent to several Presidential Advisory Boards.

The DoD Comprehensive Subcontracting Plan Test Program authorizes the negotiation, administration, and reporting of subcontracting plans on a plant, division, or company-wide basis as appropriate. The purpose of the test is to determine whether comprehensive subcontracting plans will result in increased subcontracting opportunities for Small and Disadvantaged Business while reducing the administrative burdens on contractors.

The DOD Regional Councils for Small Business Education and Advocacy are a nationwide network of small business specialists organized to promote the National Small Business Programs of the United States.

The Department of Defense (DoD) has undertaken an aggressive outreach effort to identify small business concerns that are owned and control by veterans and service-disabled veterans. The purpose of the DoD outreach effort is to improve prime and subcontracting opportunities for veteran and service-disabled veteran owned small business concerns. The DoD believes that the sacrifices made by veterans in the service of our country needs to be recognized at all levels of government. Moreover, the Defense Department is committed to make the maximum practicable prime and subcontracting opportunities available to such firms.