Program Overview
Chassis Plans is a Mentor to Component Sourcing Group, Inc., an SBA certified 8(a) Hispanic Woman Owned Small Disadvantaged Business.

A descriptive flyer is available: Chassis Plans / Component Sourcing Group SBA 8(a) Mentor / Protege Program.

The SBA Mentor / Protégé Program is designed to encourage approved Mentor firms to provide various forms of assistance to eligible Protégé firm participants, to enhance the capabilities of the Protégé and their ability to successfully compete for Federal contracts.

Various types of assistance that a Mentor may provide to a Protégé include:

• Technical and/or management assistance
• Financial assistance in the form of equity investment and/or loans
  
• Subcontract support
• Provide technical and management assistance, financial assistance in the form of equity investments and/or loans, subcontract support, and assistance in performing prime contracts through joint venture arrangements with 8(a) firms

How does the SBA 8(a) Mentor / Protégé Program Work?
The 8(a) Mentor Protégé contracting process is the same as for an 8(a). There are no additional requirements and it also qualifies toward goals set for 8(a) contracting,

• Contracts may be “Sole Sourced” to an SBA 8(a) Mentor / Protégé team through the Protégé Component Sourcing Group
• The contracting agency’s responsibilities under the SBA 8(a) Mentor Protégé Program are similar to contracting under the 8(a) program. They follow FAR Subchapter D Subpart 19.804 “Agency Offering”
• The contracting agency places a Purchase Order to CSG as for any other goods or services
• CSG teams with Chassis Plans to fulfill the order leveraging in-house capabilities plus Mentor Chassis Plans’ expertise and products

Who is Qualified to Participate?
For a Mentor firm to be accepted into the Mentor / Protégé Program there are several criteria that must be met:

• An 8(a) participant in the transitional stage or an 8(a) program graduate
• Possess favorable and profitable financial health and good character
• Is not on the federal debarred or suspended contractors list
• Impart value to the Protégé gained from lessons learned and practical experience as a graduate of the 8(a) program or general knowledge of government contracting.

To qualify as a Protégé, the interested company must fall into one of the following categories:

• Be in the developmental stage of the 8(a) Program or have never received an 8(a) contract or the company size is less than half the size standard corresponding to its primary SIC code
• Additionally, the firm must be in good standing in the 8(a) program and are up-to-date with all reporting requirements. Without exception, the Protégé firm may only have one Mentor at a time.

Benefits of the Program
Under the SBA’s Mentor / Protégé program, Protégés gain the following benefits:

• Technical and management assistance: The mentor’s expertise, resources, and capabilities are made available to the Protégé.
• Prime contracting: Mentors can enter into joint-venture arrangements with protégés to compete for government contracts.
• Financial assistance in the form of equity or loans: Mentors can own equity interest of up to 40% in a Protégé firm to help it raise capital.
• Qualification for other SBA programs: A Protégé can obtain other forms of SBA assistance as the result of its good standing in the Mentor / Protégé program

If the necessary criteria has been met, the Mentor and Protégé firms enter into an SBA approved written agreement outlining the Protégé needs and describing the assistance the mentor has committed to providing.

Once approved through the SBA, the two firms can begin pursuing contracts. The initial agreement commitment is for one year and can extend indefinitely provided the Protégé firm is still an eligible participant in the 8(a) program.

The Mentor / Protégé relationship is evaluated annually by the Protégé’s SBA district office to review the success of the relationship and to ensure the agreement has not been modified without prior approval.

Approved under the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 8(a) Mentor / Protégé Program, Chassis Plans, LLC, and Component Sourcing Group, Inc. (CSG) began a joint venture in October, 2009.

Independently owned and operated, Chassis Plans specializes in the design, manufacture and integration of rugged industrial and military rackmount computer systems while CSG is a Solution Service Provider of comprehensive technologies and consulting, including assessment, planning, design, integration, and post-implementation service level support.

Founded in 1997, Chassis Plans began as an outgrowth of Industrial Computer Source and offered industrial rackmount computer design services allowing clients to use local manufacturing to fabricate and assemble industrial PC systems. In 2001, Chassis Plans grew to offer complete design, fabrication, and integration services for industrial and military rackmount computer systems. Chassis Plans core competency is designing and providing systems tailored exactly to the customer’s application environment and requirements.

Chassis Plans has twice been recognized by the San Diego Business Journal in their FAST 100 in positions 4 and 13, the INC 500 in position 151 and the 2009 NEWCAL 100 select privately held innovative companies.

Component Sourcing Group, Inc. (CSG) is a leading supplier of IT equipment with a proven track record of excellence with government agencies, prime contractors and large businesses. Their mission is to deliver quality Hardware, Software, Office Products and Consulting Solutions in support of the Federal government, at the best value.

CSG is an 8(a) Minority, Woman-owned firm with a GSA Schedule 70 IT Services contract
GS-35F0357. CSG has successfully delivered, on time, at competitive pricing millions of dollars of custom configured servers, rugged laptops and vital it equipment and components to many government agencies including the U.S. Marine Corps, SPAWAR, Department of Veteran Affairs, USDA and the U.S. Air Force.

CSG has earned a current Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) rating of 98.01% on their Automated Best Value System for 127 contracts. (The average vendor rating on the DLA system is 88.40%). CSG is also a valued partner to commercial clients Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin and CACI.

Through our association, CSG and Chassis Plans can offer Federal agencies a comprehensive package of services backed by experience and solid financial health. Our team can help you meet your contracting goals under the SBA 8(a), Certified Small Business, Woman Owned and Hispanic Minority Owned programs.