Black Box Network Services and Veterans First Initiative, Inc. (VFI) approved for participation in the Department of Defense (DoD) Mentor-Protégé Program

HERNDON, Va., Feb. 06, 2017 -- Black Box Network Services and Veterans First Initiative (VFI) announced today that they have been approved by the Office of Small Business Programs to participate in the Department of Defense (DoD) Mentor-Protégé Program effective through April 28, 2019.

Since 1991, the Department of Defense (DoD) Mentor-Protégé Program (MPP) has offered substantial assistance to small disadvantaged businesses. Helping them to expand the overall base of their marketplace participation has produced more jobs and increased national income.

The DoD Mentor-Protégé Program assists small businesses (protégés) in successfully competing for prime contract and subcontract awards by partnering with large companies (mentors) under individual, project-based agreements.

Traditionally, these partnerships have delivered a variety of products and services specialized in: environmental remediation, engineering services, information technology, manufacturing, telecommunications, and health care. Recently, new Mentor-Protégé agreements have focused on corrosion engineering, information assurance, robotics, circuit board and metal component manufacturing. The DoD hopes that future agreements will focus on new technology areas such as radio frequency identification devices and enhanced security assurance.

Successful mentor-protégé agreements provide a winning relationship for the protégé, the mentor, and the DoD.

“We are honored to be approved as a mentor in the DoD’s Mentor-Protégé Program,” commented Jeffrey Murray, Vice President of Government Solutions at Black Box Network Services. “Together Black Box and Veterans First Initiative are already delivering outstanding systems integration services and emerging technologies to the DoD.  Early successes in the US and Europe demonstrate the value of our relationship, combined capabilities, and the program.”

“VFI is very pleased to participate in the DoD Mentor-Protégé Program,” said Jeff Vrchoticky, President/CEO of Veterans First Initiative.  “We are very excited to have a great company like Black Box as our mentor.”

About Black Box
Black Box is a leading digital solutions provider dedicated to helping customers build, manage, optimize, and secure their IT infrastructure. Black Box delivers high-value products and services through its global presence and more than 3,500 team members. To learn more, visit the Black Box website at http://www.blackbox.com.

Black Box^® and the Double Diamond logo are registered trademarks of BB Technologies, Inc.

About Veterans First Initiative
Veterans First Initiative (VFI) is a certified Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) founded in 2013 and located in Gainesville, VA. VFI specializes in integration support and improvement of Federal Government IT mission processes and technologies. To learn more, visit the VFI website at http://www.vetfi.com.

Contact:
Anthony J. Massetti
724-873-6788
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
[email protected]