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DTRA News

 
 

DTRA newsroom features updates on global threat reduction missions, counterproliferation efforts, and defense research that supports national security operations worldwide.

 

 

 
News | April 16, 2026

DTRA’s First Mentor-Protégé Partnership Secures Prestigious Nunn-Perry Award

By DTRA PA Defense Threat Reduction Agency

FORT BELVOIR, VA – The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) has reached a major milestone in its commitment to small business excellence, as its first-ever Mentor-Protégé Agreement (MPA) was honored with the Nunn-Perry Award. The partnership between Shield Analysis Technology (Protégé) and ARServices, Limited (Mentor) was recognized for setting a new benchmark in how small businesses can scale to meet complex national security missions.

A Historic First for DTRA Small Business

Approved in April 2023, this landmark agreement was the first of its kind for DTRA. The award highlights the agency’s strategic shift toward cultivating a more resilient and specialized small business ecosystem. By moving beyond traditional subcontracting, the program has successfully transitioned Shield Analysis into a sophisticated prime contractor capable of managing high-level defense requirements.

Scaling for the Warfighter

The partnership focused on bridging the "innovation gap" for small businesses in the defense sector. Through the program, Shield Analysis achieved significant growth milestones that directly benefit the DTRA mission:

  • Prime Capability: Successfully secured two prime contracts directly with DTRA.
  • Operational Excellence: Earned eight commendations from DTRA government leaders for exceptional support of the Research & Development Directorate’s Chemical Biological Technologies Department (RD-CB).
  • Technical Readiness: Attained Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0 and expanded its professional staff with multiple PMP credentials.

Driving Mission Success

The 2026 Nunn-Perry Award underscores DTRA's success in reducing reliance on sole-source suppliers by empowering small, veteran-owned firms. By providing Shield Analysis with the technical and managerial infrastructure to lead, DTRA has effectively expanded the pool of qualified partners available to solve the nation’s most pressing CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives) challenges.

This achievement serves as a "standard for partnership" within the agency, proving that targeted investment in small business development delivers immediate, measurable impact for the warfighter and national defense priorities.

The Nunn-Perry Award is named in honor of former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn and former Secretary of Defense William Perry. First awarded in 1995, it recognizes excellence in the Department of War Mentor-Protégé Program, honoring teams that excel in mentoring small businesses to become competitive subcontractors and suppliers for defense contracts.