Members of the mentor-protégé partnership team pose for the camera. (Photo: CPCCo)

California-based Advetage Solutions has been awarded a mentor-protégé agreement with Central Plateau Cleanup Company (CPCCo), the maintenance and operations contractor for cleanup activities at the Department of Energy’s Hanford Site in Washington state.

Hanford’s environmental cleanup is the result of a Tri-Party Agreement signed by the DOE, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the State of Washington. It involves tasks like decontaminating soil, demolishing facilities, and treating radioactive waste.

Advetage is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business that specializes in radiation detection, monitoring, and analysis.

The program: The agreement between Advetage and CPCCo falls under the DOE’s Mentor-Protégé Program, which is designed to foster relationships between established contractors and small businesses. The program helps to expand the DOE’s pool of qualified contractors and provides protégés with technical guidance, business development support, and access to new opportunities.

Quote: “Our job is about listening closely, understanding challenges, and responding with the right solutions,” said Christopher Royce, Advetage vice president of services and an assistant professor of nuclear technology at Columbia Basin College. “At the
same time, we’re committed to preparing the next generation. The Hanford workforce is aging, and it’s critical to build a pipeline of new employees ready to step into these important roles. For us, this partnership isn’t just about business growth, it’s about investing in people who will carry the cleanup forward for decades to come.”