BAE SYSTEMS AND GEOTOPO ESTABLISH MENTOR-PROTÉGÉ RELATIONSHIP

BAE Systems Mission Solutions, Geotopo, Inc., and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency have implemented a mentor-protégé agreement approved by the Department of Defense, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization.

Under the three-year agreement, BAE Systems will provide training to Geotopo to refine their technical capabilities in performing exacting requirements for digital mapping, establish an ISO 9000 quality program, and develop the firm's general business management practices.

"We have been looking forward for some time to have Geotopo as a participant in this program,� said William Ballhaus, president, BAE Systems Mission Solutions. "This program should strengthen their capabilities in a wide range of technical and business areas - the benefits of this program should accrue to both Geotopo and BAE Systems and our respective commercial and government customers.� The agreement also partners with minority institutions (University of California at Riverside and Riverside Community College) to provide geospatial software and quality management training to Geotopo employees.

"Geotopo is very excited about the possibilities that this Mentor Protégé agreement offers,� stated Karl Pierce, president, Geotopo, Inc. "We have enjoyed a good working relationship with BAE Systems, and this program will prove to be extremely important to the long term growth and success of our firm.�

The Department of Defense (DoD) Mentor-Protégé (MP) Program was enacted in 1990 (Public Law 101-510) under the direction of former Senator Sam Nunn and Secretary of Defense William Perry. The program helps small disadvantaged businesses (SDBs), qualified organisations that employ the severely disabled, and women owned small business (Protégés) develop technical and business capabilities. The goal of the program is to assist protégés in successfully competing for prime contract and subcontract awards.