GHD and ZAPATA form mentor protégé relationship to expand federal services

WASHINGTON, DC, March 24, 2025: GHD, a leading professional services company, and ZAPATA, a full-service architecture-engineering firm, announced the formation of a Small Business Administration (SBA) approved mentor-protégé joint venture. This strategic relationship enables the pursuit of small business set-aside contracts across federal agencies.

The SBA mentor-protégé agreement establishes a joint venture led by ZAPATA as the small business protégé, with GHD serving as mentor. Through this relationship structure, which operates as a small business entity, the joint venture will pursue prime contract opportunities with federal agencies. 

Ted Whiton, GHD Executive General Manager for the US said, "This mentor-protégé relationship aligns perfectly with GHD's strategic goals in the federal market. By serving as a mentor to ZAPATA, we're not only expanding our reach into small business set-aside opportunities but also fulfilling our commitment to supporting the growth of small businesses in our industry. Together, we bring complementary strengths that will deliver exceptional value to federal clients."

"This strategic relationship combines ZAPATA's 35 years of federal experience with GHD's established technical capabilities," said Marty Ray, Executive Vice President at ZAPATA. "As the lead firm in this mentor-protégé relationship, we look forward to expanding our services while maintaining our commitment to federal excellence."

The mentor-protégé joint venture combines both firms' strengths in architectural, engineering, business advisory and environmental services under NAICS code 541330 Engineering Services. The relationship allows both firms to pursue contracts as a unified entity, bringing enhanced service offerings and nationwide reach to federal agency clients.

The ZAPATA GHD SBA-approved mentor-protégé relationship establishes a strategic joint venture combining ZAPATA's small business status and 35 years of federal experience with GHD's global resources and technical expertise. ZAPATA, as the protégé, is a full-service architecture-engineering firm specializing in federal projects, while GHD is a leading professional services company with 12,000+ professionals across 160 offices worldwide. Together, they deliver comprehensive solutions in architecture, engineering, environmental services, business advisory and project management to federal clients. This relationship enables federal agencies to meet small business contracting goals while receiving the benefits of large-business capabilities and resources. The joint venture operates under NAICS code 541330 Engineering Services.

About GHD

GHD is a leading professional services company operating in the global markets of water, energy and resources, environment, property and buildings, and transportation. Committed to a vision to make water, energy, and communities sustainable for generations to come, GHD delivers advisory, digital, engineering, architecture, environmental and construction solutions to public and private sector clients. Established in 1928 and privately owned by its people, GHD’s network of 12,000+ professionals is connected across 160 offices located on five continents.