WASHINGTON -- If U.S. Rep. John Murtha is Pennsylvania's master of bringing home federal contracts, Rep. Mike Doyle, a Forest Hills Democrat and staunch Murtha ally, is an eager apprentice.

One major achievement is the Doyle Center for Manufacturing Technology, based in South Oakland. In 2003, Mr. Doyle helped launch the center with a $1.5 million grant from the Air Force. Its goal is to help small manufacturers compete for military contracts.

Fiscal conservatives such as Arizona's Rep. Jeff Flake decry such projects as "earmark incubators," which use federal money to help companies win more federal money.

"These are the most egregious type, earmarks that beget earmarks," said Mr. Flake, a Republican. "How can you justify it to taxpayers elsewhere? Why is it that federal government should be in a position to pick winners and losers?"

Mr. Doyle, who has no role in the day-to-day oversight of the center, says critics like Mr. Flake don't understand the Pittsburgh region, with its long manufacturing history.

"It just so happens that we have the assets in Pittsburgh," Mr. Doyle said. "Part of what the [Doyle center] does is give the little guys the tools to do business with big companies. The Defense Department is quite happy with it."

The center grew out of the federally funded Technology Insertion, Demonstration and Evaluation program, or TIDE, which was coordinated at Carnegie Mellon University. Mr. Doyle helped secure millions of dollars for TIDE aimed at helping small and medium-sized manufacturers in the region upgrade their technology and workplace practices.

One satisfied client was the Kurt J. Lesker Co., a small Clairton company that makes vacuum systems. It needed a technological overhaul to remain competitive in the field.

The Doyle center is trying to build on TIDE's successes. Since 2003, it has received nearly $11 million in congressional earmarks. Mr. Doyle said it eventually will become self-sustaining, relying on fees from client companies. Small firms from across the country, not just the Pittsburgh region, will be able to take advantage of the center.

Mr. Doyle's close relationship with Mr. Murtha, head of the powerful House Defense Appropriations subcommittee, is apparent in the center's inner workings. Its board chairman is Edward J. Sheehan Jr., chief financial officer of Concurrent Technologies Corp., a technology consulting organization that grew from Murtha earmarks in the 1980s.

CTC received more than $83 million in government contracts last year. It has contributed more than $56,000 to Mr. Murtha's campaigns since 2002. Mr. Sheehan has contributed $6,500 to Mr. Murtha in that time period. He's given $3,250 to Mr. Doyle since 2004.

Catalyst Connection, another economic development organization that occupies the same South Oakland technology park as the Doyle center, has received nearly $1 million from the center for research, technical support and its administration of a statewide program to help small manufacturers navigate the Defense Department's supply chain.

Catalyst spent $120,000 in 2004 and 2005 for the services of GSP Consulting, a South Side-based lobbying firm that once employed Scott Harshman, a former staffer for Mr. Murtha. (GSP employees have contributed money to both Mr. Murtha and Mr. Doyle.)

Kevin Lane, a spokesman for the Doyle center, said no public money was used for lobbying.

"Catalyst Connection uses extreme care in following accounting regulations," he said.