Mentor-protege programs
Administration program
Authority
Model for program
Programs of other agencies
Approval required
Except as provided in paragraph (4), a Federal department or agency may not carry out a mentor-protege program for small business concerns unless—
the head of the department or agency submits a plan to the Administrator for the program; and
the Administrator approves such plan.
Basis for approval
The Administrator shall approve or disapprove a plan submitted under paragraph (1) based on whether the program proposed—
will assist proteges to compete for Federal prime contracts and subcontracts; and
complies with the regulations issued under paragraph (3).
Regulations
Not later than 270 days after
Eligibility criteria for program participants, including any restrictions on the number of mentor-protege relationships permitted for each participant.
The types of developmental assistance to be provided by mentors, including how the assistance provided shall improve the competitive viability of the proteges.
Whether any developmental assistance provided by a mentor may affect the status of a program participant as a small business concern due to affiliation.
The length of mentor-protege relationships.
The effect of mentor-protege relationships on contracting.
Benefits that may accrue to a mentor as a result of program participation.
Reporting requirements during program participation.
Postparticipation reporting requirements.
The need for a mentor-protege pair, if accepted to participate as a pair in a mentor-protege program of any Federal department or agency, to be accepted to participate as a pair in all Federal mentor-protege programs.
Actions to be taken to ensure benefits for proteges and to protect a protege against actions by a mentor that—
may adversely affect the protege’s status as a small business concern; or
provide disproportionate economic benefits to the mentor relative to those provided the protege.
The types of assistance provided by a mentor to assist with compliance with the requirements of contracting with the Federal Government after award of a contract or subcontract under this section.
Limitation on applicability
Paragraph (1) does not apply to the following:
Any mentor-protege program of the Department of Defense.
Any mentoring assistance provided under a Small Business Innovation Research Program or a Small Business Technology Transfer Program.
Until the date that is 1 year after the date on which the Administrator issues regulations under paragraph (3), any Federal department or agency operating a mentor-protege program in effect on
Reporting
In general
Not later than 2 years after
identifies each Federal mentor-protege program;
specifies the number of participants in each such program, including the number of participants that are—
small business concerns;
small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans;
qualified HUBZone small business concerns;
small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals; or
small business concerns owned and controlled by women;
describes the type of assistance provided to proteges under each such program;
describes the benefits provided to mentors under each such program; and
describes the progress of proteges under each such program with respect to competing for Federal prime contracts and subcontracts.
Provision of information
Definitions
In this section, the following definitions apply:
Mentor
The term “mentor” means a for-profit business concern, of any size, that—
has the ability to assist and commits to assisting a protege to compete for Federal prime contracts and subcontracts; and
satisfies any other requirements imposed by the Administrator.
Mentor-protege program
Protege
The term “protege” means a small business concern that—
is eligible to enter into Federal prime contracts and subcontracts; and
satisfies any other requirements imposed by the Administrator.