8(a) Business Developement Mentor-Protégé Program
The U.S. Small Business Administrations
(SBA) Mentor-Protégé program enhances the capability of 8(a) participants
to compete more successfully for federal government contracts. The
program encourages private-sector relationships and expands SBAs
efforts to identify and respond to the developmental needs of 8(a) clients.
Mentors provide technical and management
assistance, financial assistance in the form of equity investments and/or
loans, subcontract support, and assistance in performing prime contracts
through joint venture arrangements with 8(a) firms.
The new program is offered under SBAs
8(a) Business Development program serving disadvantaged firms. SBAs
8(a) program, named for a section of the Small Business Act, is a business
development initiative that helps socially and economically disadvantaged
Americans gain access to economic opportunity. The program has provided
an avenue for disadvantaged Americans to achieve entrepreneurial success
and contribute to the strength and vigor of our economy.
What are the benefits of SBAs Mentor-Protégé
program?
Under SBAs Mentor-Protégé program, protégés can gain the
following benefits:
- Technical and management assistance:
The mentors expertise, resources, and capabilities are made available
to the protégé.
- Prime contracting: Mentors
can enter into joint-venture arrangements with protégés to compete for
government contracts.
- Financial assistance in the form
of equity or loans: Mentors can own equity interest of up to
40% in a protégé firm to help it raise capital.
- Qualification for other SBA programs:
A protégé can obtain other forms of SBA assistance as the result of
its good standing in the Mentor-Protégé program.
What are the requirements to become
a Protégé?
The protégé must meet the following requirements to participate
in the program:
- It must be in the developmental stage
of the 8(a) BD program,
- or have never received
an 8(a) contract,
- or have a size of less
than half the size standard for a small business based on its primary
SIC code.
- It must be in good standing in the 8(a)
BD program and be current with all reporting requirements.
Protégés have only one mentor
at a time.
What are the requirements to become
a Mentor?
The mentor can be a business that has graduated
from the 8(a) BD program, a firm in the transitional stage of the program,
or a small or large business. A mentor must have the capability to assist
the protégé and must make a commitment for at least a year. In
addition, it must demonstrate the following:
- that it enjoys favorable financial health,
including profitability for at least the last two years,
- that it is a federal contractor in good
standing, and
- that it can provide valuable support to
a protégé through lessons learned and practical experience gained from
the 8(a) BD program, or through its general knowledge of government
contracting.
Generally, a mentor will not have more than
one protégé at a time without SBA authorization.
How does a firm enter the program?
Mentor and protégé firms enter into an SBA-approved written agreement
outlining the protégés needs and describing the assistance the mentor
has committed to providing. The protégés servicing district
office evaluates the agreement according to the provisions contained in
13 CFR 124.520. SBA conducts annual reviews to determine the success
of the mentor-protégé relationship.
To apply for the program, contact your SBA District Office.
For additional information:
8(a) BD Mentor-Protégé Program
US Small Business Administration
409 Third Street, SW
Washington, DC 20416
Phone: (800) 827-5722
Mentor-Protege Program Frequently Asked Questions
Mentor-Protege Program Fact Sheet
Mentor-Protege Program Overview
Mentor-Protege Program Briefing Charts
PowerPoint or
Zipped PowerPoint file
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