SBA Mentor-Protege Conference Template: A Guide to Navigating the Program

The Small Business Administration's (SBA) Mentor-Protege Program is designed to help small businesses gain capacity and win government contracts through partnerships with more experienced companies. To be eligible for the program, mentors must meet specific requirements, including being a small business with industry experience and not appearing on the federal list of debarred or suspended contractors.

To qualify as a mentor, your business must have a proposed mentor prior to applying for the program and be organized for profit or as an agricultural cooperative. Additionally, your business must be able to carry out its responsibilities to assist the protege.

On the other hand, protégés must meet specific requirements as well. They must visit the Joint Venture program page for more information on how to qualify. The joint venture may also pursue any type of set-aside contract for which the protege qualifies, including contracts set aside for 8(a), service-disabled veteran-owned, women-owned, and HUBZone businesses.

The SBA Mentor-Protege Program offers a range of benefits to mentors and protégés alike. Mentors can provide general and administrative assistance, business development support, education on international trade and strategic planning, guidance on internal business management systems, and financial assistance in the form of equity investments, loans, and bonding. Protégés, on the other hand, can receive valuable business development help from their mentors in areas such as changes to the joint venture review and approval process, new and updated tools to encourage participation in the MPP, mentor-protégé agreement clarifications of Title 13 Part 125.9 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), and requires less SBA involvement for joint ventures.

In November 2020, the 8(a) Mentor-Protege program and the All Small Mentor-Protege program merged into one SBA Mentor-Protege program, making it easier for eligible businesses to navigate and saving both time and resources. The implementing regulations can be found in the Federal Register.

Overall, the SBA Mentor-Protege Program is a valuable resource for small businesses looking to gain capacity and win government contracts through partnerships with more experienced companies. By understanding the requirements and benefits of the program, mentors and protégés alike can maximize their chances of success.

Sba mentor protege conference template