SBA Proposes “Universal” Mentor-Protege Program
The SBA has proposed to establish a government-wide mentor-protege program available to all small businesses.
In a proposed rule released yesterday, the SBA proposed to establish a single, “universal” mentor-protege program, open to all small businesses, not just those with certain socioeconomic designations. And critically, the SBA’s proposed mentor-protege program would allow SBA-approved mentor-protege joint ventures to qualify as “small” for any federal government prime contract or subcontract–a benefit currently available only to 8(a) companies.
In 2010, Congress gave SBA the authority to create mentor-protege programs for SDVOSBs, HUBZones, and WOSBs. In the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act, Congress authorized the SBA to create mentor-protege programs for all small businesses, but did not mandate that SBA do so. The 2013 NDAA also directed the SBA to establish regulations governing mentor-protege programs offered by other procuring agencies (except DoD’s mentor-protege program, which was specifically exempted). More ….
To read the full article, see http://smallgovcon.com/8a-program/mentor-protege-for-all-sba-proposes-universal-mentor-protege-program/
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