8(a) Mentor-Protege Program
The SBA has implemented the Mentor-Protege Program (MPP) to help starting 8(a) companies learn the ropes from experienced businesses. The program is offered under SBA's 8(a) Business Development program serving disadvantaged firms.
The MPP seeks to encourage major federal prime contractors (mentors) to help develop the technical and business capabilities of small disadvantaged businesses and other eligible Proteges in order to enable the Protege to expand its business base within the federal government. Through credit toward subcontracting goals or some direct reimbursement of costs, the MPP provides incentives for these mentors to establish and implement a developmental assistance plan that enables the Protege to compete more successfully for government contracts and subcontract awards.
The mentor firms represented in the MPP encompass a broad range of industries, including environmental remediation, manufacturing, telecommunications, and health care. 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.
Proteges have only one mentor at a time. Generally, a mentor will not have more than one Protege at a time without SBA authorization.
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The information presented regarding the Mentor-Protege Program is general in nature. Be sure to review specific agencies' MPPs to find out if unique criteria apply. In the DoD MPP, for example, eligible companies include qualified organizations employing disabled persons or enterprises owned by women.
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For more information, see these topics:
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