Further, since a small firm can only have two mentors in its entire life, it is critical to tread carefully and choose wisely. When selecting a possible mentor, the protege must be careful to structure the MPA so that it clearly defines the benefits that will be received by the protege during the course of the agreement. To take advantage of the ASMPP, a small company will act as a protege under a Mentor Protege Agreement (MPA). Small businesses should beware of anybody that is only interested in pursuing set-aside contracts, and be aware that SBA will not approve an MPA if the sole objective is to pursue contracting opportunities. It’s imperative to remember the ASMPP is a business development program, and not a contracting program. Similar to the 8(a) mentor protege program, the ASMPP is intended to develop smaller, more nascent firms entering the federal marketplace by fostering productive relationships with established firms.
#Help on sba mentor protege program how to#
We also knew that in an environment where category management was being promoted and requirements were becoming larger and more complex, a joint venture (with a larger firm) under a mentor protege agreement would be an ideal tool for small businesses to remain competitive.įor small businesses, it is important to understand the ultimate objective of the ASMPP, learn how to leverage it, avoid pitfalls along the way, and “graduate” successfully. In addition, we knew that as a new program, there would have to be adjustments and tweaks along the way.
It’s natural that there would be this much excitement about such an impactful program, but what are the truly critical aspects a small business contractor should know and be taking advantage of? When my (former) office at SBA was launching the program, we knew that there would be significant interest in accessing the program’s benefits. There was a lot of buzz about the SBA’s All Small Mentor Protege Program (ASMPP) even before it launched, and since it’s gone live, the buzz has grown to a roar. So how can small businesses take advantage of the new and potentially game-changing program permitting these structures? And how can small business advocates and Congress ensure the program evolves to best protect the interests of their constituents? In a climate where category management is picking up steam and requirements are getting larger and more complex, your next competitor may be a joint venture, backed by the past performance and qualifications of a large mentor.
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