Team Orlando Hosts Mentor-Protégé Programs Webinar

The Team Orlando Small Business offices are hosting a webinar on Sept. 14 at 9 a.m. EST to discuss the Small Business Administration (SBA) and Department of Defense (DoD) Mentor-Protégé Programs. Registration is required.

This event will be an opportunity to gain guidance and insights about the Small Business Administration (SBA) and Department of Defense (DoD) Mentor-Protégé Programs, which are designed to enhance the capabilities of protégé firms by requiring approved mentors to provide business development assistance to protégé firms and to improve the protégé firms’ ability to successfully compete for federal contracts. The discussion will cover the required eligibility criteria, agreement types, application process, and best practices for each program. Industry partners — whether small or large — are encouraged to attend!

Presenters will include representatives from:
– Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) – Office of Small Business Programs
– Army Contracting Command – Orlando (ACC-Orlando) – Office of Small Business Programs
– Small Business Administration (SBA) North Florida District Office

During the registration process, there is an option to submit question(s). However,  given the projected audience size, all questions may not be answered during this session. Please submit questions as soon as possible, but no later than Thursday, Sept. 9 2021, at 4:30 p.m. (EST) via email to Kurt Susnis.

Late last year, the 8(a) Mentor-Protégé program and the All Small Mentor-Protégé program merged into one SBA Mentor-Protégé Program (MPP).  According to the U.S. SBA website,  because of the programs’ identical purpose and benefits to participating businesses, merging them into one program makes it easier for eligible businesses to navigate, saving both time and resources.

The program is not a matchmaking program, however, an applicant protégé must apply with an identified prospective mentor.

Additionally, businesses must be approved by the SBA to participate in the MPP through an application process.

Details about the program can be found here, but below is some general information from the site.

Protégés can get valuable business development help from their mentors in several areas, including:

• Guidance on internal business management systems, accounting, marketing, manufacturing, and strategic planning
• Financial assistance in the form of equity investments, loans, and bonding
• Assistance navigating federal contract bidding, acquisition, and the federal procurement process
• Education about international trade, strategic planning, and finding markets
• Business development, including strategy and identifying contracting and partnership opportunities
• General and administrative assistance, like human resource sharing or security clearance support

A mentor and its protégé can joint venture as a small business for any small business contract, provided the protégé individually qualifies as small. The joint venture may also pursue any type of  set-aside contract  for which the protégé qualifies, including contracts set aside for 8(a), service-disabled veteran-owned, women-owned, and HUBZone businesses. Visit the Joint Venture program page more information.