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Mentor/Protégé Program

Mentor-Protégé Program Application (AID-321-1) (pdf, 282kb)
A Guide for Mentors and Proteges (pdf, 358kb)

Mentor/Protégé Program FAQ's

This summary is meant to provide commonly asked questions and answers regarding USAID's Mentor-Protégé Program.

1. What firms are eligible to be mentor firms?

USAID's Mentor-Protégé Program is open to any USAID prime contractor (large or small) that demonstrates a commitment and capability to assist in the development of a small business protégé(s). Although mentors can be large or small businesses, we anticipate the majority of the mentors will be large businesses.

2. How does a firm become a mentor?

Mentors select a potential protégé and jointly apply to the USAID Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU)for review. Offerors must include a copy of the approved Mentor-Protégé Agreement when responding to a USAID solicitation.

After a contract is awarded, a mentor-protégé arrangement may be created to help meet the mentor's subcontracting requirements.

3. What does a firm gain from being a mentor in meeting its subcontracting obligations?

Mentor-Protégé arrangements are a good business decision for the mentor because they may develop appropriate skills sets that can be used to complement or diversify their company while competing for USAID contracts. A good mentor-protégé relationship builds a trust and loyalty between the mentor and protégé.

Before awarding a contract that requires a subcontracting plan, the existence of a mentor-protégé arrangement, and performance (if any) under an existing arrangement, may be considered by the Contracting Officer.

Mentor-protégé arrangements may provide the Government with greater assurance that a protégé subcontractor will be able to perform under the contract than a similarly situated non-protégé subcontractor.

4. Are there any other benefits to being a mentor?

Yes. As stated above, the contracting officer may also include Mentor-Protégé agreements as an evaluation factor in the source selection criteria of an RFP, providing for additional consideration to those participating in the program.

USAID OSDBU has established a non-monetary award to be given annually to the mentor firm providing the most effective developmental assistance.

5. What firms are eligible to be protégé firms?

ALL small businesses that meet the definition of small business concerns at FAR 19.001, based on their primary NAICS code, are eligible to be protégé firms. This includes small businesses, including very small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, women-owned small businesses, HUBZone small businesses, veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.

6. How does a firm apply to become a protégé?

Protégés either discuss the Mentor-Protégé Program to a larger firm they have been working with or are selected by a larger firm. In either instance, the mentor and protégé jointly submit an agreement to the USAID OSDBU for review. USAID does not keep a list of prospective mentors or protégés. However, we do offer a venue for meeting USAID's prime contractors, and that is through the Prime Contractor Vendor Outreach Sessions.

7. What does a firm gain from being a protégé in competition for government contracts?

Protégés gain opportunities to seek and perform government and commercial contracts through the guidance and support of mentors that may not have been available to them without the mentor-protégé relationship. The developmental assistance provided to the protégé often is a part of a subcontracting effort to the mentor.

8. Are there any other benefits to being a protégé?

Protégés may receive technical, managerial, financial, or any other mutually agreed upon benefit from mentors in addition to the work that flows from a government or commercial contract through subcontracting or teaming arrangements. The assistance could result in significant small business development.

Contact:

Tracy Hembry
(202) 712-4983
tscriver@usaid.gov

• Mentor/Protégé Program Coordinator
• Office of Legislative and Public Affairs (LPA)

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