largefert.blogg.se - Sba mentor protege

This undercuts a key aspect of the mentoring relationship and makes the mentor-protégé joint venture harder to form than it should be.

But SBA’s new rule will force small businesses to forgo the mentor as a source of a new hire for the project manager position. Indeed, assisting with personnel in this manner is often precisely the type of mentoring envisioned under the mentor-protégé relationship.

When a protégé needs to hire a project manager, the mentor is an excellent resource. If SBA had sought public comment on this new requirement, the small business community (as well as large business mentors) surely would have voiced strong objections. As a result, this rule was not the product of proper notice and comment rulemaking and should not be implemented, at least not before the public has an opportunity to weigh in. SBA did not previously propose this significant change and, therefore, the public was not given an opportunity to comment on it. This was not a clarification of existing rules, however. SBA then added a further “clarification” in the final rule to prohibit the protégé from hiring the project manager from its mentor. SBA helpfully clarified that the protégé does not need to employ the project manager at the time of proposal submission, as long as the protégé has a letter of commitment from the individual to confirm he or she will become an employee of the protégé and serve as project manager by the time of contract award. The new rules state that the project manager must be an employee of the protégé by the time of contract performance. SBA’s rules require the joint venture to have a project manager that is responsible for performance of the contract. One of the problematic provisions will adversely effect how many small businesses form joint ventures with their mentors.Ī primary benefit of the mentor-protégé relationship is the ability of the mentor and protégé to form joint ventures. However, buried in the lengthy rulemaking are a few provisions that will be problematic for small businesses when the rules go into effect on August 24, 2016. Many aspects of the new rule are very exciting and should be beneficial for the small business community at large.

The SBA must find that there are not any control or affiliation issues that exist between the mentor and the protégé.On July 25, 2016, SBA released its long-awaited final rule creating the new mentor-protégé program for all small businesses.

The SBA must make a determination that the mentor-provided assistance will promote real developmental gains for the protege, not just act as a contracting vehicle for the large business to partake in small business set-aside contracts.

Requirements for approval by the SBA of the mentor-protégé agreement:

Have no more than three protégés at a time.

Be organized for profit or as an agricultural cooperative.

Have no more than two mentors in the business’ lifetimeĪll Small program qualification (large business/mentor).

Be organized as a for-profit business or as an agricultural cooperative.

Have a proposed mentor for the joint venture.

Be a small business with industry experience in which the joint venture is formed to seek contracts.

General and administrative assistance, like human resource sharing or security clearance support, can be utilized as part of the agreementĪll Small program qualifications (small business/protégé).

Business development, including strategy and identifying contracting and partnership opportunities.

Education about international trade, strategic planning, and finding markets.

Assistance navigating federal contract bidding, acquisition, and performance process.

Financial assistance in the form of equipment investments loans, and bonding.

Guidance on internal business management systems, accounting, marketing, manufacturing, and strategic planning.

Benefits to Protégés of All Small Mentor-Protégé Program: This includes contracts set-aside for veteran-owned, woman-owned, 8(a), and HUBZone businesses. These joint venture would then qualify for all set-aside contracts in which the small business is eligible. Mentors and protégés in the All Small program can form joint ventures.

MBE (Minority Businesses) Certifications.

Alaska Native Corporation / Tribally-Owned Companies – Services.