Understanding GSA’s Mentor-Protégé Program

1. Understanding GSA’s Mentor-Protégé Program Anthony “Tony” EilandProgram Analyst, Office of Small Business UtilizationU.S. General Services Administration May 2012

2. GSA’s Mentor-Protégé Program • GSA’s Mentor-Protégé Program is designed to encourage and motivate GSA prime contractors to assist small businesses and enhance their capability of performing successfully on GSA contracts and subcontracts • Mentor a Small Business • Learn from a Successful GSA Prime Contractor • Develop Long Term Relationships • Access New Opportunities • Grow into a Future Mentor

3. GSA’s Mentor-Protégé Program • GSA established the Mentor Protégé Program in the fall of 2009. Since that time, the program has afforded many small businesses new opportunities to grow and participate in the government opportunities. • GSA’s goal is to increase these opportunities for small business by encouraging the development of relationships with our prime GSA contractors.

4. Mentor-Protégé Program Benefits • Encourage and Motivate Small Business Growth • Enhance Protégé Capabilities & Capacity • Foster Long-Term Relationships • Increase Access to Small Business • Increase Opportunity to Existing Small Business Schedule Holders to increase work

5. Why Mentor a Small Business • Allows for teaming opportunities with the Protégé firms to win new contracts and opportunities • Benefit of learning from the Protégés about new and innovative products and services • Assistance in fulfilling subcontracting plan (Prime contractors’ subcontracting plans containing Mentor-Protégé Agreements can be evaluated more favorably than subcontracting plans without Mentor-Protégé Agreements)

6. Benefits From GSA for Mentors • Evaluation factor credit on GSA opportunities • Eligible for an annual non-monetary award presented to the Mentor firm providing the most effective developmental support to a Protégé • Being recognized as a “corporate mentor” within the GSA procurement system and capable of using this as a marketing tool with Contracting Officers

7. Value for the Protégé • New teaming opportunities • Enhance business capability and success • Increased supplier/distribution • Opportunities to perform as a subcontractor or supplier • Long-term business relationships

8. Eligibility Requirements For Mentors • Mentors can be either Large or Small Businesses • Mentor must have either a GSA Schedule or an active GSA contracting vehicle (BPA, GWAC, etc.) • Large Businesses must be performing under an approved subcontracting plan (not applicable if Mentor is a Small Business) • Have capability and capacity to Mentor • Must be eligible for the Award of Federal contracts • Not listed on the “Excluded Parties List”

9. Eligibility Requirements For Protégés • Protégé must be a small business according to the SBA size standards in the North American Industrial Codes (NAICs) • Mentorship would be constructive and practical • Be eligible for the award of Federal contracts • Not listed in the “Excluded Parties” List System • Not barred from participation in Mentor-Protégé Programs

10. Program Details • GSA DOES NOT MATCH - Mentors and protégés must select each other for the program • Mentors are permitted to have more than one Protégé in the Program at one time (A separate Mentor-Protégé Agreement must be submitted for eachMentor-Protégé relationship) • Protégés are allowed to only have one Mentor while in the Program at a time • The GSA Mentor-Protégé Program is a non-credit, non-reimbursableprogram • GSA will not provide the Mentor firm with monetary reimbursement for the cost of developmental assistance incurred supporting the Protégé firm

11. Application Requirements All Mentor-Protégé Applications mustcontain the following to be considered for approval: • A signed Mentor-Protégé Application (GSA Form 3695) • A signed Mentor-Protégé Agreement • Protégé Needs Assessment performed by the Mentor Firm (recommended) Applications will be evaluated for approval by the Mentor Protégé Program Manager based on the extent to which the Mentor plans to provide developmental assistance to the Protégé.

12. Application Requirements (Cont.) After a Mentor-Protégé Applications has been approved, the following items are highly recommendedfor performance success in the Program: • GANTT Chart to explain and track the critical path (e.g. projected tasks, timelines and milestones) of the Protégés developmental progress • Schedule a formal kick-off meeting with the Program Manager (this can be in person or over the phone via conference call)

13. Application Process • Mentor identifies a potential Protégé • Mentor enters into a Mentor-Protégé Agreement with Protégé • Mentor submits application – The approval process takes approximately 30 business days • Acceptance into Program – After the application has been reviewed and approved, the Program Manager will alert the Mentor firm, in writing, as well as provide them with an Acceptance Letter that can be used in proposals and to market to potential customers

14. Anthony “Tony” EilandProgram AnalystGSA Office of Small Business Utilization anthony.eiland@gsa.gov(202) 208-0257www.gsa.gov/mentorprotegeprogramEmail: mentorprotege@gsa.gov