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SECAF U.S. Air Force

Mentor-Protégé Program

The Mentor-Protégé Program assists eligible Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDBs) (protégés) to successfully compete for prime contract and subcontract awards by partnering with major defense contractors (mentors) under individual, project-based agreements to help meet the Air Force mission. Several Air Force Mentor-Protégé teams have received prestigious Nunn-Perry awards for superior performance.

Mentor companies:

• Provide developmental assistance and technology transfer to their protégés
• Are directly reimbursed for services provided to protéégés

Protégés:

• Establish relationships with major Air Force contractors
• Develop necessary business and technical capabilities to perform significant work on Air Force and other Department of Defense (DoD) contracts
• Expand and diversify their customer base

Eligibility Criteria

Mentors must be:

• DoD prime contractors eligible for the award of federal contracts, with at least one active subcontracting plan

Protégés must be:

• A small disadvantaged business qualifications; and
• A women-owned small business; and/or
• A service-disabled veteran-owned small business; and/or
• A qualified HUBZone small business

Note: Mentors and protégés are solely responsible for finding their counterpart. The Air Force Office of Small Business Programs does not participate in the teaming of mentors and protéégés. Interested firms are encouraged to explore existing business relationships in an effort to establish a Mentor-Protégé relationship.

References

Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations (DFARs), Subpar 219.71
DFARS Appendix I
DoD Mentor-Protégé Home Page
DoD Major Prime Contractors List

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