NASA Revives Mentor-Protégé Program For Contractors

NASA recently announced that it is reviving and updating its mentor-protégé program for those who do business with the agency. In doing so, NASA joins other agencies such as the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security which offer similar mentor-protégé initiatives. This summer, the General Services Administration announced plans for a similar program. Like mentor-protégé programs in other agencies, NASA's initiative provides attractive incentives for large, established government contractors willing to offer developmental assistance to small protégé companies. These incentives may include receiving small business subcontracting credit, reimbursement of certain costs, and eligibility for fee awards. In reviving this program, NASA (which expended some $10 billion in FY 2007) has significantly expanded opportunities in the Federal market for both large and small businesses.