The Flood Gates Are Opened: SBA’s Mentor-Protégé Program Expands to All Small Business Concerns

On July 25, 2016, SBA will publish its final rule, effective 30 days from publication, establishing a mentor-protégé program for all small business concerns, which will be separate from, but similar to, SBA’s current 8(a) Business Development program. As we will elaborate on further next week in a blog and a webinar thereafter, the government-wide program will significantly expand the pool of companies that can qualify as protégés and for which mentors have unique investment and joint venture opportunities to leverage on set-aside procurements.