About the All Small Mentor-Protégé Program
The Department of State has retired its Mentor-Protege Program (MPP) in favor of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) All Small Mentor-Protege Program.
All Small Mentor-Protege Program . The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 and the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 provided authority for the Small Business Administration to establish mentor-protégé programs for all small businesses. Rather than creating separate programs for each constituency – Service Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses , Women Owned Small Businesses , Historically Underutilized Business Zones – the SBA chose to create a single, all-inclusive mentor-protégé program modeled on the successful mentor-protégé program available to participants in its 8(a) program.
The purpose of the new program is to develop strong protégé firms through mentor-provided business development assistance, and to help protégés successfully compete for government contracts. Mentor-provided assistance can be sought for any, or all of the following activities:
- Management and Technical Assistance
Internal business management systems; accounting processes; marketing and business/strategic planning assistance; technology transfers; and manufacturing assistance. - Financial Assistance
In the form of equity investments and/or loans; and bonding. - Contracting Assistance
Contracting processes; capabilities; acquisitions; and performance. - Trade Education
International Trade business and strategic planning; finding markets; and learning how to export. - Business Development Assistance
Strategy; and identifying contracting and partnership opportunities. - General and/or Administrative Assistance
Business processes and support; human resource sharing; security clearance support; and capacity building.