Comments on Proposed Rule Regarding the Small Business Mentor Protégé Program; Small Business Size Regulations; Government Contracting Programs; 8(a) Business Development/Small Disadvantaged Business Status Determinations; HUBZone Program; Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Program; Rules of Procedure Governing Cases Before the Office of Hearings and Appeals , RIN: 3245-AG24
We are releasing our comments regarding the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (“SBA”) proposed rule of February 5, 2015, to establish a mentor-protégé program for all small businesses. See 80 Fed. Reg. 6618 (Feb. 5, 2015). Our firm represents small businesses operating across the government contracting spectrum. Federal contractors have been eagerly anticipating this rulemaking since Congress directed SBA, first in the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 and then in the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act, to expand its mentor-protégé program. Currently available only to participants in SBA’s 8(a) Program, SBA is now proposing to create one new mentor-protégé program available for all small businesses, including service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (“SDVOSBs”), HUBZone firms, women-owned and economically-disadvantaged women-owned small businesses (“WOSBs/EDWOSBs”). This is welcome news for small and large businesses, as many more firms will be able to access the benefits of being a mentor and a protégé.
We concur with much of what SBA is proposing in this rulemaking and we commend the agency for its efforts. We hope SBA will target the end of 2015 to issue the final rule.
Our final comments can be downloaded here.
The deadline to submit comments is Wednesday, May 6, 2015. Comments may be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Please don’t hesitate to contact Pam Mazza, Katie Flood, Cy Alba or Kimi Murakami if you have any questions.