---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 657r"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "657r"
heading: "Mentor-protege programs"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/657r"
units:
  - "Chapter 14A — Aid to Small Business"
---

# §657r. Mentor-protege programs

- (a) **Administration program—**
  - (1) **Authority—** The [Administrator](/usc/15/637c.md?p=1) is authorized to establish a mentor-protege program for all [small business concerns](/usc/15/636e.md?p=6).
  - (2) **Model for program—** The mentor-protege program established under [paragraph (1)](#a-1) shall be identical to the mentor-protege program of the [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) for [small business concerns](/usc/15/636e.md?p=6) that participate in the program under [section 637(a) of this title](/usc/15/637.md?p=a) (as in effect on January 2, 2013), except that the [Administrator](/usc/15/637c.md?p=1) may modify the program to the extent necessary given the types of [small business concerns](/usc/15/636e.md?p=6) included as proteges.
  - (3) **Puerto Rico businesses—** During the period beginning on August 13, 2018, and ending on the date on which the Oversight Board established under [section 2121 of title 48](/usc/48/2121.md) terminates, the [Administrator](/usc/15/637c.md?p=1) shall identify potential incentives to a covered mentor that awards a [subcontract](/usc/15/632.md?p=dd-1) to its covered protege, including—
    - (A) positive consideration in any past performance evaluation of the covered mentor; and
    - (B) the application of costs incurred for providing training to such covered protege to the subcontracting plan (as required under paragraph (4) or (5) of [section 637(d) of this title](/usc/15/637.md?p=d)) of the covered mentor.
  - (4) **Covered territory businesses—** During the period beginning on January 1, 2021, and ending on the date that is 4 years after such date, the [Administrator](/usc/15/637c.md?p=1) shall identify potential incentives to a covered territory mentor that awards a [subcontract](/usc/15/632.md?p=dd-1) to its covered territory protege, including—
    - (A) positive consideration in any past performance evaluation of the covered territory mentor; and
    - (B) the application of costs incurred for providing training to such covered territory protege to the subcontracting plan (as required under paragraph (4) or (5) of [section 637(d) of this title](/usc/15/637.md?p=d)) of the covered territory mentor.
- (b) **Programs of other agencies—**
  - (1) **Approval required—** Except as provided in [paragraph (4)](#b-4), a Federal department or [agency](/usc/15/632.md?p=b) may not carry out a mentor-protege program for [small business concerns](/usc/15/636e.md?p=6) unless—
    - (A) the head of the department or [agency](/usc/15/632.md?p=b) submits a plan to the [Administrator](/usc/15/637c.md?p=1) for the program; and
    - (B) the [Administrator](/usc/15/637c.md?p=1) approves such plan.
  - (2) **Basis for approval—** The [Administrator](/usc/15/637c.md?p=1) shall approve or disapprove a plan submitted under [paragraph (1)](#b-1) based on whether the program proposed—
    - (A) will assist proteges to compete for Federal [prime contracts](/usc/15/632.md?p=m-1) and [subcontracts](/usc/15/632.md?p=dd-1); and
    - (B) complies with the regulations issued under [paragraph (3)](#b-3).
  - (3) **Regulations—** Not later than 270 days after January 2, 2013, the [Administrator](/usc/15/637c.md?p=1) shall issue, subject to notice and comment, regulations with respect to mentor-protege programs, which shall ensure that such programs improve the ability of proteges to compete for Federal [prime contracts](/usc/15/632.md?p=m-1) and [subcontracts](/usc/15/632.md?p=dd-1) and which shall address, at a minimum, the following:
    - (A) Eligibility criteria for program participants, including any restrictions on the number of mentor-protege relationships permitted for each participant, except that such restrictions shall not apply to up to 2 mentor-protege relationships if such relationships—
      - (i) are between a covered protege and a covered mentor; or
      - (ii) are between a covered territory protege and a covered territory mentor.
    - (B) The types of developmental assistance to be provided by mentors, including how the assistance provided shall improve the competitive viability of the proteges.
    - (C) Whether any developmental assistance provided by a mentor may affect the status of a program participant as a [small business concern](/usc/15/636e.md?p=6) due to affiliation.
    - (D) The length of mentor-protege relationships.
    - (E) The effect of mentor-protege relationships on contracting.
    - (F) Benefits that may accrue to a mentor as a result of program participation.
    - (G) Reporting requirements during program participation.
    - (H) Postparticipation reporting requirements.
    - (I) The need for a mentor-protege pair, if accepted to participate as a pair in a mentor-protege program of any Federal department or [agency](/usc/15/632.md?p=b), to be accepted to participate as a pair in all Federal mentor-protege programs.
    - (J) Actions to be taken to ensure benefits for proteges and to protect a protege against actions by a mentor that—
      - (i) may adversely affect the protege’s status as a [small business concern](/usc/15/636e.md?p=6); or
      - (ii) provide disproportionate economic benefits to the mentor relative to those provided the protege.
    - (K) The types of assistance provided by a mentor to assist with compliance with the requirements of contracting with the Federal Government after award of a contract or [subcontract](/usc/15/632.md?p=dd-1) under this section.
  - (4) **Limitation on applicability—** [Paragraph (1)](#b-1) does not apply to the following:
    - (A) Any mentor-protege program of the Department of Defense.
    - (B) Any mentoring assistance provided under a Small Business Innovation Research Program or a Small Business Technology Transfer Program.
    - (C) Until the date that is 1 year after the date on which the [Administrator](/usc/15/637c.md?p=1) issues regulations under [paragraph (3)](#b-3), any Federal department or [agency](/usc/15/632.md?p=b) operating a mentor-protege program in effect on January 2, 2013.
- (c) **Reporting—**
  - (1) **In general—** Not later than 2 years after January 2, 2013, and annually thereafter, the [Administrator](/usc/15/637c.md?p=1) shall submit to the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate a report that—
    - (A) identifies each Federal mentor-protege program;
    - (B) specifies the number of participants in each such program, including the number of participants that are—
      - (i) [small business concerns](/usc/15/636e.md?p=6);
      - (ii) [small business concerns](/usc/15/636e.md?p=6) owned and controlled by [service-disabled veterans](/usc/15/632.md?p=q-1);
      - (iii) [qualified HUBZone small business concerns](/usc/15/632.md?p=p);
      - (iv) [small business concerns](/usc/15/636e.md?p=6) owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals; or
      - (v) [small business concerns](/usc/15/636e.md?p=6) owned and controlled by women;
    - (C) describes the type of assistance provided to proteges under each such program;
    - (D) describes the benefits provided to mentors under each such program; and
    - (E) describes the progress of proteges under each such program with respect to competing for Federal [prime contracts](/usc/15/632.md?p=m-1) and [subcontracts](/usc/15/632.md?p=dd-1).
  - (2) **Provision of information—** The head of each Federal department or [agency](/usc/15/632.md?p=b) carrying out a mentor-protege program shall provide to the [Administrator](/usc/15/637c.md?p=1), on an annual basis, the information necessary for the [Administrator](/usc/15/637c.md?p=1) to submit a report required under [paragraph (1)](#c-1).
- (d) **Definitions—** In this section, the following definitions apply:
  - (1) **Mentor—** The term “mentor” means a for-profit business concern, of any size, that—
    - (A) has the ability to assist and commits to assisting a protege to compete for Federal [prime contracts](/usc/15/632.md?p=m-1) and [subcontracts](/usc/15/632.md?p=dd-1); and
    - (B) satisfies any other requirements imposed by the [Administrator](/usc/15/637c.md?p=1).
  - (2) **Mentor-protege program—** The term “mentor-protege program” means a program that pairs a mentor with a protege for the purpose of assisting the protege to compete for Federal [prime contracts](/usc/15/632.md?p=m-1) and [subcontracts](/usc/15/632.md?p=dd-1).
  - (3) **Protege—** The term “protege” means a [small business concern](/usc/15/636e.md?p=6) that—
    - (A) is eligible to enter into Federal [prime contracts](/usc/15/632.md?p=m-1) and [subcontracts](/usc/15/632.md?p=dd-1); and
    - (B) satisfies any other requirements imposed by the [Administrator](/usc/15/637c.md?p=1).
  - (4) **Covered mentor—** The term “covered mentor” means a mentor that enters into an [agreement](/usc/15/7a.md?p=2) under this chapter, or under any mentor-protege program approved under [subsection (b)(1)](#b-1), with a covered protege.
  - (5) **Covered protege—** The term “covered protege” means a protege of a covered mentor that is a [Puerto Rico business](/usc/15/632.md?p=ee).
  - (6) **Covered territory mentor—** The term “covered territory mentor” means a mentor that enters into an [agreement](/usc/15/7a.md?p=2) under this chapter, or under any mentor-protege program approved under [subsection (b)(1)](#b-1), with a covered territory protege.
  - (7) **Covered territory protege—** The term “covered territory protege” means a protege of a covered territory mentor that is a [covered territory business](/usc/15/632.md?p=ff).
- (e) **Current mentor protege agreements—** Mentors and proteges with approved [agreement](/usc/15/7a.md?p=2) in a program operating pursuant to [subsection (b)(4)(C)](#b-4-C) shall be permitted to continue their relationship according to the terms specified in their [agreement](/usc/15/7a.md?p=2) until the expiration date specified in the [agreement](/usc/15/7a.md?p=2).
- (f) **Submission of agency plans—** [Agencies](/usc/15/632.md?p=b) operating mentor protege programs pursuant to [subsection (b)(4)(C)](#b-4-C) shall submit the plans specified in [subsection (b)(1)(A)](#b-1-A) to the [Administrator](/usc/15/637c.md?p=1) within 6 months of the promulgation of rules required by [subsection (b)(3)](#b-3). The [Administrator](/usc/15/637c.md?p=1) shall provide initial comments on each plan within 60 days of receipt, and final approval or denial of each plan within 180 days after receipt.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 85–536, § 2[45], as added Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title XVI, § 1641(2), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 2077; amended Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title XVIII, § 1813(e), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2653; Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 861(d), (e), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1896, 1897; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title VIII, § 866(c), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3786.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 2[45] of Pub. L. 85–536 was renumbered section 2[49] and is set out as a note under section 631 of this title.

### Amendments

2021—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 116–283, § 866(c)(1), added par. (4).

Subsec. (b)(3)(A). Pub. L. 116–283, § 866(c)(2), substituted “relationships—” and cls. (i) and (ii) for “relationships are between a covered protege and covered mentor.”

Subsec. (d)(6), (7). Pub. L. 116–283, § 866(c)(3), added pars. (6) and (7).

2018—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 115–232, § 861(d)(1), added par. (3).

Subsec. (b)(3)(A). Pub. L. 115–232, § 861(e), inserted “, except that such restrictions shall not apply to up to 2 mentor-protege relationships if such relationships are between a covered protege and covered mentor” after “each participant”.

Subsec. (d)(4), (5). Pub. L. 115–232, § 861(d)(2), added pars. (4) and (5).

2016—Subsec. (b)(3)(K). Pub. L. 114–328 added subpar. (K).