Getting the Most out of your
Mentor-Protégé Relationship:
A Mentor's Perspective
Orlando, FL
February 12, 2014
This document is confidential and is intended solely for the use and
information of the client to whom it is addressed.
Table Of Contents
 What do you want to get out of an agreement?
 Have you done your homework?
 Which Mentor-Protégé Program is right for you?
 Have you thought about what mentors are looking for?
 What is the mentor’s approach?
 Resources
Filename/RPS Number
1
What do want to get out of an agreement?
New certifications?
What does success look like?
Enhanced Infrastructure?
New Technology?
Enhanced Strategic Relationship?
Client Recognition?
Access to New Markets?
Growth?
Joint Venture?
Financial assistance in the form of equity or loans?
2
Have you done your homework?
• Have you worked contractually with the mentor?
• Do you met the mentor’s requirements?
• Who are your points of contact with the mentor?
• Have you reviewed the agency’s website on mentorprotégé?
• How has your performance been with that mentor?
• If you have worked with the mentor, under what
client?
• Does that client have a mentor-protégé program?
• Are you eligible to be a protégé under that
program?
• Does the mentor participate in mentor-protégé
programs?
• Have you met with the agency’s mentor-protégé
director or others within the OSDBU office?
• What are the incentives for participating under the
given program? Reimbursement? Evaluation Credit?
Compulsory Participation for a specific procurement?
• Can you dedicate sufficient time and resources to
making the program work?
• What do you want to get out of an agreement?
• Have you reviewed the mentor’s website on mentor- • What benefits are there for participating with you
under the given program?
protégé?
3
Which mentor-protégé program is right for you?
DHS
Energy
Treasury
SBA VA
NASA
GSA
FAA
HHS
State
USAID
DoD
EPA
4
The SBA Mentor-Protégé Program – Protégé Eligibility
 In order to initially qualify as a protégé firm, a Participant must:
 Be in the developmental stage of program participation; or
 Have never received an 8(a) contract; or
 Have a size that is less than half the size standard corresponding to its primary NAICS
code.
– Only firms that are in good standing in the 8(a) BD program (e.g., firms that do not have
termination or suspension proceedings against them, and are up to date with all reporting
requirements) may qualify as a protégé.
– A protégé firm may generally have only one mentor at a time. A second mentor for a
particular protégé firm may be approved where the second relationship will not compete or
otherwise conflict with the business development assistance set forth in the first
mentor/protégé relationship and either:
 The second relationship pertains to a, secondary NAICS code; or
 The protégé firm is seeking to acquire a specific expertise that the first mentor does not
possess.
– A protégé may not become a mentor and retain its protégé status. The protégé must
terminate its mentor/protégé agreement with its mentor before it will be approved as a
mentor to another 8(a) Participant.
– SBA will not approve a mentor/protégé relationship for an 8(a) Participant with less than six
months remaining in its program term.
Filename/RPS Number
5
There are several options within DoD
• Army
• Navy
• Air Force
• Missile Defense Agency
• National Security Agency
• U.S. Special Operations Command
• Joint Ground Robotics Enterprise
• National Geospatial Intelligence Agency
• Defense Logistics Agency
• Defense Intelligence Agency
• Defense Contract Management Agency (Credit Agreements)
6
What are the Program’s Requirements
• Is the mentor Eligible?
• GSA requires mentor to have a GSA contract
• Are you eligibly to be a protégé
• SBA program is only open to 8(a) companies
• VA requires protégés to be either a VOSB or
SDVOSB and verified in their portal)
• When can an agreement be submitted
• EPA requires submission with a contract bid
• Some have windows for submissions
7
What is the mentor looking for?
• Existing contractual business relationship with Booz Allen for a minimum of one year
(client facing)
• Immediate value proposition within the agency market (e.g. strategic relationship,
complementary skill)
• Minimum size standard of 20 full-time employees and operating as a business for at
least 3 years
• Strategic long-term value in addition to potential subcontracting opportunities
• Capabilities do not directly compete with any existing Booz Allen protégé
• No active mentor-protégé agreement within the targeted agency or any other agency
• Must have held a federal contract or subcontract for at least one year with any agency
• Compatible business ethics and philosophy and a potential for long-term reciprocal
relationship
• Financially stable and viable (as determined through our questionnaire and financial
screening)
8
What is mentor’s approach?
1. Reach out to the Small Business Office
2. Data Gathering Stage
• Eligibility requirements
• Hold face to face meeting ensure compatibility
3. Protégé Questionnaire Completion
• A protégé questionnaire must be completed by
all potential protégés which will provide further
insight in to their organization and whether the
firm may be a good protégé candidate
4. Protégé Financial Screening
• Requires an NDA to be signed by both mentor
5. Letter to OIC
• Announces the intent to explore a mentor-protégé
relationship
• Summarizes value proposition
• Requests approval to move forward with the
drafting of the agreement on behalf of the firm
6. Draft Agreement in Conjunction with the Small
Business Office
7. Submit agreement to OIC for signature
8. Submit agreement to Agency for review/approval
and protégé
• Provides the SBO an understanding of the
financial stability of the small business.
9. Execute and manage approved agreement
10.Comply with reporting requirements
9
Resources
Department of Defense Mentor-Protégé Website
http://www.acq.osd.mil/osbp/mentor_protege/
SBA’s Mentor-Protégé Website
http://www.sba.gov/content/mentor-prot%C3%A9g%C3%A9-program
OSDBU Council Website
http://www.osdbu.gov/members.html
Booz Allen Mentor-Protégé Website:
http://www.boozallen.com/about/doingbusiness/federal-mentor-protege-program
My contact Information: Shawn Ralston (703-377-1438) ralston_shawn@bah.com
10