For small businesses looking to break into government contracting, teaming up with an experienced business through a Mentor-Protégé Program (MPP) can be a great strategy. In addition to the widely used MPP run by the Small Business Administration (SBA), contractors can participate in Mentor-Protégé Programs at specific federal agencies, such as the Department of Defense (DoD) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Similar to the DoD’s MPP, NASA’s Mentor-Protégé Program helps small businesses participate in contracting at NASA specifically. NASA put their MPP on hold in February 2024 and relaunched it on November 1, 2024, with program updates that better serve both NASA and participating contractors. In this blog, we’ll share some background on the NASA MPP and its benefits for contractors, describe recent changes to the program, and discuss how contractors can participate.
What is the NASA Mentor-Protégé Program?
Through the NASA Mentor-Protégé Program, NASA prime contractors, or mentors, enter into an agreement with small business protégés. Mentors and protégés then compete for NASA contracting opportunities together. As part of the agreement, mentors provide their protégés with technical and developmental assistance, in areas ranging from engineering and design to financial management.
The Mentor-Protégé Program is run by NASA’s Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP), whose mission is to integrate small businesses into the base of contractors that support space exploration, scientific discovery, and aeronautics research. The MPP aligns with this mission by increasing the number of small businesses receiving NASA contract and subcontract awards.
Benefits of the NASA MPP for Contractors
The NASA MPP is beneficial for mentors and protégés alike. As large businesses, mentors benefit from the program by gaining credit toward their small business subcontracting goals. They can also grow their long-term subcontracting network through the relationships formed with small businesses in the program. In addition, by seeking out protégés with certain skillsets, mentors can address known gaps in their supply chain and become more competitive for NASA contracts.
By participating in the MPP, small business protégés gain the opportunity to compete for NASA contracts that they wouldn’t quality for alone, including their mentor’s sole-source contracts. Protégés also benefit from the technical and developmental assistance provided by their mentor. This assistance enhances the protégé’s capacity to perform on NASA contracts, while helping them grow their business overall.
Recent Updates to the NASA MPP Program
NASA’s recent updates to the Mentor-Protégé Program are intended to ensure the program effectively supports both participating contractors and NASA’s missions. Specifically, the revamped MPP opens up the program to more types of protégés, while prioritizing the key industries where NASA experiences supply chain gaps.
Expansion of Entities Eligible to Become Protégés
The revamped program aims to be more inclusive by expanding the list of entity types that can participate as protégés. Specifically, Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCUs), Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), and companies participating in the AbilityOne program are now eligible. Previously, only designated types of small businesses could participate. An updated list of entities eligible to become protégés is below:
- Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB)
- Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB)
- Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) concern
- Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB)
- Service-Disabled Veteran–Owned Small Business (SDVOSB)
- Historically Black College or University (HBCU)
- Minority Serving Institution (MSI)
- Small business with an active NASA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II contract
- Company participating in the AbilityOne program
Prioritization of Certain NAICS Codes
The revamped program also prioritizes contractors working under specified North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Codes, to better align the program with the needs of NASA’s missions and address supply chain gaps.
Mentors in the MPP are now required to hold at least one NASA contract under one of the NAICS Codes listed below:
- 325120 Industrial Gas Manufacturing
- 333314 Optical Instrument and Lens Manufacturing
- 334511 Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System, and Instrument Manufacturing
- 336414 Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing
- 336415 Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Propulsion Unit and Propulsion Unit Parts Manufacturing
- 336419 Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing
- 481212 Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation
- 488190 Other Support Activities For Air Transportation
- 517919 All Other Telecommunications
- 541330 Engineering Services
- 541512 Computer Systems Design Services
- 541519 Other Computer Related Services
- 541715 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences Except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology
NASA’s OSBP may consider businesses working under other NAICS Codes on a case-by-case basis.
Overall, this update represents a shift in the Mentor-Protégé Program’s focus from basic supply services towards targeted industry sectors, such as Research & Development (R&D), Aerospace Manufacturing, and highly technical software and cutting-edge technologies. By prioritizing NAICS Codes in these industries, the MPP can better support technological advancement within NASA and increase the program’s long-term impact.
Who is Eligible for the NASA MPP?
Mentors in the NASA MPP must be current prime contractors on a NASA contract with one of the NAICS Codes specified earlier. Mentors should also have an approved small business subcontracting plan. A list of current NASA prime contractors is available on the program’s home page.
Protégés do not need to be current contractors with NASA to participate in the MPP. However, they do need to be classified as one of the small business or other entity types listed above. Both protégés and mentors should not be debarred, suspended, or declared ineligible for the award of government contracts.
How to Participate in the NASA MPP
The first step to participate in NASA’s MPP is to find a mentor or protégé with whom to partner. NASA is not involved with this process. A good place to start for protégés seeking mentors would be the directory of NASA prime contractors. Once the mentor and protégé decide they are a good match, they would conduct a needs assessment to determine what type of technical and developmental assistance the mentor will provide to the protégé. The mentor and protégé would then meet with the mentor’s Contracting Officer (CO), Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), and Small Business Specialist (SBS) to discuss their planned Mentor-Protégé Agreement.
Next, the mentor and protégé would put together their application for submission. The application package includes:
- Mentor-Protégé Agreement
- Protégé application
- Technical and cost proposals
- A work breakdown structure
- Endorsement letters from the CO, COR, and SBS
After completion of the application, the mentor would send it to their NASA Center for review. If approved, the Mentor-Protégé Agreement officially begins on the date that the CO incorporates it into the mentor’s NASA contract. Mentor-Protégé Agreements can have a period of performance of between one and three years.
Forming Contracting Relationships
Mentor-Protégé Programs at NASA and other federal agencies aren’t the only way that government contractors can form successful partnerships. Contractor Teaming Arrangements, Joint Ventures (JVs), subcontracting, and partnering with resellers are all ways that small or large businesses can pool their skills and resources together to successfully sell to the government.
These types of partnerships can bring a host of benefits to both parties. If you want to evaluate which partnership option is right for you, you can check out our blogs “GSA Schedule Partnerships for Small Businesses” and “Teaming and Subcontracting: Partnering for Success on Your GSA Schedule.” If you have any questions about what these contractor partnerships involve, we would be happy to help you.
