The Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) recently issued a public report on the SBA’s All Small Mentor-Protégé Program (ASMPP), in which the SBA OIG found certain shortcomings in the SBA’s administration of the program. As discussed below, the report also provides a series of recommendations, most of which the SBA has accepted.
What is the ASMPP?
The SBA began accepting applications for the ASMPP in 2016 and has seen a surge in applications each subsequent year. Under the ASMPP, any small business – including 8(a) small businesses, Historically Underutilized Business Zone small businesses, veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, woman-owned and economically disadvantaged woman-owned small businesses – may enter into an agreement with a large business under which the large business will provide mentorship and assistance. In return, the large and small businesses are permitted to joint venture to perform federal small business set-aside contracts.
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