I-102 Participant eligibility.

(a)  To be eligible to participate as a mentor, an entity must be-

(1)  An entity other than small business, unless a waiver to the small business exception has been obtained from the Director, Small Business Programs (SBP), OUSD(AT&L), that is a prime contractor to DoD with an active subcontracting plan; or

(2)  A graduated 8(a) firm that provides documentation of its ability to serve as a mentor; and

(3)  Approved to participate as a mentor in accordance with I-105.

(b)  To be eligible to participate as a protege, an entity must be--

(1)  An SDB, a women-owned small business, a HUBZone small business, a service-disabled veteran-owned small business, or an eligible entity employing the severely disabled;

(2) Eligible for the award of Federal contracts; and

(3) A small business according to the Small Business Administration (SBA) size standard for the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code that represents the contemplated supplies or services to be provided by the protege firm to the mentor firm if the firm is representing itself as a qualifying entity under the definition at I-101.5(a) or I-101.6.

(c) Mentor firms may rely in good faith on a written representation that the entity meets the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section, except for a protege's status as a small disadvantaged business concern (see FAR 19.703(b)).

(d) If at any time the SBA (or DoD in the case of entities employing the severely disabled) determines that a protege is ineligible, assistance that the mentor firm furnishes to the protege after the date of the determination may not be considered assistance furnished under the Program.

(e) A company may not be approved for participation in the Program as a mentor firm if, at the time of requesting participation in the Program, it is currently debarred or suspended from contracting with the Federal Government pursuant to FAR Subpart 9.4.

(f) If the mentor firm is suspended or debarred while performing under an approved mentor-protege agreement, the mentor firm-

(1) May continue to provide assistance to its protege firms pursuant to approved mentor-protege agreements entered into prior to the imposition of such suspension or debarment;

(2) May not be reimbursed or take credit for any costs of providing developmental assistance to its protege firm, incurred more than 30 days after the imposition of such suspension or debarment; and

(3) Must promptly give notice of its suspension or debarment to its protege firm and the cognizant Component Director, SBP.