I-104 Selection of protege firms.

(a) Mentor firms will be solely responsible for selecting protege firms. Mentor firms are encouraged to identify and select concerns that are defined as emerging SDB, women-owned small business, HUBZone small business, service-disabled veteranowned small business, or an eligible entity employing the severely disabled.

(b) The selection of protege firms by mentor firms may not be protested, except as in paragraph (c) of this section.

(c) In the event of a protest regarding the size or disadvantaged status of an entity selected to be a protege firm as defined in I-101.5, the mentor firm must refer the protest to the SBA to resolve in accordance with 13 CFR Part 121 (with respect to size) or 13 CFR Part 124 (with respect to disadvantaged status).

(d) For purposes of the Small Business Act, no determination of affiliation or control (either direct or indirect) may be found between a protege firm and its mentor firm on the basis that the mentor firm has agreed to furnish (or has furnished) to its protege firm, pursuant to a mentor-protege agreement, any form of developmental assistance described in I-107(f).

(e) A protege firm may have only one active DoD mentor-protege agreement.