NASA Gears up for Rebooted Mentor Protégé Program

NASA plans to launch its Enhanced Mentor Protégé Program (MPP) on November 1 following an eight-month moratorium to improve mission alignment.

During a recent webinar, David Brock, Small Business Specialist at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) explained the revised program transitions away from basic supply chain services to capabilities meeting critical mission requirements such as the Deep Space Program and Moon to Mars Mission. Brock said the transition was necessary due to critical supply chain gaps dating back to the Space Shuttle mission.

The Enhanced MPP includes only Research and Development (R&D), Aerospace Manufacturing and high-level Information Technology industry sectors under specific NAICS codes directly connected to mission-critical areas. Eligible large business mentors must hold at least one NASA contract, including a subcontracting plan, under one of these NAICS codes. Concurrently, small business applicants must be certified under the NAICS code size standard for the service they intend to provide to the mentor company. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The revised program also removes restrictions under socio-economic categories enabling all small businesses, including Minority Institutions (MSI) and Historically Black College or University (HBCUs), to participate under these codes. Companies participating in the Ability One program under FAR Part 8.7 are also eligible to participate. However, since these companies are typically service providers, they may be unable to fill the supply chain gaps, Brock said. There are no limits on the number of small businesses that can participate nor the number of protégés large businesses can mentor. Moreover, active or past participation in a NASA MPP program or with another agency does not prohibit a firm from entering a new agreement.

The program structure includes Credit Agreements (CA) and Award Fee (AF) Programs. Under a CA, mentors can report developmental assistance costs toward their subcontracting goals. Under the AF program, mentors may receive a separate fee up to $100K for the developmental accomplishments achieved through the program. However, mentors can only receive the fee under existing AF-structured contracts, and the small businesses must hold an active Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase II or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II contract.

The MPP terms consist of a one-year minimum and a three-year maximum duration from the agreement start date. However, the protégé application remains valid for six years from the date of the application letter. Disbarments or suspensions from government contracts automatically negate the agreement, and the protégé is no longer eligible to participate in a NASA MPP agreement with current performance.

Contractor Benefits

Protégés receive technical and developmental assistance and eligibility for subcontracts, prime contracts and sole source awards through the MPP. These small businesses enhance their past performance portfolio and build positive credit standings with the federal government through MPP participation. As previously mentioned, mentors can count some protégé assistance costs and subcontract obligations toward their small business goals each year. This mutually beneficial program establishes teaming opportunities, facilitates networking opportunities and cultivates long-term relationships between the participants positioning each for a stronger competitive position.

Future Investments with Potential MP Eligibility

NASA’s Top FY 2025 Space Mission investments include:

• Deep Space Exploration, $7.6B
  • $4.2B for Moon to Mars (M2M) Transport Systems
  • $3.2B for M2M Lunar System Development
  • $1171M for Human Exploration requirements and architecture to support the M2M program
• Space Operations, $4.4B
  • $1.3B for International Space Station (ISS) operations toward decommissioning in 2030
  • $1.9B for Space Transportation continuing NASA’s partnership with U.S. commercial space industry
  • $1.1B for Space and Flight Support
  • $170M for Commercial Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Development in preparation for ISS decommission
•  Space Technology, $1.2B
  • $459M for Technology Demonstration for ground and space flight testing
  • $341M for Technology Maturation
  • $242M for SBIR and STTR programs
  • $140M for Early-Stage Innovation and Partnership (i.e., MPP)

Top FY 2025 IT investments include:

• NASA Earth Observing System Data Information System (EODIS), $205M
• NASA Communications Services, $150M
• Orion Program, $112M
• Earth Systematic Missions Program, $105M
• Exploration Ground Systems, $97M
• Mars Explorer Program (#269B), $35M
• Enterprise IT Services, $30M

Small businesses with R&D, manufacturing and IT capabilities within these deep space initiatives have numerous opportunities to enter the federal marketplace or enlarge their existing footprint through the MPP. The NASA OSBP provides complete program details, application documents and templates and a list of eligible mentors and SBIR/STTR Phase II companies. The office also conducts regular small business learning sessions and networking events at each center.

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