The Mentoring Business Agreements (MBA) Program is a DLA variation on the DoD Pilot Mentor-Protege Program (although it does not supersede the latter). Under the DLA Program, experienced (generally large business) entities serve as mentors to selected proteges in reciprocally rewarding relationships. The protege is ordinarily a small, small disadvantaged, or women-owned small business; however, it may also be a “AbilityOne”, ( formerly called Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act (“JWOD”))-qualified nonprofit agency for the blind or other severely disabled, approved by the Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled. This Agency program differs from the DoD Mentor-Protege Program in that it:
(a) is not statutorily mandated;
(b) will remain in effect so long as it achieves the purposes for which it is intended;
(c) permits the selection of any small business or “ABILITYONE”-qualified nonprofit agency as a protege;
(d) does not require potential mentors to undergo a substantial approval process in order to qualify for that role, or to identify intended proteges "up front";
(e) is determined successful more by the establishment of long-term business relationships between mentors and proteges (and perhaps the latter's improved business processes and penetration into new markets) than by numbers and dollar values of subcontracts with SDBs or any other category of small entity; and
(f) offers no direct monetary incentives to contractors. (Instead, it relies on a market-based incentive consisting of the extension of favorable consideration to the mentor under the instant and future source selections, and within the context of option exercise or order placement under multiple-award contracts.)
