Building Better Business Partnerships Act of 2012 - Amends the Small Business Act to authorize the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish a mentor-protege program for all small businesses. (Under current law, the SBA mentor-protege program is limited to small businesses participating in the section 8(a) guaranteed loan program.)
Prohibits a federal department or agency from carrying out a mentor-protege program for small businesses unless the head of such department or agency submits a program plan to the Administrator and the Administrator approves it. Requires the Administrator to approve or disapprove a plan based on whether the proposed program: (1) will assist proteges to compete for federal prime contracts and subcontracts, and (2) complies with program regulations as issued by the Administrator under this Act.
[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3985 Introduced in House (IH)]
112th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 3985
To amend the Small Business Act with respect to mentor-protege
programs, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 8, 2012
Mr. Schilling (for himself and Ms. Chu) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Small Business
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Small Business Act with respect to mentor-protege
programs, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Building Better Business
Partnerships Act of 2012''.
SEC. 2. MENTOR-PROTEGE PROGRAMS.
The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by redesignating section 45 as section 46; and
(2) by inserting after section 44 the following:
``SEC. 45. MENTOR-PROTEGE PROGRAMS.
``(a) Administration Program.--
``(1) Authority.--The Administrator is authorized to
establish a mentor-protege program for all small business
concerns.
``(2) Model for program.--The mentor-protege program
established under paragraph (1) shall be identical to the
mentor-protege program of the Administration for small business
concerns that participate in the program under section 8(a) of
this Act (as in effect on the date of enactment of the Building
Better Business Partnerships Act of 2012), except that the
Administrator may modify the program to the extent necessary
given the types of small business concerns included as
proteges.
``(b) Programs of Other Agencies.--
``(1) Approval required.--Except as provided in this
subsection, a Federal department or agency may not carry out a
mentor-protege program for small business concerns unless--
``(A) the head of the department or agency submits
a plan to the Administrator for the program; and
``(B) the Administrator approves such plan.
``(2) Basis for approval.--The Administrator shall approve
or disapprove a plan submitted under paragraph (1) based on
whether the program proposed--
``(A) will assist proteges to compete for Federal
prime contracts and subcontracts; and
``(B) complies with the regulations issued under
paragraph (3).
``(3) Regulations.--Not later than 270 days after the date
of enactment of the Building Better Business Partnerships Act
of 2012, the Administrator shall issue, subject to notice and
comment, regulations with respect to mentor-protege programs,
which shall ensure that such programs improve the ability of
proteges to compete for Federal prime contracts and
subcontracts and which shall address, at a minimum, the
following:
``(A) Eligibility criteria for program
participants, including any restrictions on the number
of mentor-protege relationships permitted for each
participant.
``(B) The types of developmental assistance to be
provided by mentors, including how the assistance
provided shall improve the competitive viability of the
proteges.
``(C) Whether any developmental assistance provided
by a mentor may affect the status of a program
participant as a small business concern due to
affiliation.
``(D) The length of mentor-protege relationships.
``(E) The effect of mentor-protege relationships on
contracting.
``(F) Benefits that may accrue to a mentor as a
result of program participation.
``(G) Reporting requirements during program
participation.
``(H) Postparticipation reporting requirements.
``(I) The need for a mentor-protege pair, if
accepted to participate as a pair in a mentor-protege
program of any Federal department or agency, to be
accepted to participate as a pair in all Federal
mentor-protege programs.
``(J) Actions to be taken to ensure benefits for
proteges.
``(4) Limitation on applicability.--Notwithstanding the
provisions of subsection (b)(1), the provisions of subsection
(b)(1) shall apply to the following:
``(A) Any mentor-protege program of the Department
of Defense in effect on the date of enactment of the
Building Better Business Partnerships Act of 2012.
``(B) Any mentoring assistance provided under a
Small Business Innovation Research Program or a Small
Business Technology Transfer Program.
``(C) Until the date that is 1 year after the date
on which the Administrator issues regulations under
paragraph (3), any Federal department or agency
operating a mentor-protege program in effect on the
date of enactment of the Building Better Business
Partnerships Act of 2012.
``(c) Reporting.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of the Building Better Business Partnerships Act of
2012, and annually thereafter, the Administrator shall submit
to the Committee on Small Business of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Small Business and
Entrepreneurship of the Senate a report that--
``(A) identifies each Federal mentor-protege
program;
``(B) specifies the number of participants in each
such program, including the number of participants that
are--
``(i) small business concerns;
``(ii) small business concerns owned and
controlled by service-disabled veterans;
``(iii) qualified HUBZone small business
concerns;
``(iv) small business concerns owned and
controlled by socially and economically
disadvantaged individuals; or
``(v) small business concerns owned and
controlled by women;
``(C) describes the type of assistance provided to
proteges under each such program;
``(D) describes the benefits provided to mentors
under each such program; and
``(E) describes the progress of proteges under each
such program with respect to competing for Federal
prime contracts and subcontracts.
``(2) Provision of information.--The head of each Federal
department or agency carrying out a mentor-protege program
shall provide to the Administrator, upon request, the
information necessary for the Administrator to submit a report
required under paragraph (1).
``(d) Definitions.--In this section, the following definitions
apply:
``(1) Mentor.--The term `mentor' means a for-profit
business concern, of any size, that--
``(A) has the ability to assist and commits to
assisting a protege to compete for Federal prime
contracts and subcontracts; and
``(B) satisfies any other requirements imposed by
the Administrator.
``(2) Mentor-protege program.--The term `mentor-protege
program' means a program that pairs a mentor with a protege for
the purpose of assisting the protege to compete for Federal
prime contracts and subcontracts.
``(3) Protege.--The term `protege' means a small business
concern that--
``(A) is eligible to enter into Federal prime
contracts and subcontracts; and
``(B) satisfies any other requirements imposed by
the Administrator.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H816)
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Small Business. H. Rept. 112-723.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Small Business. H. Rept. 112-723.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 526.
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