United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2001-07-19 monographic deposited born digital 19 p. GA 1.13:GAO-01-767 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-767 P0b002ee1803737b4 f:d01767 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-23 GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-767 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-767 GAO-01-767 Subcontractors Performance measures Program evaluation Department of Defense contractors Small disadvantaged business contractors DOD Pilot Mentor-Protege Program Other Written Product A01416

To boost the participation of small disadvantaged businesses as subcontractors and suppliers under the Department of Defense (DOD) contracts, Congress authorized the Pilot Mentor Protege Program. The program provides incentives for major defense contractors (mentors) to assist small disadvantaged businesses (proteges) in strengthening their ability to compete for work. However, DOD has been criticized in the past for not establishing compelling evidence about the program's overall effectiveness. To ensure that the program is focused on a results-oriented approach to assessing program performance, Congress asked DOD to obtain information that could be used to assess the program's effectiveness. This report reviews (1) the relationship between the results of the Mentor-Protege Program and the statutory goal of awarding five percent of the total dollar amount contracted by DOD and subcontracted by DOD prime contractors to small disadvantaged businesses, (2) whether the Mentor-Protege Program enhanced the business competitiveness, financial independence, and business development of protege firms, and (3) whether program funds had been used as an effective incentive for mentor firms to participate in the program. GAO found that DOD lacks data integral to assessing the success of the Mentor-Protege Program. DOD does not have sufficient information to determine the relationship between the program and the goal of awarding five percent of the total dollar amount contracted to small disadvantaged businesses. Although DOD has consistently achieved this goal since 1992, the overall contribution of the Mentor-Protege Program in achieving this goal is unknown. DOD also does not have sufficient information to assess whether the Mentor-Protege Program enhanced the business competitiveness, financial independence, and business development of protege firms. Although there are small disadvantaged business program participants that have realized increased success, data is not available to attribute this success to the program. Program funds have been used to encourage major defense contractors to provide developmental assistance for small disadvantaged businesses. However, data is not available to determine whether program funds are needed to continue to encourage major defense contractors to establish business relationships with small disadvantaged businesses. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-767/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-767.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-767/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-767.pdf GAO-01-767 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-767 Other Written Product GAO-01-767; Contract Management: Benefits of the DOD Mentor-Protege Program Are Not Conclusive; Subcontractors Performance measures Program evaluation Department of Defense contractors Small disadvantaged business contractors DOD Pilot Mentor-Protege Program Title 10 Section 2302Note Title 10 Section 2323 10 U.S.C. 2302Note 10 U.S.C. 2323 Public Law 99-661 Public Law 101-510 Public Law 106-65