GSAR Case 2006-G501, GSA mentor Protege Program (Comment #5)

I have been an active member of the Small Business Comunity Programs for many years, supporting major Prime Contractor programs, and it's been my conclusion over the years that the Mentor Protege Program can be a successfully run program if Government Agency participants were accountable for the program. I've found that many of the agencies participate in the program to increase their small business goal percentages, when indeed that is rarely the case, and Mentor companies selfishly participate for reasons other than the real purpose of the program. Many times because of lack of training of the program purpose (Government Representative, Mentor and Protege Companies) , lack of accountability on behalf of the government agency to ensure progress, and hunger of the protege company who signed up for the program with tunnel vision, only gaining sight on the contract awards, nothing else. The programs intent and purpose has been lost within the Federal Civilian Government Agencies, however, I believe it can be revived, if the proper tools are in place for a successful program.