Armed Services Now Run Their Mentor-Protege Programs The military services and defense agencies have taken over their mentor-protégé programs, which were formerly run by the Defense Department Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization. The transfer was effective at the beginning of the current fiscal year Oct. 1. Congress has also passed legislation permitting HUBZone firms and those owned by service-disabled veterans to become protégés. Proposals for the Army program are due April 15. In evaluating the proposals, “I’m looking for technology transfer,” said Col. Gus Mancuso, executive officer of the Army SADBU. “It needs to be something that is going to raise that small business to be competitive for prime contracts with the Army.” Mancuso said the Army currently has 41 mentor-protégé arrangements. The program cost reimburses the mentor’s costs up to $500,000. He spoke Dec. 6 at a Washington conference sponsored by the Institute for Defense and Government Advancement.