NASA To Broaden Mentor-Protégé Program NASA plans to open its mentor-protégé program to veteran-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned and HUBZone firms under a proposed rule published in the Sept. 19 Federal Register. The program currently covers small disadvantaged businesses and woman-owned firms. NASA is also proposing a pilot program to pay award fees to mentors of companies involved in Small Business Information Research Phase II projects. Other NASA mentors are not eligible for award fees, but they may seek reimbursement for costs incurred. Glenn Delgado, assistant administrator for small business programs, told Set-Aside Alert last spring that he had shut down the program and led an overhaul of its rules. (SAA, 4/18) Under the proposed rule, mentors will choose their own protégés, and protégés may have only one mentor at a time. Mentor-protégé agreements must specify the kind of assistance the mentor will provide, such as management or technical advice. A template for the mentor-protégé agreement is available at www.osbp.nasa.gov. The proposed rule is RIN number 2700-AD41. Comments are due Nov. 18.