GSA seeks comments on mentor program

The General Services Administration would like to have its own mentor/protégé program and is seeking public comment on the proposal.

In a Federal Register notice published today, GSA seeks permission to amend the General Services Acquisition Regulation to include the program.

Mentor/protégé programs have proved popular. Typically, an agency with such a program matches small, inexperienced firms with larger, established players for a certain period of time. The larger companies provide business guidance and lessons learned. In addition, the small players participate in contracts, earn revenue and gain some past-performance credentials under the guidance of the larger firms.

The mentor companies, meanwhile, gain the technical skills of the protégé and, potentially, partnerships that outlast the formal mentor/protégé arrangements.

Public comments are due by Aug. 11.

To comment: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and type "GSAR Case 2006-G501'' under the heading "Comment or Submission."

Michael Hardy writes for Federal Computer Week, an 1105 Government Information Group publication.