# SBA Mentor-Protégé Program Government, program · [Programs and community](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/community) Also called: SBA Mentor-Protege Program, Mentor-Protégé program, Mentor Protege Program, MPP, All Small Mentor-Protégé, 8(a) Mentor-Protégé A US Small Business Administration program in which a small business (the protégé) learns from an experienced government [contractor](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/contractor-vs-employee) (the [mentor](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/mentor)) and can bid with it as a joint [venture](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/venture-capital) on contracts set aside for small businesses. It is not a matchmaking service: the protégé applies with a mentor already identified, and [SBA](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/small-business-loan) must approve the pair. **For example:** A small Tulsa software firm partners with a large defense [contractor](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/contractor-vs-employee) through the Mentor-Protégé Program to bid together on an Air Force contract. ## Applying Application status unknown [Official application page](https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-assistance-programs/sba-mentor-protege-program) Checked 2026-11-15. Official site: ## Connects to (5) - [Government contracting](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/government-contracting): Selling products or services to a government agency under a formal contract. - [Mentor](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/mentor): An experienced person who gives a founder guidance. - [SBA Oklahoma District Office](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/sba-oklahoma): The Oklahoma City office of the US Small Business Administration, the federal agency for small businesses. - [Women-owned small business certification](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/wosb-certification): A free US Small Business Administration certification that lets small businesses at least 51% owned and controlled by women who are US… - [OK Catalyst](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/ok-catalyst): A free statewide program that helps Oklahoma small businesses and research teams apply for federal SBIR and STTR funding. ## Sources - Map view: https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/sba-mentor-protege