Appendix D to Part 26 - Mentor-Protégé Program Guidelines
49:1.0.1.1.19.8.3.1.14 : Appendix D
Appendix D to Part 26 - Mentor-Protégé Program Guidelines
(A) The purpose of this program element is to further the
development of DBEs, including but not limited to assisting them to
move into non-traditional areas of work and/or compete in the
marketplace outside the DBE program, via the provision of training
and assistance from other firms. To operate a mentor-protégé
program, a recipient must obtain the approval of the concerned
operating administration.
(B)(1) Any mentor-protégé relationship shall be based on a
written development plan, approved by the recipient, which clearly
sets forth the objectives of the parties and their respective
roles, the duration of the arrangement and the services and
resources to be provided by the mentor to the protégé. The formal
mentor-protégé agreement may set a fee schedule to cover the direct
and indirect cost for such services rendered by the mentor for
specific training and assistance to the protégé through the life of
the agreement. Services provided by the mentor may be reimbursable
under the FTA, FHWA, and FAA programs.
(2) To be eligible for reimbursement, the mentor's services
provided and associated costs must be directly attributable and
properly allowable to specific individual contracts. The recipient
may establish a line item for the mentor to quote the portion of
the fee schedule expected to be provided during the life of the
contract. The amount claimed shall be verified by the recipient and
paid on an incremental basis representing the time the protégé is
working on the contract. The total individual contract figures
accumulated over the life of the agreement shall not exceed the
amount stipulated in the original mentor/protégé agreement.
(C) DBEs involved in a mentor-protégé agreement must be
independent business entities which meet the requirements for
certification as defined in subpart D of this part. A protégé firm
must be certified before it begins participation in a
mentor-protégé arrangement. If the recipient chooses to recognize
mentor/protégé agreements, it should establish formal general
program guidelines. These guidelines must be submitted to the
operating administration for approval prior to the recipient
executing an individual contractor/ subcontractor mentor-protégé
agreement.