To authorize a pilot program on the expanded use of mentor-protege authority.

1. Adds SEC. 874. PILOT PROGRAM ON EXPANDED USE OF MENTOR-PROTEGE AUTHORITY at the end of subtitle E of title VIII

   Adds a section

   In S. 2766 · Placed on Calendar Senate

   Subsections (a)(2)(A) and (b)(2)(A) of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375; 118 Stat. 2021), as amended by section 848(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (Public Law 109-163; 119 Stat. 3395), are each further amended by striking "2006" and inserting "2007".

   Inserted: SEC. 874. PILOT PROGRAM ON EXPANDED USE OF MENTOR-PROTEGE AUTHORITY.

   Inserted: (a) Pilot Program Authorized.--The Secretary of Defense may carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of treating small business concerns described in subsection (b) as disadvantaged small business concerns under the Mentor-Protege Program under section 831 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 (10 U.S.C. 2302 note).

   Inserted: (b) Covered Small Business Concerns.--The small business concerns described in this subsection are small business concerns that--

   Inserted: (1) are participants in the Small Business Innovative Research Program of the Department of Defense established pursuant to section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638); and

   Inserted: (2) as determined by the Secretary, are developing technologies that will assist in detecting or defeating Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) or other critical force protection measures.

   Inserted: (c) Treatment as Disadvantaged Small Business Concerns.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--For purposes of the pilot program, the Secretary may treat a small business concern described in subsection (b) as a disadvantaged small business concern under the Mentor-Protege Program.

   Inserted: (2) Mentor-protege agreement.--Any eligible business concerned approved for participation in the Mentor-Protege Program as a mentor firm may enter into a mentor-protege agreement and provide assistance described in section 831 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 with respect to a small business concern treated under paragraph (1) as a disadvantaged small business concern under the Mentor-Protege Program.

   Inserted: (d) Funding.--Funds for any reimbursement provided to a mentor firm under section 831(g) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 with respect to a small business concern described in subsection (b) under the pilot program shall be derived from funds available for the Small Business Innovative Research Program of the Department of Defense.

   Inserted: (e) Sunset.--

   Inserted: (1) Agreements.--No mentor-protege agreement may be entered into under the pilot program after September 30, 2010.

   Inserted: (2) Other matters.--No reimbursement may be paid, and no credit toward the attainment of a subcontracting goal may be granted, under the pilot program after September 30, 2013.

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   Inserted: (f) Report.--Not later than March 1, 2009, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the pilot program. The report shall--

   Inserted: (1) describe the extent to which mentor-protege agreements have been entered under the pilot program; and

   Inserted: (2) describe and assess the technological benefits arising under such agreements.

   Inserted: (g) Small Business Concern Defined.--In this section, the term "small business concern" has the meaning given that term in section 831(m)(1) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991.

   Original wording

   At the end of subtitle E of title VIII, add the following:

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As printed