S. 1320Senate116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Defense Small Business Advancement Act of 2019

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Updated April 14, 2026 at 4:46 AM UTC

The Defense Small Business Advancement Act of 2019 reauthorizes the Department of Defense’s Mentor‑Protege Program and adds measures to make it more effective. It makes the program’s authority permanent, updates oversight responsibilities, and requires performance goals and regular reviews. The bill also eliminates references to the program as a pilot and mandates an independent evaluation report to Congress.

Key Provisions

Makes the Mentor‑Protege Program a permanent part of the National Defense Authorization Act, removing its previous pilot status.
Redesignates an existing subsection and adds a new one that requires the DoD Office of Small Business Programs to set performance goals and conduct periodic reviews of mentor‑protege agreements.
Eliminates all language referring to the program as a pilot, indicating it is now a standing program.
Orders an independent third‑party review of the program’s effectiveness, to be submitted to the congressional defense committees by March 31 2022, with recommendations for improvement.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

May 6, 2019

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

May 6, 2019

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

May 6, 2019

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued May 6, 2019

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1320

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 6, 2019

Mr. Heinrich (for himself and Ms. Ernst) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services

A BILL

To reauthorize and improve the Department of Defense Mentor-Protégé Program.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Defense Small Business Advancement Act of 2019.

Reauthorization and improvement of Department of Defense Mentor-Protégé Program

(a)

Permanent authorization

Section 831 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 (Public Law 101–510; 10 U.S.C. 2302 note) is amended by striking subsection (j).

(b)

Office of Small Business Programs oversight

Section 831 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 (Public Law 101–510; 10 U.S.C. 2302 note) is amended—

(1)

by redesignating subsection (n) as subsection (o); and

(2)

by inserting after subsection (m) the following new subsection:

(n)

Establishment of performance goals and periodic reviews

The Office of Small Business Programs of the Department of Defense shall establish performance goals and conduct periodic reviews of approved agreements between mentors and protégés.

(c)

Removal of pilot program references

Section 831 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 (Public Law 101–510; 10 U.S.C. 2302 note) is amended—

(1)

in the subsection heading for subsection (a), by striking pilot; and

(2)

by striking pilot each place it appears.

(d)

Independent report on program effectiveness

(1)

In general

Not later than March 31, 2022, an independent third party selected by the Department of Defense Office of Small Business Programs shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report evaluating the effectiveness of the Mentor-Protégé Program established under section 831 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 (Public Law 101–510; 10 U.S.C. 2302 note), including recommendations for improving the program in terms of performance metrics, forms of assistance, and overall program effectiveness.

(2)

Congressional defense committees defined

In this subsection, the term congressional defense committees has the meaning given that term in section 101(a)(16) of title 10, United States Code.