What are the rules for a protege firm having multiple mentor-protege agreements simultaneously in 2026?

A protege firm may generally have a total of two mentor-protege agreements with different mentors over its life, but not simultaneously. The SBA rules state that a protege can have a second mentor-protege agreement only after the first one has expired or been terminated. This means a protege cannot have two active mentor-protege agreements at the same time. The purpose of the program is to help proteges develop, and the SBA wants to ensure the protege firm receives focused attention and resources from one mentor at a time to achieve its developmental objectives effectively. The term of an SBA mentor-protege agreement may not exceed six years, including any extension. For federal contracts, these rules are governed by the SBA and outlined in 13 CFR 125.9. State and local procurements follow their own specific procurement codes and vendor guides, which may or may not have similar provisions for mentor-protege relationships.