(a) For selection as a Protege, a firm must be:
(1) A small business concern, small disadvantaged business concern, veteran-owned small business concern, service-disabled veteran-owned small business concern, HUBZone small business concern, or women-owned small business concern;
(2) Small for the NAICS code the prime contractor/mentor assigns to the subcontract; and
(3) Eligible (not listed in the ``Excluded Parties List System'') for U.S. Government contracts and not excluded from the Mentor-Protege Program under section 519.7014(b).
(b) A Protege firm may self-represent to a mentor firm that it meets the requirements set forth in paragraph (a) of this section. Mentors may check the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) at www.ccr.gov to verify that the self-representation of the potential Protege meets the specified small business and socioeconomic category eligibility requirements (see FAR 19.703(b) and (d)). HUBZone and small disadvantaged business status eligibility and documentation requirements are determined according to 13 CFR parts 124 and 126.
(c) A Protege firm must not have another formal, active mentor-Protege relationship under GSA's Mentor-Protege Program but may have an active mentor-Protege relationship under another agency's program.