(a) Mentor firms will be solely responsible for selecting Protege firms. Mentors are encouraged to select from a broad base of SDVOSB or VOSB firms whose core competencies support VA's mission; and choose SDVOSB and/or VOSB Proteges in addition to firms with whom they have established business relationships.
(b) Mentors may have multiple Proteges. However, to preserve the integrity of the Program and assure the quality of developmental assistance provided to Proteges, VA reserves the right to limit the total number of Proteges participating under each mentor firm for the Mentor-Protege Program.
(c) The selection of Protege firms by mentor firms may not be protested, except that any protest regarding the size or eligibility status of an entity selected by a mentor shall be handled in accordance with the FAR and SBA regulations.