DoD Mentor-Protege Program (12.022)
DoD Mentor-Protege Program (Assistance Listing 12.022) is run by the Department of the Army, part of the Department of Defense. It awarded $61.3 million in 2 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $30.6 million per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
There were 2 awards in five years, from $415,732 to $60.9 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$61.3 million
- Grant awards2
- Typical award$30.6 million
- Awarded in FY 2025$15.4 million
- Size rank970 of 1,823
- Type of assistanceCooperative agreement
Key findings
- It is the 970th largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- Awards went to recipients in 2 states and territories.
What the program funds
The Department of Defense (DoD), Mentor Protege Program was established in October 1991 to expand and enhance small business participation in DoD contracting opportunities and expand the technical capabilities, capacity, and overall growth of socio-economic small businesses. The focus of this program is to also develop participants to expand, improve, broaden, and innovate the Department's Supply chain - focused on assisting small businesses to perform competitively for both prime and subcontracts as best-in-class partners in the defense industrial base. This assistance listing seeks to expand participation in the program, provide developmental assistance that will strengthen and build the Department's supply chain, national security, critical technology priority areas, and partners in the DIB. Awards fund the mentor's labor costs, assistance in mentoring received by Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Minority Serving Institutions, Apex Accelerators (formerly Procurement Technical Assistance Centers), Manufacturing Innovative Institutions, and other direct costs (on a case-by-case basis - ex. travel).
Open opportunities
No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Eligibility criteria for this assistance: 1. Small Disadvantaged Businesses (owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals) 2. Women-Owned Small Businesses 3. Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses 4. Historically Underutilized Business Zone Businesses 5. Native Hawaiian Organization, Native American Tribe 6. A small business concern that is a non traditional defense contractor or currently provides goods or services in the private sector that are critical to enhancing the capabilities of the defense supplier base and fulfilling key Department of Defense needs 7. DoD approved Mentor Companies
What the money can and cannot pay for
see description in Overview Rentals of any kind is not authorized for reimbursement;
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Deadlines
Oct 01, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026
Award range and average, in the agency's words
1. Range of awards: $100K - $1M per year for an average of three years 2. Approximate average award size - $450K - $500K
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, DoD Mentor-Protege Program (12.022) awarded $61.3 million across 2 grant awards, an average of $30.6 million per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Move America, Inc. | Maryland | 1 | $60.9 million |
| University of the Virgin Islands | U.S. Virgin Islands | 1 | $415,732 |
Who usually wins
Nonprofits received 99% of the money, colleges and universities 0.7%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonprofits | 1 | $60.9 million | 99% |
| Colleges and universities | 1 | $415,732 | 0.7% |
By state
1 state has a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards. It is Maryland.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 1 | $60.9 million |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | 1 | $415,732 |