NASA Small Business Supplier Development Program

Next‑Gen Evolution of the NASA Mentor‑Protégé Program

Space Industry Access to Capital

Leveraging the Small Business Administration’s Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) Program, NASA and SBA have partnered to expand access to capital for small businesses developing the technologies, components, and manufacturing capabilities needed for future space missions.

Under a NASA-SBA Memorandum of Agreement, NASA and SBA are expanding access to growth capital for small businesses developing technologies critical to the future of space exploration. The partnership uses SBA’s existing program to direct private investment toward the technologies, suppliers, and manufacturing capabilities NASA needs for future missions.  In short, it helps ensure that small businesses have access to the capital needed to develop, scale, and deliver mission-critical capabilities.

Mentor-Protégé Agreements

Mentor-Protégé Agreements under the NASA Small Business Supplier Development Program (formerly known as the NASA Mentor-Protégé Program) incentivize NASA prime contractors to assist small businesses and other eligible protégés to increase their capability to compete for and perform NASA prime and subcontracts (refer to 15 U.S.C. §657r and 13 CFR 125.10).  Mentor-Protégé Agreements are designed to build supplier capacity to fulfill NASA requirements and support a strong, dynamic, and resilient industrial base, which is critical to the health of our nation’s economy and to America’s effort to lead in space.

NASA has defined a set of Development Focus Areas, and our top priority is establishing Mentor Protégé Agreements that strengthen capabilities in these areas.  This targeted development directly supports current and near-term agency needs across Artemis, Moon to Mars, nuclear, science, commercial LEO, and other critical missions.  

HBCU Innovation & Venture Engine (H.I.V.E.)

The HBCU Innovation & Venture Engine (H.I.V.E.) is an OSBP initiative designed to expand opportunities for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) by strengthening their role in research, innovation, and the aerospace supply chain. H.I.V.E. connects HBCUs with NASA mission needs through partnerships, technology development, commercialization support, workforce development, and contracting opportunities.

The initiative helps institutions enhance their readiness to compete for federal acquisition opportunities, increase participation in NASA research and technology programs, and transition promising innovations from the laboratory to the marketplace. H.I.V.E. also fosters collaboration among HBCUs, small businesses, industry partners, and NASA to build sustainable supplier-development pipelines and strengthen the nation’s aerospace industrial base while supporting economic growth and innovation.