Last year, the Small Business Administration released its long anticipated final rule establishing a government-wide mentor-protégé program for all small business concerns, including HUBZone firms, SDVOSBs and WOSBs. The new rule creates more opportunities for small and large businesses to partner together through the use of government-wide mentor-protégé agreements and/or joint venture agreements. The rule is complex and small businesses will need to know what to expect and how to navigate the program requirements if they wish to take advantage of the benefits it offers.