(a) Mentors will be eligible to earn a separate award fee associated with the provision of developmental assistance to NASA SBIR/STTR Phase II Protégés only. The award fee will be assessed at the end of the Mentor-Protégé agreement period.

(b) The overall developmental assistance performance of NASA contractors, in promoting the use of small businesses as subcontractors, will be a required evaluation factor in award fee plans.

(c) Evaluation criteria to determine the award fee should include:

(1) Benefit of the agreement to NASA;

(2) Active participation in the Program;

(3) The amount and quality of developmental assistance provided;

(4) Subcontracts awarded to small businesses and others;

(5) Success of the protégés in increasing their business as a result of receiving developmental assistance; and

(6) Accomplishment of any other activity as related to the mentor-protégé relationship.

(d) The Award Fee Pilot Program is an addition to the credit agreement. Participants that are eligible for award fee may also receive credit under their individual contract's award fee plan.

[80 FR 12938, Mar. 12, 2015]