Dear Ms. Fernandez:

We are writing to submit comments on the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (“SBA”) above-referenced proposed rule, issued February 5, 2015, 80 Fed. Reg. 6618. Our firm represents small businesses operating across the government contracting spectrum. Many of the federal contractors we represent and have talked to have been eagerly anticipating this rulemaking. The proposed expansion of SBA’s mentor-protégé program heralds significant and beneficial changes for small and large businesses that work on set-aside projects. We concur with much of what SBA is proposing in this rulemaking and commend the agency for its efforts. We hope SBA will target the end of 2015 to issue the final rule.