(a) A Mentor firm is solely responsible for selecting one or more Protege entities from firms eligible under 919.7007.

(b) A Mentor may have more than one Protege; however, a Protege may have only one Mentor.

(c) The selection of Protege firms by Mentor firms may not be protested, except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section.

(d) Only protests regarding the small business size status of a firm to be a Protege will be considered and shall be submitted to the DOE Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization for resolution. If that office is unable to resolve a protest, it will refer the matter to the Small Business Administration for resolution in accordance with 13 CFR part 121.