Sweeping changes to Small Business Administration (“SBA”) regulations will go into effect on March 14, 2011.  The new rules affect SBA’s 8(a) Business Development (“BD”) program, SBA’s mentor/protégé program, and its joint venture regulations.  The final rule can be found here.  As a whole, the amendments suggest that SBA intends to eliminate manipulation and abuse of the 8(a) BD and mentor/protégé programs by small and large businesses alike.