(b) Mentors incurring costs through September 30, 2026, pursuant to an approved [a] mentor-protégé agreement [approved prior to December 23, 2022, and mentors incurring costs pursuant to a mentor-protégé agreement approved on or after December 23, 2023,] may be eligible for—

(a) Credit toward the attainment of its applicable subcontracting goals for unreimbursed costs incurred in providing developmental assistance to its protege firm(s);

(b) Reimbursement pursuant to the execution of a separately priced contract line item added to a contract; or

(c) Reimbursement pursuant to entering into a separate DoD contract upon determination by the Director, OSBP, of the cognizant military department or defense agency that unusual circumstances justify using a separate contract.