SUBJ: SMALL BUSINESS NON-RETALIATION POLICY

R 021747Z NOV 10




ALCOAST 536/10

COMDTNOTE 16000

SUBJ: SMALL BUSINESS NON-RETALIATION POLICY

A. THE SMALL BUSINESS REGULATORY ENFORCEMENT FAIRNESS ACT OF 1996,

PUBLIC LAW NO. 104-121

1. THE OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL OMBUDSMAN OF THE U.S. SMALL BUSINESS

ADMINISTRATION (SBA) ASKED EACH FEDERAL AGENCY TO ADOPT A POLICY THAT

THE AGENCY WILL NOT RETALIATE AGAINST SMALL BUSINESSES THAT QUESTION

OR COMPLAIN ABOUT THE WAY THE AGENCY DOES BUSINESS.

2. IN ACCORDANCE WITH REF (A), THE COMMANDANT APPROVED A STATEMENT

OF COAST GUARDS NON-RETALIATION POLICY ON 11FEB04. THAT POLICY WAS

PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER ON 18MAR04 (69 FR 12864) AND IS

RESTATED IN PARAGRAPH 3.

3. "IF YOU QUESTION OR LODGE A COMPLAINT REGARDING A COAST GUARD

POLICY OR ACTION TO US OR TO ANYONE ELSE, OR IF YOU SEEK OUTSIDE HELP

IN DEALING WITH A COAST GUARD POLICY OR ACTION, THE COAST GUARD WILL

NOT RETALIATE AGAINST YOU IN ANY FASHION. THE COAST GUARD WANTS YOU

TO BE ABLE TO COMMENT, QUESTION, OR LODGE A COMPLAINT ABOUT OUR

POLICIES OR ACTION WITHOUT FEAR THAT WE WILL RETALIATE OR TRY TO

DISCOURAGE FUTURE QUESTIONS OR COMPLAINTS. IF YOU THINK THE COAST

GUARD HAS BROKEN THIS PROMISE, WE WILL INVESTIGATE, TAKE APPROPRIATE

ACTION, AND MAKE SURE THAT MISTAKES ARE NOT REPEATED. YOU MAY

COMMENT, ASK QUESTIONS, OR FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE COAST GUARD

POLICIES OR ACTIONS BY CONTACTING YOUR LOCAL COAST GUARD OFFICE, OR

YOU CAN ALSO CONTACT THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL OMBUDSMAN AT 888-REG-FAIR begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 888-REG-FAIR end_of_the_skype_highlighting (734-3247), FAX

202-481-5719, EMAIL: OMBUDSMAN (AT) SBA.GOV. SMALL BUSINESSES

GENERALLY ARE INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED AND ARE NOT DOMINANT

IN THEIR FIELD. IF YOU NEED HELP DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT YOUR

BUSINESS QUALIFIES AS A "SMALL BUSINESS", CONTACT THE SBAS OFFICE OF

THE NATIONAL OMBUDSMAN USING THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN THIS

PARAGRAPH."

4. UNITS SHOULD CONFORM THEIR ACTIVITIES AND DEALINGS WITH SMALL

BUSINESSES TO COMPLY WITH THIS POLICY. ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS

POLICY SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE OFFICE OF REGULATIONS AND

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW, 202-372-3864 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 202-372-3864 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

5. CALVIN M. LEDERER, ACTING JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL, SENDS.

6. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.