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.
