Office of the National Ombudsman | U.S. Small Business Administration

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<span>About SBA</span> </a> </li> <li class="usa-breadcrumb__list-item " > <a href="/about-sba/oversight-advocacy" class="usa-breadcrumb__link"> <span>Oversight and advocacy</span> </a> </li> <li class="usa-breadcrumb__list-item usa-current" aria-current="page"> <span>Office of the National Ombudsman</span> </li> </ol> </nav> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div data-drupal-messages-fallback class="hidden"></div> </div> <div class="grid-row "> </div> <div class="sba-layout-docs sba-layout-docs--sidebar"> <div class="layout-sidebar-first"> <nav aria-labelledby="sidebar-menu-navigation"> <h2 class="visually-hidden" id="sidebar-menu-navigation">Section navigation</h2> <ul class="usa-sidenav"> <li class="usa-sidenav__item first"> <a href="/about-sba/sba-locations"> <span>SBA locations</span> </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/about-sba/open-government"> <span>Open government</span> </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/about-sba/sba-newsroom"> <span>SBA Newsroom</span> </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/about-sba/work-sba"> <span>Work for SBA</span> </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/about-sba/organization"> <span>Organization</span> </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item expanded dropdown active active-trail"> <a class="usa-current" href="/about-sba/oversight-advocacy"> <span>Oversight and advocacy</span> </a> <ul class="usa-sidenav__sublist"> <li class="usa-sidenav__item first"> <a href="/about-sba/oversight-advocacy/office-hearings-appeals"> <span>Office of Hearings and Appeals</span> </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/about-sba/oversight-advocacy/office-inspector-general"> <span>Office of Inspector General</span> </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item expanded dropdown active active-trail"> <a class="usa-current" href="/about-sba/oversight-advocacy/office-national-ombudsman"> <span>Office of the National Ombudsman</span> </a> <ul class="usa-sidenav__sublist"> <li class="usa-sidenav__item first last"> <a href="/about-sba/oversight-advocacy/office-national-ombudsman/compliance-contacts"> <span>One Stop Shop for Small Business Compliance Act 2021</span> </a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item last"> <a href="https://advocacy.sba.gov/"> <span>Office of Advocacy</span> </a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item last"> <a href="/about-sba/information-other-languages"> <span>Information in other languages</span> </a> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> <div class="usa-layout-docs__main"> <h1 data-test="title" > <span>Office of the National Ombudsman</span> </h1> <div id="block-sba-content" class="block block-system block-system-main-block"> <article class="basic-page"> <div> <div class="basic-page__summary" data-test="pageSummary"> SBA's National Ombudsman works for small businesses to assist them with excessive federal regulatory issues. </div> <div class="sba-toc sba-standard-margin-spacing"> <hr class="sba-toc__divider-first sba-standard-margin-spacing" role="presentation"> <h2 id="sba-toc-heading" class="sba-toc__heading js-toc-ignore">Content</h2> <nav id="sba-toc__nav" aria-labelledby="sba-toc-heading" class="sba_toc__nav sba-standard-margin-spacing"></nav> <hr role="presentation"> </div> <div class="sba-section-headings"> <h2 class="sba-section-headings" id="what-we-do"> What we do</h2> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-section paragraph--view-mode--default sba-standard-margin-spacing"> <div class="usa-prose field__item" data-test="fieldItem"><p>We help small businesses when they experience excessive or unfair federal regulatory enforcement actions.</p> <p><a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-104publ121/pdf/PLAW-104publ121.pdf#page=11">Congress established the Office of the National Ombudsman in 1996</a> to assist small businesses, small government entities, and small nonprofits when they are subject to excessive enforcement by a federal agency. Excessive enforcement may include repetitive audits or investigations, excessive fines, penalties, threats, retaliation or other unfair enforcement action.</p> <p>As an impartial liaison, we refer comments submitted by a small business to the appropriate agency for high-level fairness review, and we work across the federal government to address those concerns to help small businesses succeed.</p> <p>On an annual basis, <a href="https://www.sba.gov/document/report--national-ombudsmans-annual-reports-congress">we rate federal agencies</a> using feedback received from the agency questionnaire and criteria such as timeliness and quality of responses.</p> </div> </div> <div class="sba-section-headings"> <h2 class="sba-section-headings" id="file-a-comment"> File a comment</h2> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-section paragraph--view-mode--default sba-standard-margin-spacing"> <div class="usa-prose field__item" data-test="fieldItem"><p>You can file a comment if you’re a small business (or you represent one), a non-profit organization, or a small government entity (population 50,000 or less) and your issue involves a federal agency and federal regulation. There is no charge to file a comment.</p> <p>Once we have received your comment and supporting documentation, we will try to get a response from the federal agency within 30 business days. Complex comments may take longer.</p> </div> </div> <div class="sba-paragraph-button sba-standard-margin-spacing"> <a class="usa-button usa-button--big sba-paragraph-button__button display-inline-block" href="https://federalcomments.sba.gov/"> File a comment </a> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-section paragraph--view-mode--default sba-standard-margin-spacing"> <div class="usa-prose field__item" data-test="fieldItem"><p>If you prefer to email or mail in your comment, <a href="https://www.sba.gov/document/sba-form-1993-federal-agency-comment-form">download the PDF</a> and submit it to:</p> <p><strong>Email:</strong> <a href="mailto:ombudsman@sba.gov">ombudsman@sba.gov</a></p> <p><strong>Mail:</strong> U.S. Small Business Administration<br>Office of the National Ombudsman<br>409 Third St., SW<br>Mail code: 2120<br>Washington, DC 20416<br> </p> <p>Be sure to describe your issue in detail, state the outcome you’re seeking, and include any supporting documentation, if available.</p> </div> </div> <div class="sba-section-headings"> <h2 class="sba-section-headings" id="annual-reports-to-congress"> Annual reports to Congress</h2> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-section paragraph--view-mode--default sba-standard-margin-spacing"> <div class="usa-prose field__item" data-test="fieldItem"><p>The <a href="https://advocacy.sba.gov/resources/reference-library/sbrefa/">Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA)</a>  ensures that small businesses will be heard by federal agencies as they go through the regulatory compliance and enforcement process. The Office of the National Ombudsman submits <a href="https://www.sba.gov/document/report--national-ombudsmans-annual-reports-congress">annual reports to Congress</a>, rating federal agencies on: </p> <ol> <li>Timeliness in responding to small entity comments </li> <li>Quality of response to small entity </li> <li>Non-retaliation policies </li> <li>Compliance assistance </li> <li>SBREFA notification </li> </ol> </div> </div> <div class="sba-section-headings"> <h2 class="sba-section-headings" id="regulatory-fairness-boards"> Regulatory fairness boards</h2> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-section paragraph--view-mode--default sba-standard-margin-spacing"> <div class="usa-prose field__item" data-test="fieldItem"><p>SBA's Administrator is required to appoint 10 small business Regional Regulatory Fairness Boards. The boards are comprised of five volunteer small business owners.</p> <p>The Regulatory Fairness Boards advise the Ombudsman on matters of federal regulatory concern to small businesses. The Ombudsman coordinates activities of the Regulatory Fairness Boards that help connect small businesses with resources available through the National Ombudsman’s Office.</p> <p>To apply to become a Regional Regulatory Fairness Board member, email the Office of the National Ombudsman at <a href="mailto:ombudsman@sba.gov">ombudsman@sba.gov</a> for an application.</p> <table class="usa-table usa-table--stacked"> <thead> <tr> <th>Region</th> <th>Current members</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p>Region 1</p> <p>(Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont)</p> </td> <td> <p><strong>Heather Cuzzi</strong><br>Cairn Event Consulting</p> <p><strong>Melissa Florio</strong><br>Ambix Manufacturing</p> <p><strong>Dr. Deborah A. Osgood, PhD</strong><br>Knowledge Institute</p> <p><span><strong>Craig Pickell</strong></span><br><span>Bullard Abrasives, Inc.</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Region 2</p> <p>(New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands)</p> </td> <td> <p><strong>Lisa Coppola</strong><br>The Coppola Firm</p> <p><span><strong>Janna Patricia Rodriguez</strong></span><br><span>The Innovative Daycare </span></p> <p><strong>Dr. Kia Grundy</strong><br>Kia Calhoun Grundy Consulting, LLC</p> <p><strong>Francisco Rodriguez-Castro</strong><br>Birling Capital Advisors, LLC</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Region 3</p> <p>(Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia)</p> </td> <td> <p><strong>Marilyn D. Landis</strong><br>Basic Business Concepts, Inc.</p> <p><strong>Cynthia Towers</strong><br>JURISolutions</p> <p><strong>Ronald Eagle</strong><br>HQ Aero Management, Inc.</p> <p><strong>Everett Browning Sr.</strong><br>COMBO Solutions, LLC</p> <p><strong>Kimberly Daniels</strong><br>Mercantile Logistics & International Trade, Inc.</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Region 4</p> <p>(Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee)</p> </td> <td> <p><strong>Ken Taunton</strong><br>The Royster Group</p> <p><strong>Larry Turnley</strong><br>The Refuse Engineers</p> <p><strong>Erick Valderrama</strong><br>CDC Group & Associates, Inc.</p> <p><span><strong>Riaz Merchant</strong></span><br><span>Mertech Data Systems</span></p> <p><strong>Andre Booker</strong><br>Ridge Pest Control, LLC</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Region 5</p> <p>(Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin)</p> </td> <td> <p><strong>Clifford Bailey</strong><br>TechSoft System</p> <p><strong>Cathy Koch</strong><br>K-Tec Systems</p> <p><strong>Brian Tretter </strong><br>Seufert Construction & Supply</p> <p><strong>Siuyuan Katherine Hill</strong><br>Dakonte Product Group, Inc.</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Region 6</p> <p>(Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas)</p> </td> <td> <p><strong>Albert C. "Tre" Black</strong><br>On-Target Supplies & Logistics, Ltd.</p> <p><span><strong>Beverly Thompson</strong> </span><br><span>Brooks Thompson Consulting </span></p> <p><strong>Mark Wingate</strong><br>Maxi Volt Corporation</p> <p><strong>Bettye Payne</strong><br>Payne Consulting, Inc.</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Region 7</p> <p>(Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska)</p> </td> <td> <p><strong>Paul Licausi </strong><br>LS Commerical Real Estate</p> <p><strong>Mindy Rocha</strong><br>CJ Industries, LLC</p> <p><strong>Claudia Schabel </strong><br>Shabel Solutions</p> <p><span><strong>Tameka Stigers</strong></span><br><span>Locs of Glory Salon Spa</span></p> <p><span><strong>Rachel Daly</strong></span><br><span>Innovative Rx</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Region 8</p> <p>(Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming)</p> </td> <td> <p><strong>Matt Greene</strong><br>MAVericks Aligned</p> <p><strong>Ashley Korenblat</strong><br>Western Spirit Cycling</p> <p><strong>Reanna Werner</strong><br>HR Branches</p> <p><strong>Todd Baldwin</strong><br>Red Leg Brewing Company</p> <p><strong>Jessica Meyers</strong><br>PorchLight</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Region 9</p> <p>(Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and the territories of Guam and American Samoa)</p> </td> <td> <p><strong>Amy Nguyen</strong><br>Aviva Pharmacy</p> <p><strong>Gabriel Monares</strong><br>The Monares Group</p> <p><strong>Andrea Vigil</strong><br>Allegiant Electric, LLC</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Region 10</p> <p>(Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington)</p> </td> <td> <p><strong>Haydee Alejandra Alarcon</strong><br>My Little Universe</p> <p><span><strong>Colleen Echohawk</strong></span><br><span>Eighth Generation</span></p> <p><span><strong>Marshall Doyle</strong></span><br><span>Beck Investment Group</span></p> <p><span><strong>Douglas Hackler Sr.</strong></span><br><span>American Semiconductor</span></p> <p><span><strong>Pamelyn Wilmot</strong></span><br><span>Entrepreneur Ready</span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> </div> <div class="sba-section-headings"> <h2 class="sba-section-headings" id="regulatory-fairness-board-annual-meeting-and-national-hearing"> Regulatory Fairness Board Annual Meeting and National Hearing</h2> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-section paragraph--view-mode--default sba-standard-margin-spacing"> <div class="usa-prose field__item" data-test="fieldItem"><p>To view the Fiscal Year 2024 annual meeting minutes, please visit<a href="https://www.facadatabase.gov/FACA/s/FACACommitteeDetail/a0zSJ0000040YLyYAM/cd2317924?tabset-76273=f9609"> facadatabase.gov</a>.</p> <p>To request a copy of the transcript, Office of the National Ombudsman, National Hearing: Impact of Joint Ventures for Increasing Small Business Participation in Multiple Award Task Order Contracts (MATOC’s) please email us at <a href="mailto:ombudsman@sba.gov" title="mailto:ombudsman@sba.gov">ombudsman@sba.gov</a> </p> </div> </div> <div class="sba-section-headings"> <h2 class="sba-section-headings" id="request-a-speaker"> Request a speaker</h2> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-section paragraph--view-mode--default sba-standard-margin-spacing"> <div class="usa-prose field__item" data-test="fieldItem"><p>Ombudsman speakers can help small businesses understand how to deal with excessive or unfair regulation. Small business groups, chambers of commerce, schools, colleges, trade associations, local governments, and similar groups can request that staff from SBA’s National Ombudsman speak at an event.</p> <p>Email <a href="mailto:ombudsman-events@sba.gov">ombudsman-events@sba.gov</a> with your event details, including:</p> <ul> <li>Event name</li> <li>Date</li> <li>Location</li> <li>Topic</li> <li>Format (opening remarks, panel, round table, etc.)<br> </li> </ul> <p>Be sure to include your contact information and any other relevant details about the event. </p> </div> </div> <div class="sba-paragraph-button sba-standard-margin-spacing"> <a class="usa-button usa-button--big sba-paragraph-button__button display-inline-block" href="mailto:ombudsman-events@sba.gov"> Request a speaker </a> </div> <div class="sba-section-headings"> <h2 class="sba-section-headings" id="policy-on-non-retaliation-against-small-businesses"> Policy on non-retaliation against small businesses</h2> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-section paragraph--view-mode--default sba-standard-margin-spacing"> <div class="usa-prose field__item" data-test="fieldItem"><p>If a small business requests Ombudsman assistance about SBA regulatory enforcement actions, the agency will not retaliate. SBA will investigate all allegations of retaliation or threats and will refer all allegations to the Inspector General and/or appropriate Management Board Member. Any retaliatory action taken by an SBA employee against a small business will be dealt with according to <a href="https://www.sba.gov/document/policy-notice--policy-non-retaliation-against-small-businesses">SBA policy</a>.</p> </div> </div> <div class="sba-section-headings"> <h2 class="sba-section-headings" id="compliance-assistance-with-federal-agencies"> Compliance assistance with federal agencies</h2> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-section paragraph--view-mode--default sba-standard-margin-spacing"> <div class="usa-prose field__item" data-test="fieldItem"><p>The <a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/PLAW-107publ198">Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002 (SBPRA)</a> requires each federal agency to establish a point of contact to act as a liaison between the agency and small business concerns.</p> <p>See a <a href="/about-sba/oversight-advocacy/office-national-ombudsman/compliance-contacts" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="8c96f102-a526-4140-b49a-bca51ec94d4b" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="One Stop Shop for Small Business Compliance Act 2021">list of compliance assistance points of contact</a> for each agency.</p> </div> </div> <div class="sba-section-headings"> <h2 class="sba-section-headings" id="contact-us"> Contact us</h2> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text-section paragraph--view-mode--default sba-standard-margin-spacing"> <div class="usa-prose field__item" data-test="fieldItem"><p>U.S. Small Business Administration<br>Office of the National Ombudsman<br>409 Third St., SW<br>Washington, DC 20416<br><br>Email: <a href="mailto:ombudsman@sba.gov">ombudsman@sba.gov</a><br>Phone: 888-734-3247<br> </p> </div> </div> </div> <footer class="basic-page__footer"> Short URL: sba.gov/ombudsman <br /> Last updated November 21, 2024 </footer> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <footer class="usa-footer usa-footer--big "> <div class="grid-container 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