R 201900Z NOV 12

ALCOAST 490/12
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. THE SUBSTANCE OF THIS alcoast IS
PERIODICALLY REISSUED AS A REMINDER TO ALL PERSONNEL OF THIS POLICY.
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 (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.
5. RADM F.J. KENNEY, JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL, SENDS.
6. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.