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| 59.053 OMBUDSMAN AND REGULATORY FAIRNESS BOARDS |
| FEDERAL AGENCY |
| SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION |
| AUTHORIZATION |
| Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, Public Law 104-121, (March 29, 1996); 5 U.S.C. 601 note; H.R. 3136. |
| OBJECTIVES |
| To serve the small business community by receiving comments from small businesses, small non-profit organizations or small government entities (representing less than 50,000 people) regarding unfair and/or excessive actions by Federal Agencies or Agency employees conducting compliance or enforcement activities. |
| TYPES OF ASSISTANCE |
| Help to ensure fairness when a Federal Agency conducts compliance or enforcement actions against a small business concern. |
| USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS |
| Received comments may be confidential or not and be discussed with appropriate Federal Agency personnel to seek a timely response to an excessive and/or unfair Federal regulatory issue. Hold Hearings throughout the US to receive testimony and commentary from small entities about unfair and/or excessive Federal regulatory enforcement actions. Comments are also received online, by fax, mail or personal delivery. |
| Applicant Eligibility |
| Small businesses, small nonprofit organizations or small government entities (representing less than 50,000 people). |
| Beneficiary Eligibility |
| The Ombudsman's actions are designed to assist not only those who seek direct assistance but all other similarly situated small entities. |
| Credentials/Documentation |
| None. |
| Preapplication Coordination |
| None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. |
| Application Procedure |
| Submit SBA Form 1993. |
| Award Procedure |
| Not applicable. |
| Deadlines |
| None. |
| Range of Approval/Disapproval Time |
| Not applicable. |
| Appeals |
| As needed. |
| Renewals |
| Not applicable. |
| Formula and Matching Requirements |
| Not applicable. |
| Length and Time Phasing of Assistance |
| Not applicable. |
| Reports |
| Based upon substantiated comments received from small business concerns and the Boards, annually report to Congress and affected Federal Agencies evaluating the enforcement activities of Agency personnel, including a rating of the responsiveness to small business of the various regional and program offices of each agency. |
| Audits |
| Not applicable. |
| Records |
| Not applicable. |
| Account Identification |
| 73-0100-0-1-376. |
| Obligations |
| FY 07 $1,257,000; FY 08 $1,404,000; and FY 09 $1,527,000. |
| Range and Average of Financial Assistance |
| Not applicable. |
| PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS |
| Presented in each annual report to Congress. |
| REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE |
| http://www.sba.gov /ombudsman. |
| Regional or Local Office |
| Not applicable. |
| Headquarters Office |
| Nicholas N. Owens, National Ombudsman, Office of the National Ombudsman, 409 Third Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20416. |
| Web Site Address |
| http://www.sba.gov/ombudsman |
| RELATED PROGRAMS |
| None. |
| EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS |
| Not applicable. |
| CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS |
| Not applicable. |
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General Services Administration Office of Chief Acquisition Officer Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR) |
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