[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 123 (Monday, June 28, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36107-36138]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-14659]


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OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET


Compliance Assistance Resources and Points of Contact Available 
to Small Businesses

AGENCY: Office of Management and Budget, Executive Office of the 
President.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Authority: The Small Business Paperwork Relief Act (44 U.S.C. 
3520).

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 
2002, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is publishing a ``list 
of the compliance assistance resources available to small businesses'' 
and a list of the points of contacts in agencies ``to act as a liaison 
between the agency and small business concerns'' with respect to the 
collection of information and the control of paperwork.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith B. Belton, Office of Information 
and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, E-mail: 
[email protected], Telephone: (202) 395-4815. Inquiries may be 
submitted by facsimile to (202) 395-7285.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    The Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-198) 
requires OMB to ``publish in the Federal Register and make available on 
the Internet (in consultation with the Small Business Administration) 
``a list of the compliance assistance resources available to small 
businesses'' (44 U.S.C. 3504(c)(6)). In addition, under another 
provision of this Act, ``each agency shall, with respect to the 
collection of information and the control of paperwork, establish 1 
point of contact in the agency to act as a liaison between the agency 
and small business concerns'' (44 U.S.C. 3506(I)(1)).
    Working in cooperation with the Small Business and Agriculture 
Enforcement Ombudsman (SBA Ombudsman) in the Small Business 
Administration, OMB has, with the active assistance and support of the 
SBA Ombudsman, assembled a list of the compliance assistance resources 
available to small businesses. Because it may be helpful to the public 
to have the list of agency contacts together with the list of 
compliance assistance resources, OMB is publishing these lists 
together. These lists are also available today on OMB's Web site at 
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/inforeg/infocoll.html. The SBA Ombudsman 
has created a link to this information on the SBA Ombudsman's Web site 
at http://www.sba.gov/ombudsman.

B. Legislative Initiatives

    The publication of these lists is part of a more comprehensive 
effort to assist small businesses. The context for this initiative 
began several years ago with enactment of the ``Small Business 
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996'' (Pub. L. 104-121, Title 
II) (SBREFA). Among other provisions, SBREFA calls on agencies to 
``publish one or more guides to assist small entities in complying'' 
with certain regulations (Section 212), and ``to answer inquiries by 
small entities concerning information on, and advice about, 
compliance'' with regulatory statutes (Section 213). In other words, 
Federal regulatory agencies are to develop small entity compliance 
guides and to answer inquiries, and provide advice, about regulatory 
compliance issues.
    In addition, SBREFA created within the Small Business 
Administration the office of the ``Small Business and Agriculture 
Enforcement Ombudsman'' (Section 222). The SBA Ombudsman's 
responsibilities involve working ``with each agency with regulatory 
authority over small businesses to ensure that small business concerns 
[involving the agency's implementation and enforcement of those 
regulatory authorities] are provided with a means to comment on the 
enforcement activity'' conducted by each agency. In other words, the 
SBA Ombudsman is to monitor, and report annually to Congress, on the 
enforcement practices of Federal regulatory agencies.
    SBREFA was followed by the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 
2002 (Pub. L. 107-198) (SBPRA). As described above, this law requires 
OMB to publish ``a list of the compliance assistance resources 
available to small business.'' OMB is also publishing the points of 
contacts in agencies who are ``to act as a liaison between the agency 
and small business concerns'' with respect to the collection of 
information and the control of paperwork.
    In addition, this statute directed the Director of OMB to convene 
and have a representative chair a Task Force ``to study the feasibility 
of streamlining requirements with respect to small business concerns 
regarding collection of information and strengthening dissemination of 
information'' (44 U.S.C. 3520). The Small Business Paperwork Relief 
Task Force has been developing recommendations to improve and more 
closely link the existing assistance resources through the use of 
information technology. More specifically, the Small Business Paperwork 
Relief Task Force is charged with examining five ways to reduce the 
information collection burden placed by government on small business 
concerns. They are:
    1. Examine the feasibility and desirability of requiring the 
consolidation of information collection requirements within and across 
Federal agencies and programs, and identify ways of doing so.
    2. Examine the feasibility and benefits to small businesses of 
having OMB publish a list of data collections organized in a manner by 
which they can more easily identify requirements

[[Page 36108]]

with which they are expected to comply.
    3. Examine the savings and develop recommendations for implementing 
electronic submissions of information to the Federal government with 
immediate feedback to the submitter.
    4. Make recommendations to improve the electronic dissemination of 
information collected under Federal requirements.
    5. Recommend a plan to develop an interactive Government-wide 
Internet program to identify applicable collections and facilitate 
compliance.
    SBPRA requires OMB to publish a report on the first three topics by 
June 28, 2003. This report can be found on the OMB Web site at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/inforeg/infocoll.html. On May 5, 2004, OMB 
published in the Federal Register its Draft Report of the Small 
Business Paperwork Relief Task Force. As required, this draft report 
discussed the final two topics listed above. The final Report of the 
Small Business Paperwork Relief Task Force is available on OMB's Web 
site at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/inforeg/infocoll.html.
    SBREFA and SBPRA are closely related. SBREFA focuses on helping 
small businesses understand how to comply with Federal regulations. 
SBPRA focuses on helping small businesses understand how to comply with 
Federal collections of information--that is, filling out forms, 
reporting information, and keeping certain records. These two types of 
requirements are related because, as the Task Force report noted, 
agencies generally collect information, or require those regulated to 
keep records, as part of regulatory provisions. The information-related 
provisions are designed to help the agency ensure compliance with the 
rule.
    The close functional linkage between compliance with Federal 
regulations and with Federal reporting and recordkeeping requirements 
suggests it is important to coordinate these legislative initiatives 
designed to assist small businesses. It is also the reason that the 
development, in particular, of the list of compliance assistance 
resources available to small businesses should be viewed in the context 
of the recommendations being developed by the Small Business Paperwork 
Relief Task Force. The list of compliance assistance resources 
describes what is now available at the Federal agencies. The Task Force 
has developed recommendations to improve and more closely link the 
existing assistance resources through the use of information 
technology.

Donald R. Arbuckle,
Deputy Administrator, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.

Compliance Assistance Summaries and Points of Contact

Agriculture

Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS)
    FSIS offers compliance assistance to small meat, poultry, and egg 
product plants. The FSIS publishes supporting documentation and 
guidance materials for federally inspected establishments to use in 
designing and implementing sanitation standard operating procedures and 
hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) food safety systems. 
FSIS provides technical guidance on many subjects of regulation, 
including requirements for plant sanitation, the use of food 
ingredients and food irradiation sources, and the control of pathogens. 
Also, to help meet the challenges our Nation has faced since September 
11, 2001, FSIS has published security guidelines for food producing 
establishments. Many FSIS publications are available in languages 
besides English. Web addresses for these publications are:
     Sanitation Compliance Guide: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FRPubs/SanitationCover.htm htm.
     Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Systems 
and Pathogen Reduction: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/Hazard_Analysis_&_Pathogen_Reduction/ index. asp.
     Draft of FSIS Microbiological Hazard Identification Guide 
for Meat And Poultry Components of Products Produced by Very Small 
Plants: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/haccp/ haccp/ hidguide. htm.
     Advice on Controlling Listeria Monocytogenes in Small and 
Very Small Meat and Poultry Plants: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/Nis/Outreach/Listeria.htm htm.
     Federal Register Publications and Supporting Documents: 
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/publications.htm htm.
     FSIS Security Guidelines for Food Processors and 
Distributors: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Food_Security_&_Emergency_Preparedness/ Security --Guidelines/ index. asp.
    Besides its publications, FSIS offers a telephone service, FSIS 
HACCP Hotline (1-800-233-3935), to help establishments solve problems 
arising from HACCP plan development and implementation. Assistance on 
general matters involving meat, poultry, and egg products is available 
from the FSIS Technical Service Center (402-221-7400; Fax: 402-221-
7438; e-mail [email protected].
    FSIS also operates an extensive small establishment outreach 
program, featuring FSIS-sponsored workshops and programs, educational 
material development and distribution, HACCP and food-safety training 
and training sessions for FSIS consumer safety officers (http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/small_very_small_plant_outreach/index.asp asp). FSIS consumer safety officers are a highly qualified corps 
of individuals with the special mission of helping small establishments 
resolve problems arising in their implementation of HACCP systems. FSIS 
operates a special food safety outreach program for Native American 
communities; it includes training for operators of small meat plants.
    Through the FSIS network of State cooperators, seminars and 
training classes on HACCP and food safety are held around the country 
for operators of food producing establishments. The Outreach Program 
also distributes multi-media training materials in CD-ROM and video as 
well as printed formats.
    Another useful information source on regulatory compliance is an e-
mail service by the FSIS Washington office and directly accessible on 
the FSIS Web site. This service, FSIS Regulations 
([email protected]) gives information on laws, regulations, and 
policies governing FSIS inspection programs and affecting 
establishments regulated by FSIS.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
    APHIS has made compliance assistance resources available to small 
business entities in several formats. All work extremely well in that 
APHIS has not received complaints or negative comments regarding 
insufficient information or difficulty gaining access. The listing of 
resources we submitted included four Web addresses:
     www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/pubs pubs--At this site, small 
entities will find publications and other materials to help explain 
APHIS programs such as press releases, frequently asked question, 
publications, industry alerts, technical reports and stakeholder 
announcements.
     www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/video--This Web page provides 
access to videos about several APHIS programs. With proper equipment, 
the videos can be viewed from a computer. There is also contact 
information to obtain copies.
     On-Site Evaluations/Assistance--For on-site assistance, 
the telephone

[[Page 36109]]

number for each Regional Office is listed to request inspections, 
assistance, etc.
     www.aphis.usda.gov/ies--This is the Web site of the SBREFA 
Contact. It contains program information and contact information. 
Comments, complaints, and/or suggestions can be sent by on line mail 
service to [email protected].
     Toll Free Telephone--Comments, complaints, and/or 
suggestions can be made without charge by calling 1-866-5Call IES.
Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA)
    Publications--Regulation, Rules, Technical and Administrative, 
Directives, Annual Reports: The Grain Inspection, Packers and 
Stockyards Administration posts current FGIS directives on the GIPSA 
Web site at: http://www.usda.gov/gipsa/pubs/pubs.htm or http://www.usda.gov/gipsa/reference-library/directives.htm. The publications 
are in PDF format, so they may be printed directly from the Web.
    Seminars, classes--Technical Training (e.g., Grain Inspection): 
GIPSA's Technical Services Division (TSD) provides extensive training 
throughout the official inspection system to ensure uniform, accurate 
results are provided at all locations. TSD also offers customized 
industry education services to facilitate the commercial marketing of 
grain. Topics include the visual grading of any grain, rice, bean, pea, 
or lentil and objective, non-visual quality tests such as protein, oil, 
and mycotoxins. Contact Larry McDonald for more information at: 
[email protected].
    Telephone service--information about GIPSA: Responding to 
customers' needs is GIPSA's main priority. GIPSA designed its programs 
to concentrate on customers' needs. If customers have comments on GIPSA 
Customer Service Standards or want information on any GIPSA programs, 
contact: USDA, GIPSA, STOP 3601, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-3601 or telephone: (202) 720-0219.
    CD ROM's/Videos/E-Learning Courses--Technical Information (e.g., 
Procedures for Inspection Grain): GIPSA offers various educational 
materials created for the U.S. grain industry. They include multimedia 
CD's and several brochures/handouts. Single copies of CDs are available 
free by mail and the brochures/handouts are available in PDF format for 
online viewing and/or download. All materials are public domain and may 
be freely duplicated and distributed in their original form. Contact 
Roger Friedrich for more information at: [email protected] or 
send a request to: [email protected].
    Online/e-mail service--Wide range of information about GIPSA and 
its programs: Information regarding GIPSA's programs and services can 
be found in the GIPSA Strategic Plan and on the Agency's Web site at: 
http://www.usda.gov/gipsa.
    Onsite Evaluations/Assistance--Process Verification Program for 
Grain Handlers: GIPSA is considering proposing a new process 
verification program to meet the market's rapidly evolving needs. In 
this program, GIPSA would apply internationally recognized quality 
management standards to verify the quality process used rather than 
testing actual grain itself. The process verification designation 
verifies the process, not the final product. The process verification 
program would give industry participants independent verification of 
their quality processes and standards, and a way to capture values not 
easily identified by traditional inspection and testing. For more 
information, contact John Sharpe at: [email protected] or 
telephone: (202) 720-0228.
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)
    The Food and Nutrition Service administers family feeding programs 
such as the School Lunch and Breakfast Programs, the Special 
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), 
the Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) and the Food Stamp Program 
(FSP). The Agency administers most of these programs through State 
agencies and, therefore, has very little direct interaction with small 
businesses. However, a few of our programs (or parts of them) do relate 
to small business in some way. This summary pertains only to those 
parts of FNS.
    Small Business Compliance Assistance for Retailers in the Food 
Stamp Program. FNS is continuing to carry out its compliance assistance 
efforts to retailers in the Food Stamp Program. Staff have attended 
conferences, presented workshops and held face-to-face meetings with 
retailers to provide technical assistance and listen to their concerns. 
With regards to new initiatives, FNS has created a bi-annual 
publication (mailer) that is sent to all retailers that participate in 
the Program. The mailer provides updates on current policy and any 
changes to Program rules and offers tips for retailers on best 
practices. Secondly, FNS will begin using a simplified application for 
new retailers in Fall 2004. The simplified application is an 
improvement over the current application because we have eliminated 
unnecessary and duplicative questions, the questions are easier to 
understand and it takes less time for a storeowner to complete the 
form. You can find more information about our work with retailers and 
publications we offer on the FNS Web site at www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/retailers/. The Food Stamp regulations that relate to retailers can be 
found in the Code of Federal Regulations at 7 CFR parts 278 and 279 (a 
link to an electronic version is also available on the general FSP Web 
site referenced above).
    Small Business Compliance Assistance for Farmers' Markets/Retailers 
in the WIC/FNMP Programs. Under the Child Nutrition Act provisions for 
the WIC and FMNP Programs, State agencies are responsible for the 
authorization, training, monitoring, and corrective action of small 
businesses such as retailers, farmers, and farmers' markets. FNS has 
issued regulations establishing guidelines and parameters for State 
agency administration of these activities. Although some uniformity is 
imposed by these regulations, there are also considerable areas of 
State discretion, so that many of the rules will not be the same from 
one State to the next. For example, State agencies must accept 
applications from retailers for WIC authorization at least once every 
three years, but may do so much more frequently, and each State has its 
own application form. For another example, States are required to allow 
only certain types and amounts of food to be transacted for WIC food 
instruments, but the precise brand, package size, and maximum allowed 
price will vary from State to State. The FNS Web site (http://fns.usda.gov/wic) includes the WIC/FMNP regulations (7 CFR Parts 246 
and 248) and also a list of the WIC and FMNP State agency addresses, 
telephone numbers, and Web sites.
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)
    The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has a number of compliance 
assistance programs to help small entities to comply with program 
regulations. They range from publications to seminars to e-mail 
assistance to CD-ROMs and videos. The issues they discuss include 
information on the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, marketing 
orders, the National Organic Program, grading programs, and science & 
technology programs, among others. All this assistance and contact 
information can be accessed by clicking the appropriate

[[Page 36110]]

program's link on the AMS Web site http://www.ams.usda.gov.
Rural Utilities Service (RUS)
    The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is a financing agency, not a 
regulating authority. RUS does not have enforcement policies. Its 
policy on minimum compliance requirements as a condition for financing 
is to work with the individual applicant/borrower to ensure compliance. 
RUS does not impose penalties or engage in enforcement activities. 
Assistance with its programs can be obtained at our Web site at http://www.usda.gov/rus/. This site contains information on all of our 
programs and complete contact information by subject matter and 
geographic location. If needed, a RUS field representative can come to 
your location to provide assistance.
    Department of Agriculture Single Point of Contact: Jacquelyn 
Chandler, Office of Budget and Program Analysis, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Rm. 147-E, Washington, DC 
20250, Telephone: 202-720-1516, E-mail: [email protected].

Commerce

    The Department of Commerce understands a vibrant small business 
sector is critical to creating new jobs in a dynamic and growing 
economy, so it is mindful of its responsibilities under the Small 
Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA). The Commerce 
Department provides substantial regulatory enforcement compliance 
assistance through a variety of media.
    Within the Commerce Department, two agencies regulate the 
activities of small businesses. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA) regulate small businesses under several natural 
resource protection statutes that NOAA enforces, including the Marine 
Mammal Protection Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The Bureau of Industry 
and Security (BIS), formerly the Bureau of Export Administration (BXA), 
regulates small businesses under the Export Administration Regulations, 
which set the criteria for authorizing exports of dual-use items--
commercial items with potential military or weapons proliferation 
applications.
    NOAA has a comprehensive program providing regulatory compliance 
guidance and assistance to small entities, which comprise much of 
NOAA's regulated community. It has long been NOAA's practice to answer 
inquiries by small entities, when appropriate, in the interest of 
administering statutes and regulations. NOAA answers tens of thousands 
of inquiries from small entities annually. Inquiries are received via 
telephone, mail and electronic mail; during public hearings, town hall 
meetings and workshops held by NOAA throughout the year; and in day-to-
day interactions small entities have with NOAA. NOAA distributes 
compliance guides to all those to whom a rule will apply and to others 
who have expressed interest. It makes them available at sites where 
affected parties are likely to see them. The guides may take different 
forms to best serve the needs of the parties affected by a particular 
rule.
     NOAA Toll-Free Enforcement Hotline: 1-800-853-1964.
     NOAA Office for Law Enforcement: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ole/index.html.
     NOAA Law Enforcement Contacts: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ole/contacts.html.
    NOAA program offices often prepare ``plain English'' summaries of 
new regulations and distribute them by fax to the regulated communities 
and the press. For complex regulations, question/answer sheets of the 
most frequently asked questions are often published in the fishery 
trade journals that are most often read by the affected fishermen. 
Information about NOAA's regulations and compliance guidance is often 
posted on NOAA Web pages and on electronic bulletin boards.
    Additionally, small entities may contact specific program offices 
responsible for the regulations at issue. Program offices hold 
informational workshops to explain new regulations and answer questions 
from the industry concerning compliance. Fishermen, who make up much of 
the regulated community, often speak with NOAA's individual fishery 
plan coordinators for guidance in response to specific factual 
situations described by the fishermen. In permitted fisheries, letters 
explaining regulatory changes, and providing the name of a person to 
contact for additional information and guidance, may be sent to each 
permit holder. NMFS also has public affairs positions in its regional 
offices that specialize in community outreach.
    BIS similarly provides exporters a wide range of compliance 
assistance. These include compliance guides in the forms of 
instructional brochures, fact sheets and guidance posted on the BIS Web 
site. BIS also educates small businesses through seminars, meetings, 
workshops and, when requested, one-on-one counseling.
     BIS Web site: http://www.bxa.doc.gov/index.htm.
     BIS Export Enforcement Hotline: 1-800-424-2980.
     Office of Export Enforcement Intelligence: (202) 482-1208.
     Exporter Counseling Division: (202) 482-4811.
    The Office of Antiboycott Compliance (OAC) within BIS advises small 
businesses on compliance with the antiboycott regulations through its 
telephone advice line. Callers can seek compliance advice before 
engaging in transactions. The OAC also offers counseling to small 
businesses to assist them in solving their boycott problems legally. 
Antiboycott Advice Line: (202) 482-2381.
Patent & Trademark Office
    U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Office of Procurement 
awards and administers a wide variety of contracts and simplified 
purchases for the acquisition of goods and services required throughout 
the agency. Our site includes helpful links such as current USPTO 
contracts, upcoming opportunities, office staff listing, helpful 
information for small businesses, information on our new Performance 
Based Organization (PBO) procedures and other related topics.
    The USPTO Office of Procurement continually strives to remain on 
the leading edge of procurement reform and current technology. It is 
our goal to identify and utilize new innovative techniques to develop a 
partnership with industry.
    A major goal at the United States Patent & Trademark Office, Office 
of Procurement is to promote and give consideration to small business 
concerns. Requirements over the micro purchase amount of $2,500 are 
identified early in the acquisition process to allow for consideration 
for small, small disadvantaged, woman-owned and minority-owned 
businesses. http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/comp/proc/ipa/ipamain.htm.
    The Office of Procurement continues to promote Electronic Commerce 
(EC) and utilize innovative technologies to streamline procurement 
processes. Our EC effort, known as the Internet-Based Purchasing 
Application (IPA), has been in use for over a year now. The IPA 
continues to grow and is a successful tool in conducting simplified 
acquisitions over the Internet.
    For more information please contact: Susan K. Brown, Records 
Officer (PRA Clearance Desk), U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Office 
of the Chief Information Officer, Suite 310, 2231 Crystal Drive, 
Washington, DC 20231,

[[Page 36111]]

Telephone: (703) 308-7400, E-Mail: [email protected].
    Muriel A. Brown, Small Business Liaison, U.S. Patent and Trademark 
Office Office of Procurement, Box 6, Washington, DC 20231, Telephone: 
(703) 305-8370, E-mail: [email protected].
    Department of Commerce Single Point of Contact: Tom Pyke, Office of 
the Chief Information Officer, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th St. & 
Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20230. Telephone (202) 482-4797.

Defense

    It is the Department of Defense (DOD) policy that a fair proportion 
of DOD total purchases, contracts, subcontracts, and other agreements 
for property and services be placed with small business concerns, 
service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns, qualified 
historically underutilized business zone (HUBZone) small business 
concerns, small disadvantaged business concerns, women-owned small 
business concerns, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities and 
minority institutions.
    The Director of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business 
Utilization (SADBU) is the principal proponent within the Office of the 
Secretary of Defense for executing national and DOD policy as mandated 
by the Congress and the President. The Director acts as ombudsman and 
coordinator with the functional activity concerned in responding to 
complaints and resolving problems encountered by small business firms 
performing under DOD contracts.
    The Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information 
Operations and Reports (WHS/DIOR), serves as the central repository for 
statistical information for the Department of Defense. General 
procurement data, including subcontract information, is located on the 
WHS/DIOR Web site at http://www.dior.whs.mil/peidhome/peidhome.htm. 
Specifically, SADBU utilizes the standard tabulation (ST) 28 report, 
titled ``Contract Awards by FSC and Purchasing Office,'' as a key 
document to assist small business concerns in identifying contracting 
activities with contracting potential. The ST 28 matches the dollar 
obligations and contract actions under each specific Federal Supply 
Class or Service Codes and details the contracting activities that made 
awards by name, city, and State. The ST 28 can be found at http://www.dior.whs.mil/peidhome/procstat/procstat.htm.
    The Defense Logistics Agency, on behalf of the Secretary of 
Defense, administers the DOD Procurement Technical Assistance Program 
(PTAP). PTAP Centers are a local resource that can provide assistance 
to business firms in marketing products and services to the Federal, 
State and local governments. A list of PTAP Centers can be found at 
http://www.dla.mil/db/procurem.htm.
    The DOD Regional Councils for Small Business Education and Advocacy 
are a nationwide network of small business specialists organized to 
promote the National Small Business Programs of the United States. 
Council objectives include promoting the exchange of ideas and 
experiences, and general information among small business specialists 
and the contracting community; developing closer relationships and 
better communication among Government entities and the small business 
community; and staying abreast of statutes, policies, regulations, 
directives, trends, and technology affecting the Small Business 
Program. There are eight Regional Councils sponsored by the DOD Office 
of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (SADBU) governed by 
individual by-laws. Further information can be found at http://www.acq.osd.mil/sadbu/programs/regional/index.htm.
    Information on DOD's initiatives and programs is available on 
SADBU's Web site http://www.acq.osd.mil/sadbu/index.htm. Contact 
information and links to DOD Component SADBU Offices can be found at 
http://www.acq.osd.mil/sadbu/links/sadbu.htm.
    Department of Defense Single Point of Contact: Robert L. Cushing, 
Jr., Department of Defense, Washington Headquarters Services, Executive 
Services and Communications Directorate, 1225 South Clark Street, Suite 
504, Arlington, VA 22202-4326. Telephone: (703) 604-6269. E-mail: 
[email protected].

Education

     Online information centers on grants and contracts, 
financial aid, education research and statistics, education policy 
(including legislation, regulations and guidance), and education 
programs: www.ed.gov.
     Online subscriptions to Department of Education 
newsletters: www.ed.gov.
     Department of Education programs and initiatives: 1-800-
USA-LEARN (1-800-872-5327).
     Student aid: 1-800-4FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).
     Matters affecting small businesses: U.S. Department of 
Education, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, 400 
Maryland Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20202; Telephone: (202) 708-9820.
     Student loan issues: www.ombudsman.ed.gov, U.S. Department 
of Education, FSA Ombudsman, 830 First St., NE, 4th Floor, Washington, 
DC 20202-5144; Telephone: 1-877-557-2575; Fax: (202) 275-0549.
    Education Department Single Point of Contact: John Tressler, U.S. 
Department of Education, Office of the Chief Information Officer, 400 
Maryland Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 245-6589. E-
mail: [email protected].

Energy

    The Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) 
and the Office of the Ombudsman handle small business compliance at the 
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). And, each site facility and DOE 
contractor has a small business manager dedicated to small business 
compliance. (http://smallbusiness.doe.gov).
    The OSDBU oversees small business programs department-wide, setting 
policies and procedures to ensure small business compliance in DOE 
contract awards. The OSDBU also maintains a Web site with a 
clearinghouse of small business information, as well as small business 
policies and regulations and information on resources available to 
small businesses both at DOE and at other agencies/departments. The 
OSDBU has an extensive outreach/marketing program, including 
advertising in various publications and participation in various small 
business conferences.
    DOE maintains a number of partnerships with many Federal agencies 
such as the Small Business Administration and the Office of Federal 
Contract Compliance to promote small business compliance. The OSDBU has 
a ``Small Business Council'' composed of representatives of major trade 
associations, small and minority business chambers, women and veteran 
groups to ensure information/feedback to/from the small business 
community relative to small business compliance.
    The Office of the Ombudsman provides small business access to an 
impartial review of their issues in dealing with the DOE and its 
contractors. The Office gives small business guidance and referral 
services to the correct entity within DOE and serves as a voice for the 
small business within DOE.
    Department of Energy Single Point of Contact: Theresa Speake, 
Director, Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization, U.S. 
Department of

[[Page 36112]]

Energy, 1000 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20585. Telephone: 
(202) 586-8383. E-mail: [email protected].

Health and Human Services

    Located in HHS's Office of the Secretary, the Department's Office 
of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) fosters the use 
of small and disadvantaged businesses as Federal contractors. To 
accomplish this task, the OSDBU develops and implements outreach 
programs aimed at heightening the awareness of small business community 
to the contracting opportunities available across the Department.
    Outreach efforts include activities such as sponsoring small 
business fairs and procurement conferences as well as participating in 
trade group seminars, conventions, and other forums, which promote the 
utilization of small and disadvantaged businesses as contractors. The 
OSDBU Web page, www.HHS.gov/osdbu, presents important resources to aid 
contractors in doing business with the Department. OSBDU's Director is 
Ms. Debbie Ridgeley. Ms. Ridgeley may be contacted by telephone at 
(202) 690-7300, or by E-mail at: [email protected].
Food and Drug Association (FDA)
    FDA provides a wealth of written and electronic information to 
assist small business compliance with FDA regulatory requirements. FDA 
has published hundreds of guidelines to assist regulated industry, 
including small business, in complying with the laws and regulations 
that FDA administers. These guidelines cover virtually all areas that 
FDA regulates, from new drug and medical device premarket review, to 
product import and export issues, to issues that relate to the 
manufacture of foods, drugs, devices, and biological products.
    FDA has also published and made widely available guidelines that 
the agency has developed for its own enforcement and compliance staff. 
These guidelines describe the general standards for compliance action 
and set forth the procedures to be followed in conducting 
investigational and enforcement activities. Essentially all of these 
written materials are available through FDA's many Web sites. FDA has 
also prepared ``plain language'' versions of some of the more technical 
documents to assist small businesses and others in understanding FDA's 
expectations.
    FDA has created a number of small business and industry assistance 
``homepages'' on its Web sites that bring together an array of useful 
regulatory and compliance information. For example, the Center for 
Devices and Radiological Health has created a ``Device Advice'' Web 
page, a self-service interactive site for obtaining information about 
medical devices. The human pharmaceutical program has created a 
comparable Web page, ``A Small Business Assistance''.
    FDA's Small Business Representatives (SBR's) are a significant 
resource for the small business community. Each of FDA's five regional 
offices is assigned an SBR to provide small business educational 
outreach and training.
    FDA regional offices represent another significant informational 
resource for the small business community. The regional offices answer 
thousands of questions, conduct scores of training programs, and 
organize many ``grassroots'' meeting to educate the regulated industry, 
especially small businesses, about emerging regulatory topics of 
interest.
    In addition, FDA's public affairs specialists (PAS's), who are 
assigned to many of the agency's field offices, are able to respond to 
questions about FDA's programs, policies, and procedures.
    Finally, FDA has appointed ombudsmen in the Office of the 
Commissioner, the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, the Center 
for Biologics Evaluation and Research, the Center for Veterinary 
Medicine, and the Center for Devices and Radiological Health. These 
officials not only provide compliance assistance, but also help 
regulated companies explore available options in resolving disputes 
with the agency.
    Technical guides. FDA has issued hundreds of guides to assist 
manufacturers in meeting premarket approval and other regulatory 
requirements. Among these guidelines a number of guidelines expressly 
directed to the concerns and needs of small businesses.
    Inspectional guides. FDA has made publicly available the agency's 
manuals and written procedures governing the conduct of inspectional 
and investigational activities
    Policy guides. FDA has issued many guidelines to help regulated 
industry understand the laws, policies, and regulations that FDA 
administers. Many of these documents are issued in ``plain language'' 
versions to assist small businesses and others in understanding FDA's 
expectations.
    All of the above-cited guidance materials may be accessed through 
the following Web sites:
     Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Guidance 
Documents: http://www.fda.gov/cder/guidance/index.htm.
     Center for Devices and Radiological Health Guidance 
Documents for Industry: http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/guidance.html.
     Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Food and 
Cosmetic Guidance Documents: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/dms/
guidance.html.
     Office of Regulatory Affairs Inspection References: http://www.fda.gov/ora/inspect_ref/default.htm.
    Web Assistance. The following small business and industry-
assistance homepages also bring together an array of useful regulatory 
and compliance information:
     Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) Small 
Business Assistance: http://www.fda.gov/cder/about/smallbiz/default.htm--This site provides a listing of various programs, laws, 
regulations, and organizations that pertain to the drug development and 
approval process. This site is specifically geared to small businesses; 
however, general information relating to both small and large 
businesses is also available here (i.e., guidance documents, CDER 
calendar, etc. * * *)
     Information on Devices: http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/devadvice/
--This is an interactive, self-service site. It contains information on 
``How to Market Your Device'' as well as an overview of the 
regulations, guidance documents, consumer information, and more.
     Veterinary Products: http://www.fda.gov/cvm/faqs/faqs.html--This site answers ``Frequently Asked Questions'' about 
veterinary products. It includes links to sites that provide 
information and requirements for topics such as ``New Animal Drug 
Approval'' and ``Marketing a Pet Food Product,'' as well as others.
     Center for Biologic Evaluation and Research (CBER): http://www.fda.gov/CBER/manufacturer.htm--This Web site from the Center for 
Biologic Evaluation and Research explains the manufacturer's assistance 
program, which provides assistance and training to companies, both 
large and small, regarding CBER policies and procedures. This site also 
contains links to other sites that may be of values to the small 
business owner.
     Office of Regulatory Affairs Information on Small 
Business: http://www.fda.gov/ora/fed_state/small_business/default.htm.
     Office of Regulatory Affairs Small Business Guide to FDA: 
http://www.fda.gov/ora/fed--state/

[[Page 36113]]

Small--Business/sb--guide/default.htm. This site is from the FDA's 
Office of Regulatory Affairs. It offers links to a number of useful 
sites such as ``What to do when marketing a new product,'' ``recalling 
a product,'' ``undergoing an FDA inspection,'' etc. * * * It also 
provides an introduction to the Federal Register, information on 
obtaining FDA documents, frequently call numbers, and much more 
information.
     Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Guide to 
Starting a Food Business: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/comm/foodbiz.html--
Advice on ``Starting a Food Business'' which may be of interest for the 
(potential) small business owner. This site provides links to Federal 
and State regulatory agencies, import & export information, as well as 
several other helpful sites.
    Small Business and Industry Assistance Offices. Each major FDA 
component has its own industry assistance office. Staff in these 
offices provide program-specific information and compliance assistance, 
through the contact points indicated below:

CDER Small Business Assistance Drug Information Branch. Telephone (301) 
827-4573, [email protected].
CBER Division of Manufacturers Assistance and Training. Telephone (301) 
827-2000, or [email protected].
CDRH Division of Small Manufacturers, International and Consumer 
Assistance. Telephone: 1-800-638-2041, or [email protected].
CVM communications staff. Telephone: (301) 827-3806, or 
[email protected].
CFSAN industry activities staff. Telephone: (301) 436-1730, or 
[email protected].

    The Small Business Representatives identified below in each of 
FDA's five regional offices provide small businesses with personalized 
educational outreach and compliance assistance:

Northeast Region (CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, VT): Marilyn Corretto, 158-15 
Liberty Avenue, Jamaica, NY 11433-1034. Telephone: (718) 662-5618. Fax: 
(718) 662-5434. E-mail: [email protected].
Central Region (DC, DE, IL, IN, KY, MD, MI, MN, ND, NJ, OH, PA, SD, VA, 
WI, WV): Marie T. Falcone, U.S. Customhouse, 2nd and Chestnut Sts., 
Room 900, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Telephone: (215) 597-2120 ext. 4003. 
Fax: (215) 597-5798. E-mail: [email protected].
Southeast Region (AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, PR, SC, TN, VI): Food and 
Drug Administration, 60 Eighth St., NE., Atlanta, GA 30309. Telephone: 
(404) 253-1217. Fax: (404) 253-1207. E-mail: [email protected].
Southwest Region (AR, CO, IA, KS, MO, NE, NM, OK, TX, UT, WY): David 
Arvelo, 40 N. Central Expy., Suite 900, Dallas, TX 75204. Telephone: 
(214) 253-4952. Assistant: Sue Thomason, telephone: (214) 253-4951. 
Fax: (214) 253-4970. E-mail: [email protected].
Pacific Region (AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, WA): Marcia Madrigal, 
Oakland Federal Building, 1301 Clay Street, Suite 1180-N, Oakland, CA 
94612-5217. Telephone: (510) 637-3980. Fax: (510) 637-3977. E-mail: 
[email protected].
Ombudsman. FDA's Ombudsman Offices provide compliance assistance and 
assistance in informal dispute resolution. There are also ombudsmen 
offices in most of the program offices. Contacts are as follows:
Office of the Commissioner: Laurie Lenkel, Office of the Ombudsman, 
Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 4B-44, HF-7, 
Rockville, MD 2085. Telephone: (301) 827-3390. Fax: (301) 480-8039. E-
mail: [email protected].
Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research: Sherry Lard Whiteford,
    CBER Ombudsman (HFM-4), Center for Biologics Evaluation and 
Research, 1401 Rockville Pike, Suite 200N, Rockville, MD 20852-1448. 
Telephone: (301) 827-0379. E-mail: [email protected].
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research: CDER Ombudsman (HFD-1) 5600 
Fishers Lane, Room 9-74, Rockvillle, MD 20857. Telephone: (301) 594-
5443 or (301) 827-4312. E-mail: [email protected].
Center for Devices and Radiological Health: Les Weinstein, CDRH 
Ombudsman, Office of the Center Director, Center for Devices and 
Radiological Health, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 9200 Corporate 
Blvd. (HFZ-5), Rockville, MD 20850. Telephone: (301) 827-7991. Fax: 
(301) 827-2565. E-mail: [email protected].
Center for Veterinary Medicine: Marcia K. Larkins, D.V.M, FDA Center 
for Veterinary Medicine, Ombudsman, 7519 Standish Place HFV-7, 
Rockville, MD 20855. Telephone: (301) 827-4535. Fax: (301) 827-3957. E-
Mail: [email protected].
Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
    Small Business Office. CMS has a full time Small and Disadvantaged 
Business Utilization Specialist (SDBUS) located in its Acquisition and 
Grants Group. The SDBUS is the Agency's focal point for ensuring that 
all reasonable action is taken to increase awards to small, small 
disadvantaged, HUBZones, and women-owned businesses. This Office 
maintains company profiles and capability statements for all types of 
services. Inquiries should be directed to Sharon McKinney, on (410) 
786-5162, or e-mail may be sent to: [email protected].
    Grant Opportunities. While CMS's Program Offices are concerned with 
the scientific, technical and programmatic topics, the Acquisition and 
Grants Group/Research Contracts and Grants Division is primarily 
charged with the business management and policy aspects of CMS's 
discretionary grant and cooperative agreement activities.
    Currently, CMS conducts a myriad of R&D programs including (but not 
limited to) the following: Real Choice Systems Change Grants, Medicaid 
Infrastructure Grants, State Health Insurance Assistance Program, 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and Hispanic Health 
Initiatives. For additional information, please contact Judy Norris on 
(410) 786-5130 or e-mail to: [email protected].
    Regulatory Burden. The CMS liaison with the Small Business 
Administration's Office of the National Ombudsman is the Office of 
Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs (OSORA).
    OSORA is the Agency's focal point for assessing and reducing the 
burden of Federal paperwork on small businesses in accordance with the 
Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002 (SBPRA).
    OSORA is responsible for responding to small entity concerns on 
regulatory burden, coordinating the development of department-wide non-
retaliation policy with the Department of Health and Human Services, 
and participating in Regulatory Enforcement Fairness hearings and 
meetings when issues relate to the CMS mission.
    OSORA has established the following resources as contacts for small 
businesses experiencing problems pertaining to the regulatory burden 
aspect of doing business: Phone: (410) 786-1002. E-mail: 
[email protected].
    Web site. In addition, CMS provides on its all-purpose Web site 
www.cms.hhs.gov extensive amounts of information about the agency's 
programs, organized in terms of the kind of health-service provider 
affected, e.g., hospitals, nursing homes home health agencies, or 
durable medical equipment suppliers. This information is not currently 
differentiated in terms of the size of these providers' business 
entities, but CMS is planning to take steps in the near future to 
earmark the

[[Page 36114]]

information in terms of its applicability to small businesses.
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
    The NIH Small Business Office (SBO) serves as an advocate for small 
business through various program activities and outreach efforts. These 
efforts are intended to maximize prime and subcontract acquisition 
opportunities at the NIH for small businesses owned by the 
disadvantaged, women, veterans, service-disabled veterans, and 
Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) concerns. Inquires 
should be sent to Diana Mukitarian, Chief, (301) 496-9639, 
[email protected].
    The Small Business Program is located in the NIH's Office of 
Acquisition Management and Policy, whose URL is: http://oa.od.nih.gov/oamp/index.html. Among other things, the Small Business Program at the 
NIH is responsible for:
     Developing and maintaining acquisition review procedures 
and guidelines for requests for contracts, subcontracting plans and 
operations as contract activities. Such reviews result in 
recommendations to contracting officers regarding the method of 
acquisition to be pursued and the acceptability of proposed 
subcontracting plans and prime contractors' small business programs;
     Conducting surveillance of contract, simplified 
acquisition and satellite small business program activity, and 
conducting studies of specific problem areas to ensure effective small 
business program performance and compliance with applicable laws and 
regulations;
     Ensuring the development and presentation of management 
data to provide continuing visibility of program activity and to 
evaluate program accomplishments against agency socio-economic goals;
     Representing the NIH at Federal, State, local government 
and congressional small business conferences and fairs. Serving as a 
guest and expert speaker at various Federal, State, local government 
and Congressional small business conferences and fairs;
     Serving as a liaison between the NIH program and contract 
staff and the contractor community;
     Delivering industry assistance by maintaining a program 
designed to locate capable small, disadvantaged, woman, veteran, 
service-disabled and HUBZone-owned small business concerns for current 
and future acquisitions;
     Representing the NIH to industry by interfacing with CEOs 
and other principals of private companies, to include small and large 
firms, as well as nonprofits and universities;
     Responding to inquiries and requests for advice from 
small, disadvantaged, woman, veteran, service-disabled and HUBZone-
owned businesses; and assisting small business in their marketing and 
business development efforts and activities.
Health Resources and Services Administration
    The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) exists 
primarily to expand access to health care for medically underserved 
individuals and families across the nation through community-based 
networks of primary and preventive health care services. HRSA has 
become known as ``The `Access' Agency'' for its services to Americans 
who lack health insurance; 62 million Americans in rural communities; 
78 million racial and ethnic minorities; over 800,000 Americans with 
HIV/AIDS; and about 80,000 U.S. residents awaiting organ transplants.
    HRSA Contracting Office and Small Business Representative. The HRSA 
contracting office, the Contracts Operations Branch, is currently part 
of the Division of Grants and Procurement Management. The current Small 
Business Representative, Ms. Debora Pitts, is available to assist small 
businesses in navigating the field of HRSA acquisitions. Ms. Pitts may 
be contacted at (301) 443-3789.
    Key Contact Persons in HRSA Contracts. HRSA ``HCA'' (Head of 
Contracting Activities) is Dr. Albert F. Marra, who may be reached at 
(301) 443-1433. The HRSA Chief of the Contracts Operations Branch is 
Mr. Steve Zangwill, who may be contacted at (301) 443-5097. Mr. 
Zangwill is assisted by Mr. Frank Murphy, who leads the negotiated 
contract team, at (301) 443-5165, and Ms. Bonnie Garcia, who heads the 
simplified acquisitions team at (301) 443-5116. The main office number 
is (301) 443-1433.
    All contracting opportunities at HRSA are announced publicly via 
the World Wide Web using the government's new FedBizOpps program at the 
following Web site: www.fedbizopps.gov.
    Contractors and vendors are urged to visit that site, as well as 
the larger HRSA Web site at www.hrsa.gov to keep abreast of contracting 
needs as well as programmatic changes and developments. Another vehicle 
open to interested potential contractors is to study the grants funding 
opportunities available to various agencies and organizations. These 
grants opportunities, which are also announced via the Web, the Federal 
Register, FedBizOpps, and through ``The HRSA Preview,'' give further 
indications of potential acquisitions needs. The HRSA Preview may be 
obtained through the HRSA web site or by calling 1-877-HRSA-123. 
Contractors may also find fertile opportunities for sub-contracting 
with HRSA grantees.
    Department of Health and Human Services Single Point of Contact: 
Debbie Ridgely, Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business 
Utilization, Room 360-G Humphrey Building, Washington, DC 20201. 
Telephone: (202) 260-0040. E-mail: [email protected].

Homeland Security

    Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU). The 
Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Office of Small Business and 
Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) assists, counsels, and 
advises small businesses of all types (small businesses, small 
disadvantaged business, women-owned small businesses, veteran owned 
small businesses, service disabled veteran owned small businesses, and 
small businesses located in historically underutilized business zones) 
on procedures for contracting with DHS. The point of contact for this 
small business program is Kevin Boshears; he may be reached at (202) 
772-9792 and [email protected].
    Office of the Private Sector. The Office of the Private Sector has 
an e-mail address where small business inquiries could be made, namely 
[email protected]. The Office will, pursuant to the Homeland 
Security Act, have the capability to advise the Secretary regarding the 
impact on the private sector, including small business, of proposed 
regulations concerning homeland security. For now, an individual and 
phone number that can be used as an entry point to the Office would be 
Ms. Elizabeth Callaway at (202) 282-8484 and 
[email protected].
    Department of Homeland Security Single Point of Contact: Ms. 
Elizabeth Callaway, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Attn: Private 
Sector Office, Washington, DC 20528. Telephone: (202) 282-8484. E-mail: 
[email protected].
Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (INS)
    The paperwork requirement imposed by the Bureau of Citizenship and 
Immigration Services is the Form I-9.

[[Page 36115]]

Completion of this one-page form by employers helps to insure a legal 
workforce within the United States and does not present a significant 
burden for businesses. The Bureau has instituted electronic filing of 
some applications and provides application status on line. These 
improvements have been a boost to many businesses, providing a speedy 
mechanism for filling critical positions with foreign experts or semi-
skilled workers with temporary and permanent foreign workers. Many 
employers make use of the Bureau's petitions and applications for 
approval to hire alien temporary workers.
    Live voice assistance, Employer Hotline (800) 357-2099 is available 
for employers and Live voice assistance for general questions (800) 
357-5283. Information for e-filing can be found at www.bcis.gov. 
Employer Assistance Resources can be found at www.bcis.gov under the 
title ``Information for Employers'', Office of Business Liaison. 
Requests for speakers and questions can be faxed to (202) 305-2523.
    DHS Point of Contact for Small Business Compliance Assistance: 
Felicia A. Colvin, Supervisory Information Specialist, Office of 
Business Liaison, Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services. 
Telephone: (202) 305-2461.
Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
    The newly formed Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has 
been working under the trade concept of ``informed compliance'' since 
the passage of the Customs Modernization Act (1993). This law mandated 
CBP to develop a proactive strategy to advise importers of their 
responsibilities under the law. To fulfill this mandate, CBP has 
implemented several measures for providing guidance on laws governing 
international trade for all importers and exporters, including small 
businesses. Small businesses can avail themselves of this information 
using the following means: CBP Web Site (downloadable); local and 
national trade meetings/seminars; weekly publications of the Customs 
Bulletin; binding rulings program; other informed compliance brochures 
and pamphlets; and direct contact with CBP personnel.
    There are over 300 ports of entry where we enforce numerous laws 
for CBP and other government agencies while serving as America's 
frontline for border security. As the agency's primary responsibility, 
CBP has twin goals of improving security and facilitating legitimate 
trade and travel, which are not mutually exclusive. In its role to 
facilitate trade, CBP has always provided compliance assistance to the 
trade community about the laws and regulations that apply to importing 
and exporting. Customs officers at the ports of entry, the Strategic 
Trade Centers, field operations offices and at Headquarters daily 
receive and respond to requests for information from the public.
     CBP Web site: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/ports/.
    The CBP Web site lists all ports of entry with their addresses and 
telephone numbers. CBP has incorporated a Customer Service Center that 
responds to inquiries via a toll free number (1-877-Customs). The 
Office of Trade Relations (OTR) is designated as the point of contact 
within CBP for small businesses and may be reached at (202) 927-1440 or 
via e-mail at [email protected]. This office was revamped in 2002 
to ensure effective, extensive communication between CBP and all facets 
of the trade community. Any small entity seeking general information 
about importing procedures or wanting to comment on their interaction 
with CBP may contact OTR for assistance.
    Contact Information. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Trade 
Relations, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Room 4.2A, Washington, DC 
20229. Telephone: (202) 927-1440. Fax: (202) 927-1696. E-mail: 
[email protected].
Coast Guard
    The Coast Guard encourages small entities to participate in the 
development of Coast Guard regulations. Our Web site offers help in 
understanding and complying with those regulations. Use the following 
links to access help in these areas:
     Small Entity Regulatory Assistance: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/regs/sbrefa.html.
     Marine Safety, Security and Environmental Protection 
regulations: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/regs/reghome.html.
     Boating Safety regulations: http://www.uscgboating.org/.
    The Coast Guard proudly maintains the following policy: 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 actions 
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 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, e-mail: [email protected].
    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 
SBA's Office of the National Ombudsman using the information given in 
the preceding paragraph.
    Coast Guard single point of contact: Steve Venckus, Chief, Office 
of Regulations and Administrative Law (G-LRA), 2100 2d Street, SW., 
(Room 1417), Washington, DC 20593-0001. Phone: (202) 267-1534. Fax: 
(202) 267-6234. E-mail: [email protected].

Housing and Urban Development

    The Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization OSDBU 
has many tools available for small businesses. Through the 
establishment of the Information Technology (IT) training HUD has 
provided a learning tool for small businesses to understand all aspects 
of HUD's IT opportunities. Introducing this training program has 
enabled HUD to form partnerships with small businesses and identify 
qualified companies to seek IT opportunities within the agency.
    HUD sponsors Marketing and Outreach business fairs and focuses both 
on direct HUD contracting opportunities and contracting opportunities 
created by HUD assisted projects including Community Development Block 
Grant recipients and Public Housing authorities. HUD outreach sessions 
include HUD program offices and prime contractors who offer sub-
contracting opportunities to small, small disadvantaged and women-owned 
businesses. HUD has attended approximately 50 outreach conferences 
including procurement fairs, trade shows, marketplace presentations 
throughout the country with a strong emphasis on the utilization of 
small businesses.
    HUD's contracting home page is linked to the OSDBU home page in 
HUD's Web site. The contracting home page contains notices of HUD 
procurement opportunities and allows interested parties to download a 
file containing solicitations. A special OSDBU page contains Small 
Business

[[Page 36116]]

tips, the Forecast of Contracting Opportunities, a Small Business 
Resource Guide and notification of outreach activities.
    HUD also has the HUD Procurement System (HPS), an integrated 
commercial and customized software program that automates procurement 
operations department-wide. This system includes a rapid query of 
contracting information that enables all companies to submit bids or 
proposals for upcoming contracting opportunities and the identification 
of HUBZones for participation in contracting and sub-contracting 
opportunities. Additionally, it provides HUD with a system to monitor 
and evaluate its actual achievements in regard to participation of 
small businesses in HUD activities.
    HUD sponsors Marketing and Outreach business fairs and focuses both 
on direct HUD contracting opportunities and indirect contracting 
opportunities created by HUD assisted projects including, Community 
Development Block Grant recipients and public housing authorities. 
During these events, program offices and prime contractors who offer 
sub-contracting opportunities to small, small disadvantaged and women 
owned businesses are urged to attend. Last year, HUD attended 
approximately 50 outreach conferences including procurement fairs, 
trade shows and marketplace presentations throughout the country. The 
OSDBU Business Utilization Development Specials (BUDS), have regular 
one-on-one meetings with small businesses. The Director holds 
``Thursday Open House'' sessions for all small, small disadvantaged and 
Women Owned Small Businesses (WOSBs). These meetings give small 
businesses the opportunity to meet personally with the Director and the 
specialized BUDS advocate within the OSDBU. The aforementioned efforts 
are in addition to the daily counseling and one-on-one meetings held 
with these businesses at the HUD headquarters and field offices.
    The OSDBU has increased its staff to include a Contract Specialist, 
an Information Technology Specialist, a Small Business Policy 
Specialist and a Research Analyst. HUD has implemented innovative 
projects and tools utilizing the latest technologies that have and will 
continue to have a positive effect on the participation of WOSBs in 
departmental contracting activities. There are IT outreach sessions 
held regularly with IT small businesses to inform them of new 
procurement opportunities at HUD.
    New Methodologies that challenge conventional procedures include 
the establishment of subcontracting policies that have resulted in an 
increase in contract dollars to small businesses. The HUD Procurement 
System (HPS) effectively tracks all contracting and subcontracting 
dollars awarded to small businesses. HUD has established a 
subcontracting goal of up to 40% of the total value of each contract 
and subsequent extensions, modifications and options. Contractors that 
are unable to meet the established goal must provide the rational for 
the proposed level of subcontracting. In accordance with the Federal 
Acquisition Regulation (FAR) at Part 19.702 and HUD's own Federal 
acquisition regulation (HUDAR) at 2452.219-70, solicitations exceeding 
$500,000 that include HUDAR provision 2452.219-70, shall provide the 
maximum practicable subcontracting opportunities to small, small 
disadvantaged and women-owned businesses. Prior to award, each contract 
shall be evaluated on specific subcontracting goals and commitments to 
small businesses. These pioneering subcontracting policies also include 
subcontracting plans for General Services Administration schedule buys. 
There is a concentrated effort to conduct outreach with small 
businesses across the nation.
    HUD OSDBU continuously performs at a level of professional 
excellence to serve our customers. HUD consistently formulates and 
implements written policies supporting small businesses and includes 
references to small businesses in standard operating procedures. HUD 
has designated a senior executive as the Director of the OSBDU who is 
responsible for implementing small business policy initiatives. 
Furthermore, HUD maintains an effective system to provide 
acknowledgement of procurement personnel that utilize 8(a) small 
businesses. HUD places a high priority on direct communications and 
outreach efforts; we utilize newsletters, facilitate trade show and 
marketplace presentations and conduct business assistance and training 
seminars. HUD is one of the most innovative governmental agencies and 
is constantly retrofitting its employment with the latest technologies 
to enhance service to small businesses. HUD constantly employs 
proactive strategies to increase opportunities for these businesses to 
serve as prime contractors and subcontractors. HUD has achieved 
phenomenal success in requiring prime contractors to establish 
measurable programs to increase subcontracting opportunities.

Publications:

     Small Business Resource Guide: www.hud.gov:80/offices/osdbu/resource/guide.cfm cfm.
     Small Business Tips: www.hud.gov:80/offices/osdbu/tips.cfm cfm.
     Forecast of Contracting Opportunities: www.hud.gov/offices/cpo/4cast.cfm cfm.

Seminars and Classes:

     Outreach Calendar/Small Business Training: www.hud.gov/groups/smallbusiness.cfm cfm.

Web based compliance:

     Brent Pick is HUD's Webmaster and updates all contract 
compliance issues on the Web. (303) 672-5281 ext. 1821 [email protected].

Telephone Service:

     (202) 708-1428, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business 
Utilization HUD Headquarters, Room 3130.

Future Activities:

     CD-Roms/Video.
     Online/E-mail Service.

On-Site Evaluation/Assistance:

     Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, A. 
Jo Baylor, Director: HUD--Headquarters 451 7th Street, SW., Room 3130, 
Washington, DC 20410; E-mail: [email protected].

    Housing and Urban Development Single Point of Contact: A. Jo 
Baylor, Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business 
Utilization, HUD Headquarters 451 7th Street, SW., Room 3130, 
Washington, DC 20410. Telephone: (202) 708-1428. E-mail: [email protected].

Interior

Bureau of Land Management
    Submit Permits and Reports Electronically: https://www.wispermits.org/.
    How to File a Mining Claim: http://www.blm.gov/nhp/pubs/brochures/minerals/index.htm#Q3.
    Minerals Management Service.
     ``Dear Payor'' Letters, Notices to Lessees, Small Refiner 
Program: http://www.mrm.mms.gov/RIKweb/SmallRefiners.htm htm.
    Electronic Payment Information: http://www.mrm.mms.gov/ReportingServices/PDFDocs/fedwire.pdf pdf.
    Regulations governing collecting, accounting for and distributing 
revenues associated with mineral production from leased Federal and 
Indian lands: http://www.mrm.mms.gov/Laws_R_D/FRNotices/FRHome.htm.
    Regulations governing leasing and operations on the Federal 
offshore: http://www.mms.gov/offshore/Regulations.htm htm.

[[Page 36117]]

    Workshops to explain more complex regulations: Available at various 
locations around the country.
    Training on how to report royalty revenue and related information: 
Available at various locations around the country.
Bureau of Reclamation
    Statute, regulations, Reclamation Reform Act (RRA) Fact Sheets, RRA 
forms & instructions, and Status of Irrigation Districts List: http://www.usbr.gov/rra/ gov/rra/.
    Explanations of the most common Reclamation Reform Act questions 
and issues in plain English: www.usbr.gov/rra and at the Reclamation 
District offices in all irrigation districts.
Fish and Wildlife Service
    General Compliance Guidance: http://pdm.fws.gov/sba/sbindex.html.
    Compliance Guidance for Wildlife Import and Export License Holders: 
http://www.le.fws.gov/PublicBulletin.htm.
    Non-Retaliation Policy: http://policy.fws.gov/do142.html.
    Outreach Presentations for the Import/Export Community: http://www.le.fws.gov/inspectors.htm.
    Courses on Conservation, Grantwriting, Conservation Partnerships, 
Developing and Working with Friends Groups, and Other Topics: http://training.fws.gov/.
    Assistance for Importers and Exporters, Taxidermists, Guides and 
Outfitters: http://www.le.fws.gov/inspectors.htm.
    FWS Publications Online: http://library.fws.gov/pubs3.html.
Office of Surface Mining
    Applicant Violator System: http://www.avs.osmre.gov/.
    Small Operator Assistance Program: http://www.osm.gov/soap.htm.
    Copies of OSM Forms: http://www.osm.gov/forms.htm.
    Policies and Guidance: http://www.osm.gov/policy.htm.
    Department of the Interior Single Point of Contact: John 
Strylowski, U.S. Department of the Interior, MS 7229 MIB, Washington, 
DC 20240. Telephone: (202) 208-3071. Fax: (202) 219-2100. E-Mail: 
[email protected].

Justice

    Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU). The 
Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) strives 
to improve and increase the Department's performance in utilizing 
small, small disadvantage, small woman-owned and veteran-owned 
businesses as contractors and subcontractors. Our various bureaus spend 
approximately two billion dollars a year in the private sector. 
Currently, more than 42 percent of those dollars go to small 
businesses, with 10 to 15 percent going to minority-owned firms and 3 
to 5 percent going to woman-owned companies.
    The OSDBU Director and the Deputy Attorney General are committed to 
encouraging and assisting well-qualified and skillful small, minority, 
and woman-owned businesses seeking contracts with the Department of 
Justice. The acquisition function in the Justice Department has been 
assigned to each of our bureaus' contracting staffs, most of which are 
located in the metropolitan Washington, DC area. We have prepared 
several avenues to assist small and disadvantaged businesses in getting 
better acquainted with the requirements and procurement practices of 
the bureaus.
    Information on DOJ's initiatives and activities is available on the 
DOJ Small Business Web site: http://www.usdoj.gov/jmd/osdbu. This site 
links to the Small Business home page, which provides extensive small 
business assistance information including registration for the monthly 
vendors outreach sessions which provides the opportunity for one-on-one 
meetings with small business specialist and contracting officers.
    Seminars/Conferences/Outreach Sessions: http://www.usdoj.gov/jmd/osdbu/index.html.
    OSDBU Contact: Ramona Johnson-Glover, Acting Director, OSDBU, 1331 
Penn Ave. NW., National Place Bld., Suite 1010, Washington, DC 20530. 
Telephone: (202) 616-0521 or 1-800-345-3712. Fax: (202) 616-1717. E-
Mail: [email protected].
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
    Publications of benefit or interest to ATF industry members and the 
general public (i.e., firearms and explosives regulations, newsletters, 
rulings, press releases, statistics and State & local training courses, 
Federal law and regulations, State laws and published ordinances, and 
Federal Register notices.)
     Theft/losses of explosives materials: 1-888-ATF-2662.
     Toll free for reports of gun related crimes and after 
hours theft/losses: 1-800-ATF-GUNS.
     Toll free for theft/losses of firearms: 1-800-800-3855.
     ATF Firearms and Explosives Compliance Web Site: 
www.atf.gov.
    The ATF provides various publications to our industry members as 
well as the general public. Some of the publications available either 
on ATF Web site or in hard copy, include manuals which provide ATF's 
regulatory requirements in a plain language format; informational 
brochures to help raise awareness of possible criminal activity (i.e., 
Reporting theft of Explosives and Firearms, Arson incidents); and 
industry newsletters for all businesses regulated by ATF. Publications, 
brochures and forms are produced in quantities of 115,000 each for 
firearms and 12,000 for explosives, for distribution to the licensees, 
permittees, and to trade and research organizations and the press.
    ATF hosts/participates in national, international, as well as 
regional/local conferences and meetings. In addition, ATF personnel are 
often invited by associations to attend their national conferences to 
give presentations on topics of interest to association members, and/or 
set up an exhibit booth. The ATF exhibit booth provides yet another 
venue through which industry members that attend these meetings, may 
ask questions or concerns regarding ATF policy or regulations.
    ATF personnel have also been asked by industry associations as well 
as regulatory associations/agencies to participate on various panels. 
Recent topics on which the ATF has provided our expertise include but 
are not limited to, Safe Explosives Act, Shot Show University, Annual 
Importers Conference.
    There are a number of application forms and reports required by 
ATF, some of which are now available on ATF's Web site www.atf.gov.
    ATF Contact: Mary Jo Hughes, Chief, FEA Services Division, Office 
of Firearms, Explosives and Arson, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms 
and Explosives, 650 Massachusetts Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20226. 
Telephone: (202) 927-8045. Fax: (202) 927-7488.
Civil Rights Division (CRT)
    CRT--Disability Rights Section (DRS). Information:
     Home Page: www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm.
     Business Page: http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/business.htm.
    The home page provides information about the toll-free ADA 
Information Line, the Department's ADA enforcement activities, the ADA 
technical assistance program, certification of State and local building

[[Page 36118]]

codes, proposed changes in ADA regulations and requirements, and the 
ADA mediation program. The home page also provides direct access to ADA 
regulations and technical assistance materials, Freedom of Information 
Act materials, links to the Department's press releases, and links to 
the other Federal agencies' Internet home pages that contain ADA 
information. ADA. The Web site received over one million visitors 
during FY 2003.
    ADA Guide for Small Business: http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/smbusgd.pdf.
    ADA Information Line. DRS operates a toll-free ADA Information Line 
to provide information to the public about the requirements of the ADA 
and to distribute technical assistance publications to the public. 
Automated service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 
During business hours, members of the public can consult with 
Department staff for assistance in applying ADA requirements to their 
own specific situation. The ADA Information Line numbers are (800) 514-
0301 (voice); (800) 514-0383 (TTY). During FY 2003, the Information 
Line received 120,000 calls.
    ADA Fax on Demand. The ADA Information Line Fax Delivery Service 
allows the public to obtain free ADA information by fax 24 hours a day, 
seven days a week. By calling the ADA Information Line, callers can 
select from among 32 different ADA technical assistance publications 
and receive the information, usually within minutes, directly on their 
fax machines or computer fax/modems. ADA Information Line: 800-514-0301 
(voice); 800-514-0383 (TTY).
    ADA publications. DRS produces a range of technical assistance 
documents, including an ADA Guide for Small Businesses that has been 
published jointly with the Small Business Administration. ADA. During 
FY 2003, the Department developed 41 new technical assistance 
materials, including five publications on specific topics of interest 
to businesses that can be printed and distributed directly from the Web 
addressing the issues of service animals, restriping parking lots, 
refueling assistance at gas pumps, communicating with people who are 
deaf or hard of hearing in hospital settings, and communicating with 
people who are deaf or hard of hearing in hotels, motels, and other 
places of transient lodging.
    ADA training. DRS provides ADA training at meetings nationwide; and 
conducts outreach to broad and targeted audiences that have included 
mayors, local Chambers of Commerce, and millions of businesses. 
Requests for speakers and training should be placed through the ADA 
Information Line: 800-514-0301 (voice); 800-514-0383 (TTY). During 
2003, the Department fulfilled 60 training, speaking, and exhibit 
engagements.
    ADA Mediation Program. The Department's ADA Mediation Program 
facilitates compliance by entities, including small businesses, using a 
voluntary alternative dispute resolution approach. Carried out through 
a partnership between the Federal government and the private sector, 
more than 450 professional mediators are available nationwide to 
mediate ADA cases. In FY 2003, 188 complaints with businesses were 
resolved successfully through the ADA Mediation Program. To date in FY 
2004, the Department has referred an additional 144 cases to the 
mediation program.
    CRT--Office of Special Counsel for Unfair Immigration Related 
Employment Practices (OSC). OSC's Internet site has helpful information 
specifically designed for businesses as well as workers. The site 
describes the legal obligations of employers to comply with the anti-
discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) 
and provides other information to assist compliance (such as brochures, 
booklets, frequently asked questions, and legal references). In FY 
2003, the OSC Web site had more than 386,000 new and recurring page 
visitors. The site is at http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/osc. In April, OSC 
published a newsletter, ``OSC Update,'' which provides an update of 
OSC's outreach and enforcement activities, and highlights OSC's 
informal resolution program.
    OSC Employer Hotline. OSC has a national toll-free telephone line 
solely for the use of employers who wish to consult with OSC staff 
members about their compliance concerns. The telephone line is staffed 
by OSC attorneys and Equal Opportunity Specialists who promptly address 
employers' questions, providing immediate guidance. OSC staff often 
advise employers on how to avoid discrimination in the workplace, 
minimizing any future liability. Voice: 1-800-255-8155; TDD: 1-800-362-
2735.
    OSC Job Applicant or Employee Hotline. Based on information 
received from individuals calling this line, and OSC's prompt 
investigation of these cases, OSC often is able to bring early, 
efficient, cost-effective resolutions to employment disputes that might 
otherwise result in the filing of charges, the accumulation of 
potential back pay awards, or litigation expenses. These early 
interventions minimize the impact of statutory enforcement on small 
businesses. Voice: 1-800-255-7688 or (202) 616-5525; TDD: 1-800-237-
2515. The OSC processed over 18,580 calls to its employer and employee 
hotlines in FY 2003.
    OSC Training Materials. OSC also provides employers, where 
necessary, with training materials for their staff, including booklets, 
posters and educational videotapes, on how to ensure that they do not 
engage in discriminatory behavior. The employer hotline number is 
distributed with all of OSC's outreach materials for employers. Voice: 
1-800-255-8155; TDD: 1-800-362-2735; E-mail Address: [email protected] 
Download Brochures and Booklets: http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/osc/htm/outreach.htm htm Based on FY 2003 levels, the OSC expects to disseminate 
over 100,000 copies of its brochures and booklets free of charge during 
FY 2004.
    Compliance Assistance Education. OSC takes part in numerous 
employer training sessions throughout the country, providing employers 
guidance on how they can comply with the antidiscrimination provisions 
of the immigration laws. OSC attorneys also conduct outreach seminars 
across the country that are organized by OSC grantees and specifically 
designed to address issues of concern to employers. OSC routinely 
provides compliance assistance training and other guidance to employers 
that OSC determined committed unlawful discrimination to ensure that 
such violations do not recur. Voice: 1-800-255-8155; TDD: 1-800-362-
2735; E-mail Address: [email protected]. In FY 2003, OSC officials 
conducted 83 such presentations.
    OSC Grants. In addition to the direct outreach activities of its 
own staff, OSC provides grants to employer associations (such as 
chambers of commerce) and other entities to allow those organizations 
to conduct further compliance assistance among their members and 
constituents. In FY 2003, OSC's grantees presented information about 
INA compliance at hundreds of events that were attended by thousands of 
employers and workers and distributed thousands of copies of OSC's 
brochures and booklets. There are 11 OSC grantees operating across the 
country in FY 2004. Grants totaled almost $675,000. Press Statement: 
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/osc/press/30814grantees.pdf pdf.
    OSC Assistance to SBA's Small Business Development Centers. To 
improve its outreach and service to the small business community, OSC

[[Page 36119]]

contacted the SBA's Office of Small Business Development Centers 
(OSBDC) and the Association of Small Business Development Centers 
(ASBDC) and offered to provide training and information materials, 
assistance with training events, and technical guidance to the SBDC 
networks across the county. There are more than 1,000 SBDC centers and 
subcenters that provide low-cost counseling and training to small 
businesses. The SBDCs are generally receptive to providing INA 
compliance information to their small business clients, and OSC expects 
to cultivate this partnership in 2004 and future years. OSC will soon 
roll out a small business resource page on its Web site.
    OSC address and phone numbers: Office of Special Counsel for 
Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices, Civil Rights Division 
Department of Justice, Post Office Box 27728, Washington, DC 20038-
7728. Telephone: 202-616-5594.
    OSC Employer Hotline: Voice: 1-800-255-8155. TDD: 1-800-362-2735.
    Civil Rights Division, General Point of Contact: David K. Flynn, 
Chief, Appellate Section, P.O. Box 66078, Washington, DC 20035-6078. 
Telephone: 202-514-2195. Fax: 202-524-8490. Please note that Mr. Flynn 
is not assigned either to the Disability Rights Section (DRS) or to the 
Office of Special Counsel (OSC). General small business inquiries for 
information or for assistance concerning compliance with matters within 
the areas of responsibility of DRS or OSC should be directed to the 
addresses and phone numbers in the respective sections.
Drug Enforcement Administration
    DEA's Office of Diversion Control (OD) is the internal office that 
has oversight over and works with small businesses. As such, OD and 
Diversion field personnel continuously review ways in which the DEA can 
ensure small businesses have access to SBREFA material as well as 
improve upon current outreach initiatives.
    OD Web Site. The Office of Diversion Control's Web site (http://www.DEAdiversion.usdoj.gov gov) contains information specifically 
relating to DEA's Diversion Program. Between January 1 and October 31, 
2003, DEA's entire Diversion Control Program Web site was visited 
1,047,968 (an average of 4,463 visits per day). Below are some of the 
Web pages that were visited and the number of times they were viewed
    Publications. DEA provides various publications to its registrant 
population as well as the general public. Some of the publications 
available either on Diversion's Web site or in a hard copy, include 
registrant manuals which provide DEA's regulatory requirements in a 
plain language format; the SBREFA Advisory Notice; informational 
brochures to help raise awareness of possible criminal activity (i.e., 
a Pharmacist's Guide to Prescription Fraud, Recognizing the Drug 
Abuser, Drug Addiction in Healthcare Professionals, and Stimulant Abuse 
by School Age Children); industry newsletters; press releases; and 
program reports. www.DEAdiversion.usdoj.gov/pubs/index.html html.
    For those small businesses that do not have access to the Internet, 
the DEA provides contact telephone numbers for Diversion Headquarters 
and field personnel as well as the SBA Ombudsman in the back of hard 
bound copies of the registrant manuals.
    Requests for information or reports should be mailed to: Drug 
Enforcement Administration, Office of Diversion Control, Washington, DC 
20537
    Small Business Regulatory Fairness Advisory: www.DEAdiversion.usdoj.gov/pubs/fair_adviz.htm htm. This notice advises DEA 
registrants to contact DEA Field Offices if they have any questions 
regarding DEA's regulations and policies. If they are a small business, 
they may contact the SBA's Office of the Ombudsman to comment on DEA's 
enforcement actions. This Advisory is also included in all revised and 
new manuals.

Seminars/Classes:

     Chemical training for importers/exporters: www.DEAdiversion.usdoj.gov/mtgs/dea_mtgs.html html.
     Pharmaceutical Training Seminars for importers/exporters 
and manufacturers: www.DEAdiversion.usdoj.gov/mtgs/dea_mtgs.html html, www.DEAdiversion.usdoj.gov/quotas/index.html html.

Web-Based Compliance:

     A wide variety of online forms: http://www.DEAdiversion.usdoj.gov/online_forms.htm.

Onsite Evaluation/ Assistance:

     List of local field offices: www.DEAdiversion.usdoj.gov/offices_n_dirs/index.html.
    Meetings/Conferences. DEA hosts national as well as regional/local 
conferences and meetings. In addition, Diversion personnel are often 
invited by associations to attend their national conferences to give 
presentations on topics of interest to association members, and/or set 
up an exhibit booth. www.DEAdiversion.usdoj.gov/mtgs/dea_mtgs.html.
    Toll Free Telephone Numbers. Contact information for Diversion 
Control Program personnel located at DEA Headquarters and local field 
offices may be viewed at the following Web address: http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/offices_n_dirs/index.html.
Summary of DOJ Contact Information
    DRS address and phone number: Disability Rights Section, Civil 
Rights Division, and P.O. Box 66738, Washington, DC 20035-6738. 
Telephone: (202) 307-0663. Fax: (202) 307-1198.
    ADA Information Line. 800-514-0301 (voice). 800-514-0383 (TTY)
    Drug Enforcement Administration Contact (for regulatory and 
enforcement matters: Patricia Good, Chief, Liaison and Policy Section, 
Office of Diversion Control, Drug Enforcement Administration, 
Washington, DC 20537. Telephone: (202) 307-7297. Fax: (202) 307-8570.
    Justice Department contacts for Department-wide matters (such as 
the Ombudsman's Reports to Congress) and other issues of general agency 
concern: Kevin R. Jones, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Office of 
Legal Policy, Department of Justice, Main Building, Room 7238, 950 
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20530. Telephone: (202) 514-
4604. Fax: (202) 514-9112. E-mail: [email protected].
    Robert Hinchman, Senior Counsel, Office of Legal Policy, Department 
of Justice, Main Building, Room 7236, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20530. Telephone: (202) 514-8059. Fax: (202) 514-9112. 
E-mail: [email protected].
    Justice Department contact for general public affairs inquiries: 
Mark Corallo, Director, Office of Public Affairs, Main Building, Room 
1248, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20530. Telephone: 
(202) 514-2007. Fax: (202) 513-5331. E-mail: [email protected].
    Justice Department contact for small and disadvantaged business 
utilization: Ramona Johnson-Glover, Acting Director, OSDBU, 1331 Penn 
Ave. NW., National Place Bld., Suite 1010, Washington, DC 20530. 
Telephone: (202) 616-0521. Fax: (202) 616-1717. E-mail: 
[email protected].
    Justice Department single point of contact. Brenda Dyer, Policy and 
Planning Staff, Justice Management Division, Patrick Henry Building, 
Room 1600, Washington, DC 20530. Telephone (202) 616-1167. Fax: (202) 
514-1590. E-mail: [email protected].

[[Page 36120]]

Labor

    The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recognizes its obligation to 
respond to the ever-increasing complexities of employment laws and the 
difficulties businesses face in understanding them. Secretary of Labor 
Elaine L. Chao launched the Compliance Assistance Initiative to help 
America's employers and employees better understand how to comply with 
the federal employment laws and regulations it administers. DOL 
believes compliance assistance is the most effective way to protect the 
wages, health benefits, retirement security, safety, and health of 
America's workforce by preventing employment law violations.
    DOL has developed the following tools and resources to ensure that 
employers and workers have access to clear and accurate information and 
assistance--when and where they need it, and in the format that suits 
them best.
    Department of Labor Web Site. The most widely used compliance 
assistance tool is the DOL Web site, which features centralized 
compliance assistance information at www.dol.gov/compliance. The public 
can use this site to access a wide range of information and resources 
about DOL's rules and regulations any time, day or night. These Web 
pages are gateways to DOL agencies' compliance assistance information.
    elaws Advisors. The elaws Advisors (Employment Laws Assistance for 
Workers and Small Businesses) are interactive e-tools that provide 
information on DOL's Federal employment laws. Available at www.dol.gov/elaws, each elaws Advisor mimics the interaction an individual would 
have with a DOL employment law expert by generating answers based on 
the user's responses to a set of questions. The FirstStep Employment 
Law Advisor--one of the newest elaws Advisors--helps employers simply 
and quickly determine which of DOL's major employment laws apply to 
their business or organization and provides easy-to-access information 
about how to comply with each law's requirements.
    Toll-Free Help Line. The DOL toll-free help line is 1-866-4-USA-DOL 
(1-866-487-2365); (TTY: 1-877-889-5627). DOL's Toll-Free Help Line 
provides timely and accurate responses to customer inquiries, and 
fulfills print and publication requests. The Help Line offers live 
operator assistance in English and Spanish, with additional service in 
more than 140 languages.
    Employment Law Guide. The Employment Law Guide, which describes 
DOL's major statutes and regulations in plain language, targets 
employers needing introductory information to develop wage, benefit, 
safety and health, and nondiscrimination policies for their businesses. 
It is available for free in print and online, in both English and 
Spanish. A complimentary copy can be obtained by calling 1-866-4-USA-
DOL or by visiting www.dol.gov/asp/programs/guide.htm.
    E-Mail Response Service. DOL's coordinated e-mail response service 
allows employers and employees to ask questions about employment and 
regulatory issues electronically. By choosing from a list of topics or 
internal DOL agencies under the ``Contact Us'' section of the DOL Web 
site (www.dol.gov), users are ensured that their question will go to 
the appropriate office and that they will receive an answer in a timely 
manner.
    Compliance Assistance Information Inventory. More than 300 
publications are included in this comprehensive list of DOL compliance 
assistance resources. This database of publications can be accessed 
from www.dol.gov/compliance. (To be available in May, 2004.)
    SBREFA Toll-Free Help Line. Under the Small Business Regulatory 
Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, small businesses may contact DOL's 
Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) directly with their inquiries 
or complaints about regulatory fairness by calling 1-888-9-SBREFA (1-
888-972-7332).
    Wage and Hour Issues. The Employment Standards Administration, Wage 
& Hour Division (WHD) enforces the minimum wage, overtime, and child 
labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Family and 
Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker 
Protection Act (MSPA), employment standards and worker protections 
provided in several non-immigrant worker programs of the Immigration 
and Nationality Act, and the prevailing wage requirements of the Davis-
Bacon Act (DBA), the Service Contract Act (SCA) and related statutes.
    WHD delivers compliance assistance through its Web site, 
interactive elaws Advisors (FLSA, FMLA), toll-free phone service, e-
mail, printed materials, workshops and presentations.
     WHD on the Web: www.wagehour.dol.gov.
     WHD Contact Information: www.dol.gov/esa/contacts/whd/america2.htm.
     Telephone Number: 1-866-4USWAGE (1-866-487-9243).
    Federal Contract Compliance. The Employment Standards 
Administration, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) 
administers three equal employment opportunity programs that apply to 
Federal contractors and subcontractors: Executive Order 11246, as 
amended; Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; and 
the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, as 
amended, 38 U.S.C. 4212. These laws prohibit Federal contractors and 
subcontractors from discriminating in employment decisions on the basis 
of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or 
protected veteran status. These laws also require Federal contractors 
and subcontractors to take affirmative action to ensure equal 
employment opportunity. OFCCP also shares responsibility with the U.S. 
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in enforcing Title I of 
the Americans with Disabilities Act.
    OFCCP delivers compliance assistance through its Web site, 
interactive elaws Advisors, e-mail, toll-free telephone service, 
workshops and seminars.
     OFCCP on the Web: www.dol.gov/esa/ofccp.
     OFCCP Contact Information: http://www.dol.gov/esa/contacts/ofccp/ofcpkeyp.htm.
     Telephone Number: 1-202-693-0101.
    Retirement and Health Benefits. The Employee Benefits Security 
Administration (EBSA) assists employers and employee benefit plan 
practitioners in understanding and complying with the requirements of 
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) as it applies to 
administering retirement and health benefit plans. EBSA promotes 
voluntary compliance through its Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program 
and Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance Program and through strategic 
alliances with professional organizations and federal, state and local 
governments. EBSA provides compliance assistance through its Web site, 
publications, interactive elaws Advisors, toll-free telephone service 
as well as responding to electronic inquiries, sponsoring seminars, and 
actively conducting outreach nationwide.
     EBSA on the Web: http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/.
     EBSA Contact Information for Electronic Inquiries: 
www.askebsa.dol.gov.
     Telephone Number: 1-866-444-3272.
Occupational Safety and Health
    The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) works to 
save

[[Page 36121]]

lives, prevent injuries and protect the health and safety of America's 
workers. Nearly every worker in the U.S. comes under OSHA's 
jurisdiction as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 
1970 (exceptions include miners, transportation workers, many public 
employees, and the self-employed).
    OSHA delivers compliance assistance through its Web site, printed 
compliance guides, toll-free telephone service, e-mail, and online 
electronic assistance tools such as eTools and Safety and Health Topics 
pages. Free workplace consultations are available in every state to 
small businesses that need assistance in establishing safety and health 
programs and identifying and correcting workplace hazards. A network of 
OSHA Compliance Assistance Specialists in local offices provides 
tailored information and training to employers and employees. OSHA has 
a number of cooperative programs that help recognize and build on 
successful practices in occupational safety and health, including the 
Alliance Program, Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program 
(SHARP), Strategic Partnership Program, and Voluntary Protection 
Programs (VPP).
     OSHA on the Web: www.osha.gov.
     Telephone: 1-800-321-OSHA (1-800-321-6742).
     OSHA Contact Information: www.osha.gov/html/oshdir.html.
Mine Safety and Health
    The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) works to protect 
the health and safety of workers in America's mines by working 
cooperatively with industry, labor, and other federal and state 
agencies. MSHA's responsibilities are outlined in the Federal Mine 
Safety and Health Act of 1977, commonly called the Mine Act, which 
applies to all mining and mineral processing operations in the U.S. 
regardless of size, number of employees or method of extraction.
    MSHA delivers compliance assistance to mine operators and workers 
through its Web site and by direct contact of agency enforcement, 
technical support, and education and training field personnel. MSHA 
established its Small Mine Office to address the safety and health 
needs of small mines specifically and to enable small mines to comply 
with safety and health laws as readily as medium-or large-sized mines. 
The Small Mine Office focuses exclusively on compliance assistance and 
conducts no enforcement activities.
     MSHA on the Web: www.msha.gov.
     MSHA Contact Information: www.msha.gov/contactmsha/contactmsha.htm.
     Telephone Number: 1-202-693-9400.
Veterans' Employment and Training
    The Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) helps 
veterans, Reservists and National Guard members effectively prepare for 
and secure employment, and protects their employment rights. VETS 
provides employment services and training assistance to eligible 
veterans, including homeless veterans, through grants to States, local 
governments and non-profit organizations. VETS also administers the 
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) and 
provides information about veterans' rights under the Veterans 
Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) and the Federal Contractor Program, 
which requires Federal contractors and subcontractors to take 
affirmative action to hire and promote qualified veterans including 
special disabled veterans.
    VETS delivers compliance assistance through its Web site, printed 
materials, e-mail, and interactive online elaws Advisors.
     VETS on the Web: www.dol.gov/vets.
     VETS Contact Information: www.dol.gov/vets/aboutvets/contacts/main.htm.
     Telephone Number: 1-202-693-4700.
Labor-Management Standards
    The Employment Standards Administration, Office of Labor-Management 
Standards (OLMS) administers and enforces most of the Labor-Management 
Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) of 1959. OLMS also administers 
provisions of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 and the Foreign 
Service Act of 1980 relating to standards of conduct for Federal 
employee unions. OLMS also administers employee protection provisions 
in the Federal mass transit law. OLMS now administers Executive Order 
13201 in conjunction with the Office of Federal Contract Compliance 
Programs. EO 13201 requires Federal contractors to post notices 
informing their employees of certain rights related to union membership 
and payment of union dues or fees.
    OLMS delivers compliance assistance through its Web site, 
publications, e-mail, workshops and other group presentations. An OLMS 
Web site--www.union-reports.dol.gov--lets users view and print union 
annual financial reports. It features a powerful data search system 
that can produce lists tailored to users' needs. OLMS recently expanded 
the site to let users view and print reports by employers and labor 
relations consultants.
     OLMS on the Web: www.olms.dol.gov.
     OLMS Contact Information: www.dol.gov/esa/contacts/olms/lmskeyp.htm.
     Telephone: 1-202-693-0123 (union member rights); 1-202-
693-0126 (transit employee protections).
    Department of Labor Single Point of Contact: Under the Small 
Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, the Department of Labor has 
established a single point of contact in the agency to act as a liaison 
between the agency and small business concerns: Barbara Bingham, 
Director, Office of Compliance Assistance Policy, Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Policy, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Rm. S2312, Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: 
(202) 693-5080.

State

     Compliance Assistance Resources: www.state.gov/m/a/sdbu.
     Compliance assistance: http://www.state.gov/m/a/sdbu/c9124.htm.
    The Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) 
Web page links to a number of Federal agencies: www.osdbu.gov.
     Publications: A Guide to Doing Business with State 
Department. Forecast of Contract Opportunities and others are available 
electronically on the Web page.
     Workshops: State/OSDBU presents a number of workshops 
throughout the year as part of its outreach efforts. These workshops 
include ``in reach'' to our State Department customers and cover topics 
related to the Small Business Program. State/OSDBU staff members are 
often invited to participate on workshops or panels hosted by small 
business trade associations, Chambers of Commerce or other groups 
representing the interests of small business.
     Training Sessions: We sponsor training sessions for State 
Department employees. Examples: Small Business Program training module 
at Foreign Service Institute's GSO Course. Participation in regional 
GSO Conferences hosted by State's Office of Logistics Management. 
(e.g., New Delhi, India and Gaborone, Botswana in 2002). Also 
participate in State Department events designed for private industry 
such as Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operation's Industry Day. State 
hosts an annual Prime Contractor training session. The morning is a 
refresher for

[[Page 36122]]

large primes on regulations and reporting requirements governing 
subcontracting. The afternoon session is for networking between large 
primes and ``hot prospect'' small businesses.
     Small Business Fairs: State/OSDBU hosts an annual Small 
Business Fair, which features ``common usage'' items typically 
purchased using the government credit card or GSA schedule. In November 
2002, we hosted a Veteran-owned Small Business Conference. We are also 
co-hosts of quarterly Information Technology Expositions, for which the 
Bureau of Information Resource Management takes the lead. We co-sponsor 
with other Federal OSDBUs an annual conference each April, at Show 
Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. This year's event, held on 
April 23rd, attracted over 1500 participants from all over the country. 
State/OSDBU also supports Small Business Fairs hosted by other Federal 
agencies, by small business trade associations, or by members of 
Congress. During FY 2002 to date, we have participated in over 30 such 
events.
    State Department Single Point of Contact: Gregory K.O. Davis, 
Telephone: (202) 312-9607. Regulatory Coordinator Fax: (202) 312-9603. 
A/RPS/DIR, 1800 G Street, NW., Suite 2400, SA-22, Washington, DC 20522-
2201. Internet: http://www.state.gov/m/a/dir/ and http://foia.state.gov/famdir/fam/fam.asp.

Transportation

    Web-based Compliance: Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business 
Utilization, http://osdbuweb.dot.gov.
    Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance: www.dot.gov/ost/dapc.
    Telephone: Small Business Customer Service Center, 1-800-532-1169.
    Office of Drug Enforcement and Program Compliance (DEPC): 1-800-
225-3784 (fax on demand service).
    Seminars/Classes: Transportation Marketplace Conferences, http://osdbuweb.dot.gov.
    Breath Alcohol Technician Training and Screening, Test Technician 
Training Manuals: Transportation Safety Institute, Telephone (405) 949-
0036, x323. Marti Bludworth, DTI-100, 4400 Will Rogers Parkway, Suite 
205, Oklahoma City, OK 73108.
    Online/e-mail Service News by E-mail: http://osdbuweb.dot.gov.
    Central Docket Management System: http://dms.dot.gov.
    Office of Aviation Analysis: http://ostpxweb.dot.gov/aviation/index.html.
    Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance Program Guidance Material: 
www.dot.gov/ost/dapc/prog_guidance.html.
    Online purchases and payments: www.Diy.dot.gov.
    Publications: The Transportation Link Newsletter; Marketing 
Information Package, Fax on Demand Catalog. Telephone 1-800-532-1169. 
http://osdbuweb.dot.gov.
Federal Highway Administration
    Web-based Compliance: www.fhwa.dot.gov.
    Publications: Citizens Guide to Transportation Decisionmaking; 
National Dialogue on Operations; An Overview of Transportation and 
Environmental Justice; Transportation Conformity, A Basic Guide for 
State and Local Officials, Revised 2000; A Guide to Metropolitan 
Planning Under ISTEA, How the Pieces Fit Together; Federal Size 
Regulations for Commercial Motor Vehicles; and Bridge Formula Weights 
(all the above are available at the Web site).
Federal Aviation Administration
    Web-based Compliance: www.faa.gov/avr/arm/sbrefa.htm.
    E-mail Service: [email protected].
    Telephone Service: 1-888-551-1594 or 1-800-255-1111 (Safety 
Hotline).
    On-site Assistance: Charlene Brown, 800 Independence Ave., SW., 
Room 808, Washington, DC 20591.
Bureau of Transportation Statistics
    Web-based Compliance: www.bts.gov/mcs/desc.html; http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/factsfigs/dashome.htm (See Table of Contents 
Financial and Operating Statistics); and http://www.bts.gov/oai/sources 
(Office of Airline Information).
    E-mail Service: [email protected].
    Telephone Service: 1-800-853-1351 (General Information), and 1-202-
366-4888 (public data from air carrier reports).
    Publications: Worksheet for Calculating Carrier Classification 
(Motor Carriers of Passengers); Worksheet for Calculating Carrier 
Classification (Motor Carriers of Property); Information Sheet for Form 
QFR and many others available through the Web site.
    On-site Assistance: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 400 7th 
Street, SW., Room 3103, Washington, DC, L'Enfant Plaza Metrorail 
Station (7th and D Street exit).
    Reports Reference Facility (public data from air carrier reports): 
400 7th Street, SW., Room 4201, Washington, DC.
Federal Railroad Administration
    Web-based Compliance: www.fra.dot.gov.
    Telephone Service: (202) 493-6395 (Office of Policy & Program 
Development).
Federal Transit Administration
    Web-based Compliance: www.fta.dot.gov.
    Telephone Service: 1-800-527-8279 (National Transit Resource 
Center).
    Publications: www.fta.dot.gov/library.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
    Web-based Compliance: www.fmcsa.dot.gov and www.1-888-dot-saft.com.
    Telephone Service: 1-800-832-5660 (Information Line), 1-800-368-
7328 (Consumer complaint hotline), (202) 366-9805 (Licensing 
Information), (202) 385-2423 (Insurance Information).
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
    Web-based compliance: www.nhtsa.dot.gov.
    Telephone Service: 1-800-DASH-2-DOT (1-800-327-4236).
    Publications: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/outreach/media/catalog/Index.cfm (Online publications library).
Maritime Administration
    Web-based Compliance: www.marad.dot.gov.
    Telephone Service: (202) 366-4610 (Cargo Preference Program), (202) 
366-8888 (Intermodal Development), (202) 366-8887 (Environmental 
Activities), (202) 366-1931 (Maritech Program), (202) 366-5744 
(Maritime Loan Guarantee), (202) 366-1931 (National Maritime Resource 
and Education Center), (202) 366-4610 (Ocean Freight Differential), 
(202) 366-2324 (Operating Differential Subsidy), (202) 366-2625 (Ship 
Operation Cooperative Program), (202) 366-2400 (War Risk Insurance 
Program), and (202) 366-5821 (Vessel Transfer Program).
    Publications: www.marad.dot.gov/publications (online library).
Research and Special Programs Administration
    Web-based Compliance: www.rspa.dot.gov; http://hazmat.dot.gov; and 
http://ops.dot.gov.
    Telephone Service: (202) 366-4595 (Office of Pipeline Safety), 1-
800-HMR-4922 or (202) 366-4488 (Hazardous Materials Information 
Center), (202) 366-4900 (Office of Hazardous Materials Initiatives and 
Training), (202) 366-4484 (Hazardous Materials Incident Reports).

[[Page 36123]]

    Fax Service: 1-800-467-4922 (Hazardous Materials fax on demand) and 
202-366-4566 (Office of Pipeline Safety fax).
    E-mail Service: [email protected], [email protected], 
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected].
    Seminars/Classes: Transportation Safety Institute (Compliance 
Inspection Comprehensive Operator Qualification, OPS); Risk Management 
Conference/Public Meeting Proceedings (Hazmat and OPS) www.tsi.dot.gov.
    Publications: Pipeline Risk Management Newsletter, Oil Pollution 
Act Newsletter, and Hazmat Safety Alerts.
    Department of Transportation Single Point of Contact: Steven B. 
Lott, Manager, Strategic Integration, IT Program Management, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20590. Telephone: (202) 366-1314. Fax: (202) 366-7373. http://cio.ost.dot.gov/contact/index.html.

Treasury

    Office of Small Business Development. Our Office of Small Business 
Development (http://www.treas.gov/sba) has a robust small business 
program to ensure both small business prime and subcontracting 
opportunities. The following examples, initiatives, and partnerships 
demonstrate Treasury's commitment:

Outreach Efforts:

     Maintain a vigorous small business procurement Web site 
(http://www.treas.gov/sba).
     Treasury's annual forecast of contract opportunities and 
small business subcontracting opportunities directory are posted on the 
small business Web site, and we make hard copies available upon request 
and at all of the small business outreach events we attend.
     Our highly successful Treasury Monthly Vendor Outreach 
Session program allows small businesses to meet with Treasury bureau 
small business specialists. We also include special guests representing 
other Federal agencies or prime contractors to discuss procurement 
opportunities on a pre-arranged 15-minute basis in one central 
location. Our schedule is published a year in advance to allow small 
business to plan their marketing efforts.
     Treasury's outreach efforts also include two Treasury IT 
Program Manager Vendor Outreach Session events each year (this event is 
modeled after our Monthly Vendor Outreach Session).
     In Treasury's capacity as Chair of the OSDBU Directors 
Interagency Council outreach committee, we have taken the lead on the 
government-wide Annual OSDBU Directors Procurement Conference held in 
April of each year. This event is also posted on our Web site.
     We have also focused our efforts in targeted outreach on a 
nationwide basis, such as trade fair participation, seminar 
presentations, panel program discussions on specific topics, and one-
on-one counseling.
     The OSBD has built a solid relationship with a variety of 
small business trade associations. On April 12, 2000, Treasury entered 
into an historic Memorandum of Understanding with 17 small, minority, 
and women-owned small business trade associations to increase the 
ability of small minority and women-owned small businesses to compete 
for Treasury procurements in industries reflecting under-representation 
while maintaining participation in industries with successful 
utilization.
     A list of the Top 25 Treasury purchases is published, 
listed by industry classification over a five year period to provide an 
opportunity for ``targeted outreach''.
     Treasury implemented a mentor-prot[eacute]g[eacute] pilot 
program. We are the only agency in which prot[eacute]g[eacute]s may be 
small businesses of all types--SB, SDB, WOSB, HUBZSB, SDVOSB, and VOSB.
Internal Revenue Service
    I. Compliance Assistance Resources (Paperwork Relief Act Report).
    The IRS Compliance Assistance Resources are those that help 
taxpayers comply with the Federal tax law. We are making every effort 
to inform, assist and educate taxpayers.
    II. Points of Contact for IRS.
    Single point of contact for Compliance Assistance Resources IRS Web 
site: http://www.irs.gov/businesses/index.html.
    Single point of contact for Paperwork Relief Act of 2002. Michael 
Chesman Director Office of Taxpayer Burden Reduction. Phone: (202) 283-
7673. E-mail: irs.gov">Michael.R.Chesman@irs.gov.
Compliance Assistance Program Description
    a. The Small Business/Self-Employed (SB/SE) operating division is 
structured to best serve taxpayers whose needs are more complex than 
wage and investment taxpayers. This division serves about 40 million 
small businesses, including 33 million self-employed and 7 million 
corporations and partnerships with assets of $10 million or less. While 
many face the same tax issues as large corporations, they often do not 
have tax professionals on staff. Tax compliance issues often stem from 
a lack of understanding of tax law requirements, inadequate accounting 
practices and resources and cash flow problems.
    The approximately 33 million self-employed and supplemental income 
earners are similar to wage and investment taxpayers, but their tax 
issues are often more complex. They have substantially higher incomes 
and file twice the number of forms and schedules, requiring more time 
to prepare taxes, a greater reliance on paid tax preparers and more IRS 
expertise.
    i. Headquarters
    Taxpayer Education and Communication's (TEC) mission is to support 
and accomplish the goals of the Strategic Plan. We increase filing, 
reporting, and paying compliance by providing small business and self-
employed individuals with top quality pre-filing services. TEC's 
activities align with compliance goals and approaches set by other 
parts of the organization.
    The field and headquarters staffs support compliance-focused pre-
filing activities through direct dealings with small businesses and 
self-employed individuals and through third party relationships with 
key internal and external stakeholders. TEC works to develop and 
maintain partnerships with key stakeholders. The relationships are 
leveraged to assist in the delivery of targeted messages to specific 
audiences on specific compliance issues resulting in communications 
that reach a much larger taxpayer population.
    TEC focuses on burden reduction initiatives and promotes electronic 
filing and payment options to SB/SE taxpayers. The services TEC 
provides assist in promoting compliance among small businesses and 
self-employed taxpayers through non-enforcement methods and help 
taxpayers understand their tax obligations in a manner that leads to 
voluntary compliance.
    [cir] Partnership Outreach designs, develops and delivers 
educational products and services focused on customer needs, and 
leverage partnerships with major stakeholders through negotiated 
agreements to assist in the delivery of these products and services. 
The primary focus is on proactively identifying emerging trends, common 
errors, and common areas of non-compliance, and developing products, 
services and programs to address these issues and encourage compliance.

[[Page 36124]]

    [cir] Business Marketing Services plans and execute the promotion 
and distribution of all traditional SB/SE products and services to TEC 
employees, key stakeholders, and targeted taxpayer audiences in order 
to satisfy external customer needs and internal organizational 
objectives. Business Marketing Services is also focused on developing 
strategies for increasing usage of electronic products and implementing 
them effectively for not only the small business community but also the 
more uniquely emerging self-employed taxpayer segment.
    [cir] The Office of Taxpayer Burden Reduction provides direction 
and leadership for burden reduction efforts by focusing on six major 
areas:
    [mshbox] Informing and educating customers about their tax 
responsibilities.
    [mshbox] Simplifying forms, publications and communications.
    [mshbox] Streamlining internal policies, processes and procedures 
(including audit plans).
    [mshbox] Promoting less burdensome rulings, regulations and law.
    [mshbox] Assisting in the development of a burden reduction 
measurement methodology.
    [mshbox] Partnering with internal and external stakeholders to more 
effectively and efficiently identify and address burden reduction 
initiatives.
    [cir] Field Organization
    A geographically dispersed field staff provides top quality 
compliance focused pre-filing service to small business and self-
employed individuals directly and through third party relationships 
with key internal and external stakeholders. These services assist 
small business and self-employed taxpayers by helping them to 
understand their tax obligations in a manner which leads to filing, 
payment, and reporting compliance.
    IRS Area Distribution Centers (ADCs) serve as distribution points 
for tax products. Tax products can be ordered free of charge from the 
ADCs at 1-800-829-2437.
    b. IRS provides live telephone assistance through Customer Account 
Service.
    [mshbox] Tax Assistance--1-800-829-1040.
    [mshbox] Forms, Form Instructions and Publications--1-800-829-3676.
    [mshbox] Small Business and Specialty Taxes--1-800-829-4933.
    [mshbox] Compliance Assistance Products--1-800-829-2765.
    [mshbox] Tax Refund Hotline--1-800-829-1954.
    [mshbox] Recorded Tax Information (Tele-Tax) 24 hour service--1-
800-829-4477.
    [mshbox] Assistance for the Hearing Impaired--1-800-829-4059.
    [mshbox] To suggest improvements to IRS Procedures--1-888-912-1227.
    [mshbox] Taxpayer Advocate Service Hotline--1-877-777-4778.
    c. Taxpayers who need more information than is provided by Customer 
Account Service may go to the Help Web site at http://www.irs.gov/help/index.html.
    d. Finding addresses to file Internal Revenue Service tax forms has 
just become easier for taxpayers and tax practitioners. On August 22, 
2003, the IRS launched a ``Where to File'' Web site on the Internet. 
With only a few keystrokes, taxpayers and practitioners now have access 
to the proper mailing address to ensure that business returns are 
received and processed in a timely manner. See the Where to File--
Business Forms and Filing Addresses at http://www.irs.gov/file/article/0,,id=111453,00.html.
    e. Web sites/Internet
    [mshbox] http://www.irs.gov--IRS Web site.
    [mshbox] http://www.irs.gov/smallbiz--IRS Small Business Web site.
    [mshbox] http://www.irs.gov/smallbiz--The SB/SE Internet site has 
had 12,200,283 visits from January 2002 to February 2004.
    [mshbox] http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/index.html--News.
    [mshbox] http://www.irs.gov/taxpros/content/0,,id=103728,00.html--
Plain Language Regulations.
    [mshbox] Tax Centers on Partners' Web site--IRS has developed a 
number of partnerships by establishing a Tax Center Web site on the 
partner's sites. Tax Centers have a comprehensive set of links 
customized to the partners needs and organized by topic to various 
parts of irs.gov. For example see: Tax Center Web site--http://www.sba.gov/bi/irstaxcenter.doc.
    f. Training/Workshops/Seminars
    [mshbox] Practitioner Institutes. Practitioner Institutes serve as 
part of an overall practitioner education curriculum, which includes 
Tax Talk Today, the Nationwide Tax Forum, local liaison meetings, etc. 
They provide a much-needed venue for delivering the IRS message to 
approximately 25,000 direct participants, which prepare countless tax 
returns for the public each year. The Tax Practitioner Institutes have 
been ongoing for as many as 60 years in some parts of the country. Over 
the years the institutes have evolved into forums that deal with a 
large variety of income tax issues of interest to the entire tax 
practitioner community.
    [mshbox] Small Business Tax Workshop Student/Instructor Materials 
IRS has adopted three models for small business tax workshops our 
partners can offer as a client service to help the smallest and newest 
businesses:
    [ctrcir] Partner organizations organize, market and staff live 
workshops using IRS materials or their own. IRS just released Spanish 
language versions of the Student Workbook and the Instructor Guide.
    [ctrcir] Partnership organizations link to IRS' on-line small 
business workshop products and market them to their members. An online 
Spanish language version of the classroom materials is nearly complete.
    [ctrcir] Partner organizations distribute Pub. 3700, A Virtual 
Small Business workshop CD-ROM (September 2003) and Pub. 3693, 
Introduction to Federal Taxes for Small Business--Self Employed: 
Getting Your Business Off to a Successful Start CD-ROM (Sept 2001) to 
their members and/or let them know how to order it. Pub. 3700 has 
Spanish and Mandarin closed captions.
    [mshbox] Online Small Business Tax Workshops. IRS has an 
interactive online Small Business Tax Workshop that includes all of the 
materials used in the classroom workshops taught by IRS partner 
organizations. There are also streaming video workshops in the Online 
Classroom at http://www.irs.gov/smallbiz.
    [mshbox] Tax Talk Today. Tax Talk Today is a monthly program about 
current tax issues and policies sponsored in part by the IRS. It 
provides unbiased insight and information about current tax and 
business issues critical to tax professionals. All of the programs 
feature a panel discussion, Questions and Answers from viewers, current 
tax news stories, and tax teasers. The format allows viewers to ask 
questions via e-mail, fax or telephone. Web site: http://www.taxtalktoday.tv/.
    [mshbox] Interactive Video Conference Television (IVT) IRS produces 
and directs live Interactive Video Television (IVT) instructional and 
informational training via IRS Satellite that reaches 135 IRS offices 
nationwide. IRS welcomes external stakeholder participation in IVTs. 
Last June representatives from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and 
Government Affairs for the National Association of Convenience Stores 
participated in the ``What's In It For Me'' IVT.
    g. Products Developed Specifically for Small Business. The role of 
the SB/SE TEC division is to address compliance through education and 
marketing to our Small Business and Self-Employed taxpayers. We develop 
educational products and services focused on customer needs to provide 
top quality pre-filing services to help taxpayers and stakeholders 
understand and comply

[[Page 36125]]

with the tax laws. Products can be ordered online or by calling 1-800-
829-3676. Web site: http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=101169,00.html.
    h. Forums
    [mshbox] Payroll/Practitioner Forums
    The Payroll/Practitioner Forums are an extension of the bi-monthly 
National Public Liaison (NPL) meetings. The Forums provide an 
opportunity for the subject matter experts (SMEs) and payroll/
practitioner representatives to ``work through'' the issues raised from 
suggested topics on the agenda.
    [mshbox] Small Business Forums. Small Business Forums are held with 
external small business groups and associations. The primary focus of 
these meetings is to provide an avenue for an open exchange of 
information with external stakeholders. The forums also give them an 
opportunity to share feedback concerns on behalf of their small 
business members. Monthly schedule: http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=106266,00.html.
    [mshbox] IRS Nationwide Tax Forums. One of the Service's largest 
and most effective outreach programs to the tax professional community 
is the IRS Nationwide Tax Forums. During July, August, and September, 
the IRS will present six tax forums nationwide, which will include 
seminars, a trade show, and an awards banquet. These forums are 
designed to help tax professionals obtain valuable information to 
improve their business. Web site: http://www.irs.gov/taxpros/article/0,,id=97192,00.html.
    i. Tax Assistance Centers are your one-stop resource for face-to-
face tax help. These sites provide assistance in the preparation of 
returns as well as resolution of less complex accounts and compliance 
issues for taxpayers that require face-to-face assistance. The site 
location and hours of operation are available at Web site: http://www.irs.gov/localcontacts/index.html.
    IRS also offers free income tax assistance for low income, 
disabled, elderly and non-English speaking taxpayers through the 
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA) and Tax Counseling for 
the Elderly program (TCE). A free tax preparation site can be located 
by calling Customer Account Services at 1-800-829-1040.
    j. Non-retaliation Policy. The IRS has a zero tolerance policy for 
retaliation and has had a written non-retaliation policy in place since 
1998. On July 22, 1999, President Clinton signed into law the landmark 
``IRS Restructuring and Reform Act (RRA) of 1998.'' The IRS has taken a 
number of steps to prevent retaliation and has put policies in place to 
deal with it effectively, should it occur. Section 1203 of RRA'98 
provides for the mandatory termination of IRS employees under various 
specific instances of misconduct and provides a number of key taxpayer 
safeguards. This serves as a strong deterrent to any employee who might 
consider taking retaliatory action. Web site: http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/index.html.
    k. TAS--Overall and Systemic Advocacy. Taxpayer Advocate Service 
(TAS) is an independent organization that helps taxpayers resolve 
problems with the IRS and recommend changes that will prevent tax 
problems.
    The Taxpayer Advocate Service Office of Systemic Advocacy provides 
oversight and direction for identifying, and analyzing systemic, 
procedural and operations problems. This office announced on March 13, 
2003 the development of a new internet-based program for submitting 
systemic problems and suggestions to improve tax administration. On 
November 24, 2003, TAS launched a new Web-based application, part of 
the Systemic Advocacy Management System (SAMS), to streamline the 
process of submitting issues that affect multiple taxpayers.
    Office of Systemic Advocacy Web site: http://www.irs.gov/advocate/index.html.
    Web-Based Application: http://www.irs.gov/advocate/article/0,,id=117703,00.html.
    IV. Fiscal 2004 Compliance Assistance Resources
    EFTPS Express Enrollment Web site--Offers some taxpayers new, 
quicker access to an electronic payment system. The EFTPS Express 
Enrollment Web site can be found at http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=120110,00.html.
    Penalty Rebate for Enrolling in EFTPS Web site--Allows paper coupon 
users who were assessed a Form 941 deposit penalty the opportunity to 
receive a one-time penalty refund. The Penalty Rebate for Enrolling in 
EFTPS Web site can be found at http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=120305,00.html.
    Reporting Agents (RAF) Web site--Assists employers in making 
required tax deposits and tax information filings to the Federal 
Government and to State and local governments. The Reporting Agents 
(RAF) Web site can be found at http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=108689,00.html.
    Bartering Web site--Bartering occurs when goods or services are 
exchanged without exchanging money. Bartering revenue was estimated at 
7.78 billion in 2001. The Internet has provided a medium for new growth 
in the bartering exchange industry. There were only $682 million 
dollars reported to the Service on Form 1099B's for 2001. IRS has:
    [ctrcir] Mailed notices to over 600 bartering exchanges nationwide.
    [ctrcir] Established partnerships with the International Reciprocal 
Trade Associations to develop outreach efforts to inform their members 
of filing requirements.
    [ctrcir] Updated Web sites to include information on filing 
requirements for bartering exchanges.
    Information Reporting Requirements for Bartering Exchange can be 
found at http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=118385,00.html.
    Demand Reduction--The Demand Reduction Program seeks to lower the 
number of calls generated during the filing season by identifying high 
volume topics through the analysis of frequently asked questions and 
current emerging issues. In this pilot, IRS is testing whether targeted 
outreach/educational products and outreach initiatives focused on high-
volume, topic-specific issues will reduce the number of calls generated 
in these areas. To date, the demand reduction program has identified 13 
topics as being of sufficient national impact to generate headliner 
articles. In addition, this program has also generated a reference 
guide identifying the specific types and filing requirements for the 
various corporate returns and related schedules. This guide is slated 
for both ``internal use'', by our assistors and ``external use'' by 
practitioners to reduce the number of ``What form do I use?'' questions 
in the ``Partnership and Corporation'' category.
    Issue Resolution Tracking System (IRTS)--The IRS is proactive in 
responding to stakeholder concerns through the use of the Issue 
Resolution Tracking System. This Web-based data base assists IRS in 
monitoring the resolution of issues identified by stakeholders such as 
small businesses, trade associations, government agencies and 
government institutions, and payroll and practitioner groups. In 
addition to responding to issues we will be able to detect stakeholder 
identified issues and track trends both locally and nationally.
    Global Diversity Group (GDG)--Global Diversity Group (GDG) is a 
consulting firm that provides access to much needed information 
designed to assist minority entrepreneurs and women business owners 
with the growth of their companies. A GDG Business Exchange ``Tour for 
Success'' annual event is held in various locations

[[Page 36126]]

throughout the country and provides exhibitors, workshops and 
interaction between corporations, professionals, entrepreneurs, 
educators as well as government organizations. IRS established a 
partnership with GDG that focuses on IRS'' interaction with the small 
business community. IRS participated in GDG Business Exchange 2003 
``Tour for Success'' that covered 10 cities and over 4000 participants. 
GDG is currently preparing to launch their revised Web site that will 
include a comprehensive ``Tax Center'' linking visitors to important 
small business information on the IRS Web site.
    V. New in FY 2004
    Small Business Products
    [ctrcir] Publication 4143 and Publication 4143A, Learning the Art 
of Doing Business, a curriculum for cosmetology students and instructor 
guide, teaches the Federal tax responsibilities specific to 
cosmetology.
    [ctrcir] Publication 4161, The Art of Doing Business, Brochure.
    [ctrcir] Publication 4297, Industry Issue Resolution Program, 
Brochure, covers what types of issues are appropriate for the program 
how to submit an issue to the IRS.
    [ctrcir] Publication 4261, Do You Have a Foreign Bank Account? 
Addresses tax compliance for those taxpayers who have a foreign bank 
account.
    Small Business Products Printed in Spanish
    [ctrcir] Publication 1518, IRS Tax Calendar.
    [ctrcir] Publication 3995, Recognizing Illegal Tax Schemes.
    [ctrcir] Publication 4035, Home Based Business Tax Avoidance 
Schemes.
    [ctrcir] Publications 1066 and 1066B, Small Business Tax Workshop: 
Student Workbook and Supplemental Guide.
    [ctrcir] Publication 3992, Consumer Tax Video, Reporting Tip Income 
on TRAC.
    VI. Summary
    IRS assists the small business community by providing small 
business and self-employed individuals with top quality services. The 
services IRS provides assist in promoting compliance among small 
businesses and self-employed taxpayers through non-enforcement methods 
and help taxpayers understand their tax obligations in a manner that 
leads to voluntary compliance.
    IRS maintains a ``customer first'' focus through routinely 
soliciting information concerning the needs and characteristics of its 
small business customers and implementing programs based on the 
information received.
    Additionally, IRS partners with other Federal agencies, financial 
institutions, tax preparers, community groups, trade associations, 
State and local authorities and others to provide tax information and 
education services to small business customers.
    Treasury Single Point of Contact: Jackie Barber, Acting Director, 
Office of Small Business Development, U.S. Department of the Treasury, 
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Mail Code: 1450 G St, Washington, DC 
20220. Telephone: (202) 622-8213. Fax: (202) 622-4963. E-mail: 
[email protected].

Veterans Affairs

    Consistent with SBREFA, compliance assistance is funneled through 
the two Web sites above to register complaints or ask for assistance. 
Most other VA offices will ensure that appropriate certifications are 
published in VA regulations that they do not affect small business 
entities. Small businesses can comment on VA regulations during the 
informal rulemaking process, after they are published as proposed rules 
in the Federal Register.
     Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization: 
http://www.va.gov/osdbu.
     Center for Veterans Enterprise: http://www.vetbiz.gov.
    Veterans Affairs Single Point of Contact: Ramsey Alexander, Jr., 
Senior Procurement Analyst, OSDBU (00SB), Department of Veterans 
Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420. Telephone: 202-
565-8133. Toll Free: 800-949-8156. E-mail: 
[email protected].

Agency for International Development

    U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Single Point of 
Contact: Marilyn S. Marton, Director, Office of Small & Disadvantaged, 
Business Utilization (OSDBU), U.S. Agency for International 
Development. 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20523-7800. 
Telephone: (202) 712-1500. Fax: (202) 216-3056. E-Mail: 
[email protected].

Appraisal Subcommittee of Federal Financial Institutions Examination 
Council

    Appraisal Subcommittee Single Point of Contact: Ben Henson, 
Appraisal Subcommittee of FFIEC, 2000 K St NW., Suite 310, Washington, 
DC 20006. Telephone: (202) 872-7520. Fax: (202) 872-7501. E-mail: 
[email protected].

Committee for Purchase of the Blind/Severely Disabled

    Committee for Purchase for the Blind and Severely Disabled Single 
Point of Contact: Patrick Rowe, Deputy Executive Director, Committee 
for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, 1421 
Jefferson Davis Highway, Jefferson Plaza 2, Suite10800, Arlington, VA 
22202-3259. Phone: (703) 603-7740. Fax: (703) 603-0655. E-Mail: 
[email protected].

Commodity Futures Trading Commission

    The Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) establishes a regulatory scheme 
for the commodity futures and options industry that generally depends 
on industry self-regulation with federal oversight by the Commodity 
Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The National Futures Association 
(NFA) and other self-regulatory organizations (SROs) conduct routine 
compliance reviews in the futures industry. The NFA is responsible for 
most of the compliance reviews of retail sales practices in the 
industry and in this regard, it has a program for the voluntary review 
of promotional materials. NFA's Internet website includes a ``Contact 
NFA'' section providing telephone numbers for its general Information 
Center and specific compliance contact personnel (www.nfa.futures.org/contact/indexContact.asp), as well as various published compliance 
information (www.nfa.futures.org/compliance/publications.asp).
    The CFTC provides compliance guidance to small businesses through 
several methods. The CFTC's Internet Web site includes a ``Law & 
Regulation'' section (www.cftc.gov/cftc/cftclawreg.htm) providing 
general information concerning the requirements of the CEA, CFTC 
Orders, and staff exemptive, no-action and interpretive letters. This 
section links to a ``Compliance'' page (www.cftc.gov/tm/tmcompliance.htm) that contains guidance to assist firms and 
individuals who conduct commodity futures and options business with 
customers in complying with the CEA provisions and CFTC Regulations 
applicable to their activities. Informal guidance also is available 
through the ``Publications'' section of the CFTC Web site 
(www.cftc.gov/cftc/cftcreports.htm), which contains ``CFTC 
Backgrounders'' and other brochures providing information of use to 
small businesses.
    Staff members in the CFTC's various divisions offer informal 
assistance and guidance in response to telephone inquiries and e-mail 
messages submitted through the CFTC Web site (homepage: http://www.cftc.gov/). These include:
     The Division of Clearing and Intermediary Oversight ((202) 
418-5430)--inquiries concerning rules governing protection of customer 
funds, trading and sales practice issues,

[[Page 36127]]

registration and disclosure issues, and financial requirements.
     The Division of Market Oversight ((202) 418-5260)--
Inquiries concerning market and product design, market surveillance, 
position reporting, and trade practice issues.
     The Office of General Counsel ((202) 418-5120)--assigns an 
``Attorney of the Day'' to answer telephone inquiries about the CEA and 
CFTC Regulations.
     The Division of Enforcement--provides notice to small 
businesses about their right to comment on CFTC actions pursuant to the 
Small Business Regulatory and Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) 
whenever it makes a request to provide information voluntarily or 
pursuant to subpoena or the inspection provisions of the CEA. The CFTC 
and its staff are committed to ensuring that small businesses are 
provided a non-retaliatory environment in which to exercise their right 
to comment.
    The CFTC has a small business liaison located in the Office of 
External Affairs. When the agency receives inquiries related to small 
business, such as communications from the office of the National 
Ombudsman, they are forwarded to the liaison. The liaison also works 
with the Ombudsman to provide information and resolve any issues or 
complaints received by the Ombudsman's office.
    Commodity Futures Trading Commission Single Point of Contact: 
Gabrielle A. Sudik, Attorney, Office of General Counsel, Three 
Lafayette Centre, 1155 21st Street, NW., Washington, DC 20581. 
Telephone: (202) 418-5171. E-mail: [email protected].

Consumer Product Safety Commission

    CPSC information can be found at http://www.cpsc.gov/businfo/businfo.html html, or by calling 1-800-638-CPSC.
     CPSC offers publications, Web based compliance and on-
line/e-mail service, including, but not limited to A Small Business 
Guide to the U.S. CPSC http://www.cpsc.gov/businfo/smbusgde.html html.
    Consumer Product Safety Commission Single Point of Contact: Thomas 
W. Murr, Jr., Deputy Executive Director, U.S. Consumer Product Safety 
Commission, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814. Telephone: 
(301) 504-7907. E-mail: [email protected].

Corporation for National and Community Service

    Corporation for National and Community Service Single Point of 
Contact: Bill Hudson, Corporation for National and Community Service, 
Office of the General Council Rm. 8200, 1201 NY Ave. NW., Washington DC 
20525, Telephone: (202) 606-5000 ext. 265. Fax: (202) 565-2796. E-mail: 
[email protected].

Environmental Protection Agency

    EPA currently has over 100 initiatives, activities, and services 
directed at small business needs. EPA efforts include a toll-free 
hotline; newsletters; Web sites; e-mail listserv; information alerts on 
emerging regulatory issues; industry sector specific guides directed at 
providing information on specific industry processes, Federal 
regulatory requirements, compliance history and pollution prevention 
information; expert systems; voluntary programs; and training programs.
    EPA's Small Business Ombudsman (SBO) provides a ``gateway'' and 
dedicated support for small businesses to reach EPA compliance 
assistance resources offered by EPA, the States, and other sources. The 
SBO answers technical and regulatory questions on a toll-free hotline, 
provides more than 350 free EPA publications, develops compliance 
assistance tools, and gives direct access to regulatory assistance on a 
comprehensive Web site. It publishes the SBO newsletter twice a year to 
report important EPA activities and give timely alerts to small 
businesses and interested service providers on EPA actions. The SBO 
acts as the focal point and provides multi-level support and 
coordination for an extensive national network of small business 
assistance programs, and works with small businesses, service 
providers, and state and regional officials to address small business 
needs.
    The Small Business Gateway is a Web site that links to EPA's 
assistance programs for small business. http://www.epa.gov/smallbusiness/.
    EPA also partners with industry representatives and others on 
sector-specific Compliance Assistance Centers. The centers support the 
agriculture, automotive recycling, automotive service and repair, 
chemical manufacturing, construction, local government issues, metal 
finishing, paints and coatings, printed-wiring-board manufacturing, 
printing, transportation, and border compliance sectors by providing 
tools such as checklists, plain language guides, and technical 
information to help small businesses understand their regulatory 
requirements.
    Compliance Assistance Centers:
     Agriculture http://www.epa.gov/agriculture/
     Auto Recyclers http://www.ecarcenter.org
     Auto Service Industry http://www.ccar-greenlink.org
     Chemicals http://www.chemalliance.org/
     Construction Industry http://www.cicacenter.org
     Local Government http://www.lgean.org/
     Metal Finishing http://www.nmfrc.org/
     Paints and Coatings http://www.paintcenter.org/
     Printed Wiring Boards http://www.pwbrc.org/
     Printing http://www.pneac.org/
     Transportation http://www.transource.org/
     U.S./Mexico Border http://www.bordercenter.org
    EPA also manages a National Compliance Assistance Clearinghouse as 
a guide to compliance information on the Internet. This site gives 
comprehensive links to EPA environmental compliance assistance 
materials, as well as materials from all 50 states and other 
organizations. The Clearinghouse contains many features allowing small 
businesses to interact directly with EPA and improve communication and 
collaboration among compliance assistance providers.
    EPA's Small Business Compliance Policy promotes environmental 
compliance among small businesses by providing incentives to discover, 
disclose, and make good faith efforts to correct violations. Software 
is also available to assist in certain reporting requirements. The 
``Toxics Release Inventory--Made Easy'' (TRI-ME) software guides users 
through the entire Toxics Release Inventory reporting process from 
start to finish.
    EPA is also distributing a newsletter for compliance assistance 
providers. Entitled Compass, each addition of the newsletter focuses on 
a theme or topic of interest to the compliance assistance provider 
community. The newsletter also has a calendar of upcoming events and a 
``hot news'' section to highlight important information such as new 
policies, guidance, tools, events or reports related to EPA's 
compliance assistance program. The primary audience for this newsletter 
is compliance assistance providers but other environmental assistance 
providers as well the regulated community-including small businesses-
will find it useful. EPA plans to publish the newsletter three times a 
year.
    Information on EPA's initiatives and activities is available on the 
EPA Small Business Ombudsman Web site http://www.epa.gov/sbo. This site 
links to the

[[Page 36128]]

Small Business Environmental Home page http://www.smallbiz-enviroweb.org/, which provides extensive small business assistance 
information. EPA National Asbestos & Small Business hotline for 
inquires on environmental regulations may be reached via a toll free 
number (1-800-368-5888).
    Environmental Protection Agency Single Point of Contact: Karen V. 
Brown, Director, Small Business Division, EPA Small Business Ombudsman 
(SBPRA Point of Contact), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., MC 1807T, 
Washington, DC 20460. Telephone: (202) 566-2816. Fax: (202) 566-0954. 
E-mail: [email protected]

Export-Import Bank

    The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) is the 
official export credit agency of the United States. Ex-Im Bank's 
mission is to assist in financing the export of U.S. goods and services 
to international markets. Ex-Im Bank enables U.S. companies--large and 
small--to turn export opportunities into real sales that help to 
maintain and create U.S. jobs and contribute to a stronger national 
economy.
    Ex-Im Bank does not compete with private sector lenders but 
provides export financing products that fill gaps in trade financing. 
We assume credit and country risks that the private sector is unable or 
unwilling to accept. We also help to level the playing field for U.S. 
exporters by matching the financing that other governments provide to 
their exporters.
    Ex-Im Bank provides working capital guarantees (pre-export 
financing); export credit insurance (post-export financing); and loan 
guarantees and direct loans (buyer financing). No transaction is too 
large or too small. On average, 85% of our transactions directly 
benefit U.S. small businesses.
    With nearly 70 years of experience, Ex-Im Bank has supported more 
than $400 billion of U.S. exports, primarily to developing markets 
worldwide.
     Export-Import Bank Mission Statement: http://www.exim.gov/about/mission.html
     Pre-Export Financing To Help U.S. Exporters Maximize 
Borrowing Potential: http://www.exim.gov/products/work_cap.html
     Increase Your Export Sales While Minimizing Risks: http://www.exim.gov/products/insurance/index.html
     Special Initiatives for Underserved Small Businesses: 
http://www.exim.gov/products/special/underserved.html
    Export-Import Bank Single Point of Contact: Sam Zytcer, Director of 
the Small Business Office, Export-Import Bank, 811 Vermont Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20571. Telephone: (202) 565-3782

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Small Business Initiative
    EEOC has developed a Small Business Initiative (SBI) to improve 
customer service and expand outreach, education, and technical 
assistance to the small business community. The SBI aims to promote 
voluntary compliance by building a more cooperative and collaborative 
relationship with the small and mid-sized business community and to 
address EEO concerns expressed by small business owners. The main 
components of the SBI include:
    Small Business Liaisons. Every EEOC District office has a Small 
Business Liaison available to employers who have questions about the 
laws enforced by EEOC or about compliance with those laws in specific 
workplace situations. Information on contacting Small Business Liaisons 
can be found at www.eeoc.gov/employers/contacteeoc.html.
    Small Business Web Page. www.eeoc.gov/employers/smallbusinesses.html--While the information on this page applies to all 
employers, it has been specifically designed for small businesses which 
may not have a human resources department or a specialized EEO staff. 
The page is designed to make it easier for small businesses to comply 
with the anti-discrimination laws and help them in their dealings with 
the EEOC.
No-Cost Outreach and Education Programs
    EEOC's outreach and education programs provide information about 
the employment discrimination laws enforced by EEOC and the EEOC 
charge/complaint process. EEOC representatives are available at no cost 
to make presentations and participate in meetings with employers and 
their representative groups. For example, EEOC hosts regular meetings 
with employers and employer groups, such as stakeholder advisory 
councils to get feedback on legal and operational issues; provides 
speakers and trainers for conferences, seminars, workshops and 
classroom presentations and for regular scheduled meetings of 
organizations, professional associations, etc; distributes information 
materials on EEO laws and represent the Commission at events, such as 
job fairs, conventions and conferences; and participates in media 
presentations--including radio and TV interviews, as well as cyber-
chats.
    A list of outreach coordinators and contact information can be 
found at www.eeoc.gov/outreach/coordinators.html.
Fee-Based Training and Technical Assistance
    EEOC presents a wide variety of fee-based training and technical 
assistance programs throughout the country geared to employers in the 
private sector, including small businesses, as well as Federal, State 
and local government agencies. Training and technical assistance 
available includes:
    Technical Assistance Program Seminars (TAPS). Seminars emphasize 
how to prevent EEO problems from developing and how to resolve 
discrimination complaints effectively when they do arise. Real-life 
case studies and examples often are used to show how equal employment 
requirements apply to specific employment practices. Updates on 
important legal developments, Commission policy and procedures and 
vital information about EEOC's latest initiatives and alternative 
dispute resolution program are discussed. Specialized topics will 
differ by seminar and may include in-depth sessions on issues such as: 
Sexual and racial harassment; complex ADA issues, including the ADA's 
relation to other workplace laws; and religious and national origin 
discrimination. Whenever practicable, small group breakouts, question 
and answer periods, interactive formats and informal discussions are 
used in the seminars, which enable participants to receive answers to 
specific EEO questions.
    Customer Specific Training Programs. EEOC staff provide specialized 
training on various employment discrimination topics for employers at 
their work site or at an organization's meeting or training events.
    Training Products. EEOC has developed training course materials on 
Workplace Harassment Issues: How to Identify, Prevent and Eliminate 
Workplace Harassment, which are available for employers who want to 
deliver their own training. Additional training courses on the 
Americans with Disabilities Act and other topics are under development 
and will be available in the future. Information on Training Contacts 
can be found at www.eeotraining.eeoc.gov.
Publications
    EEOC fact sheets, information materials and brochures and other 
publications are available at no cost. They can be ordered by calling 
1-800-669-3362 (voice) or 1-800-800-3302

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(TTY) or through the Internet at www.eeoc.gov/publications.html.
    Training and Technical Assistance Materials available for direct 
purchase--A seven volume set of resource manuals provides a 
comprehensive and invaluable EEO library on employment discrimination 
issues. Each volume contains training exercises, practical guidance and 
copies of EEOC's most important policy interpretations, including 
information concerning recent important Supreme Court decisions 
affecting Federal EEO law. The volumes are compiled and written by 
legal experts and training professionals from the EEOC, the Federal 
agency responsible for enforcing and interpreting the country's various 
Federal employment discrimination laws. The entire series is updated 
annually to reflect changes in law, court decisions and new EEOC 
guidance. These materials are useful for employers, human resource/EEO 
professionals, attorneys, labor representatives and others interested 
in EEO matters in the private, Federal and State and local government 
sectors. These manuals can be ordered through www.eeotraining.eeoc.gov.
Web Page
     EEOC's Web page--www.eeoc.gov--provides easy-to-use 
information on federal laws prohibiting job discrimination, including a 
question and answer format. The site also provides copies of news/press 
releases, laws enforced by EEOC, regulations, and policy guidance 
issued by EEOC, as well as information on outreach, training and 
technical assistance and publications.
     The site provides links to other Federal labor law 
enforcement agencies and other Federal agencies which may have 
information/resources useful to employers.
     EEOC has also worked with many Federal agencies, such as 
the Small Business Administration, Office of the National Ombudsman, to 
ensure EEOC's Web page is available as a link.
New Freedom Initiative
    EEOC is working closely with small business organizations and 
disability groups to conduct a series of free outreach and education 
events for small businesses as part of President Bush's New Freedom 
Initiative. EEOC expects to continue putting on these events throughout 
fiscal years 2003 and 2004. EEOC has also produced The Americans with 
Disabilities Act: A Primer for Small Business, which is a practical, 
reader-friendly handbook for the small business person outlining the 
employment provisions of the ADA as they relate to both employees and 
job applicants. Information on the workshops is available at 
www.eeoc.gov/initiatives/nfi/index.html. A copy of the Primer is 
available at www.eeoc.gov/ada/adahandbook.html.
Guidance Letters
    EEOC's Office of Legal Counsel issues approximately 90 significant 
guidance letters a year explaining the employment discrimination 
statutes to employers and other stakeholders.
    Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Single Point of Contact: 
Laura Hinton, National Outreach Coordinator, Office of Field Programs, 
EEOC, 1801 L Street, NW., Washington, DC 20507. Telephone: 202-663-
4811. E-mail: [email protected]

Federal Communications Commission

    The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent U.S. 
government agency, directly responsible to Congress. The FCC was 
established by the Communications Act of 1934 and is charged with 
regulating interstate and international communications by radio, 
television, wire, satellite and cable. The FCC's jurisdiction covers 
the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and U.S. possessions.
    The FCC is directed by five Commissioners appointed by the 
President and confirmed by the Senate for 5-year terms, except when 
filling an unexpired term. The President designates one of the 
Commissioners to serve as Chairperson. Only three Commissioners may be 
members of the same political party. None of them can have a financial 
interest in any Commission-related business.
    The Commission staff is organized by function. There are six 
operating Bureaus and ten Staff Offices. The Bureaus' responsibilities 
include: Processing applications for licenses and other filings; 
analyzing complaints; conducting investigations; developing and 
implementing regulatory programs; and taking part in hearings. The 
Offices provide support services. Even though the Bureaus and Offices 
have their individual functions, they regularly join forces and share 
expertise in addressing Commission issues. The six operating Bureaus 
are: Consumer and Governmental Affairs, Enforcement, International, 
Media, Wireless Telecommunications, and Wireline Competition.
    Concerning FCC small entity enforcement and compliance issues, the 
primary sources for information are the Enforcement Bureau, which 
enforces the Communications Act as well as the Commission's rules, 
orders and authorizations, and the Office of Communications Business 
Opportunities (OCBO), which provides advice to the Commission on issues 
and policies concerning telecommunications opportunities for small, 
minority, and women-owned communications businesses. In addition, the 
FCC Consumer Center, within the Consumer and Governmental Affairs 
Bureau, provides a wealth of consumer information and other service.
    E-Mail, Small Entity Contact Point: [email protected]

Telephone Service:

     Office of Communications Business Opportunities (OCBO): 
202-418-0990
     Enforcement Bureau: 202-418-7450
     FCC Consumer Center, Toll-Free Telephone Service: 1-888-
CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322)

     TTY, FCC Consumer Center, Toll-Free Telephone Service: 1-
888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322)
Online Service:

     FCC Homepage and News Location: http://www.fcc.gov
     Office of Communications Business Opportunities (OCBO): 
http://www.fcc.gov/ocbo/
     Enforcement Bureau: http://www.fcc.gov/eb/ (this site 
includes the resource, ``How to File Complaints'')
     Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau: http://
www.fcc.gov/cgb/
     Consumer Alerts and Factsheets--Directory: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/information_directory.html
     Current Major Initiatives: http://www.fcc.gov/initiatives.html
    Federal Communications Commission Single Point of Contact: Carolyn 
Fleming Williams, Director, Office of Communications Business 
Opportunities, U.S. Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, 
S.W., Telephone: 202-418-0990. Fax: 202-418-0235. E-mail: 
[email protected].

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

    The FDIC provides compliance guidance to small banks on the range 
of supervisory and regulatory issues to strengthen banks' own 
compliance expertise and to enable banks to structure their own 
operations in compliance with the law. Within the banking industry, a 
longstanding custom has developed in which individual institutions 
contact FDIC examiners for guidance on questions and concerns, both to 
prevent non-compliance and to promptly and appropriately correct any 
problems that might exist.

[[Page 36130]]

    Compliance assistance products and services provided by the FDIC 
include a variety of venues and provides a broad range of information 
(in both web-based and print versions) that addresses the mission, 
activities, and administrative actions of the FDIC, and provides access 
to manuals, guidelines, and regulations, as well as to policy research, 
data, and analysis of emerging issues in banking and the economy.
     The FDIC maintains a toll-free hotline and an Internet 
site for bankers and consumers to contact the FDIC if they have a 
problem or concern.
     The FDIC provides a compliance assistance web site at 
http://www.fdic.gov. The FDIC web site includes information on 
examinations, deposit insurance, laws and regulatory reporting, reports 
and statistics, forms and publications, and consumer and community 
affairs. Several of the FDIC sites are of particular interest to small 
banks. FDICconnect is the secure internet channel for FDIC-insured 
institutions to conduct business and exchange information with FDIC. 
The Director's Corner includes items of interest to bank directors such 
as Interagency Policy Statements, Supervisory Guidance, and Financial 
Institution Letters. The Office of the Ombudsman site provides 
assistance to FDIC-supervised and insured banks, serving as a bridge to 
the Corporation.
     The FDIC has a compliance assistance employee available 
for each of its regulated institutions. At the Regional and Territory 
Office levels there are case managers, field examiners, and other 
senior staff assigned to a specific bank as the single point of contact 
for that institution. The supervised institution and the FDIC point of 
contact exchange numerous telephone calls and other direct 
communication both to give guidance and to respond to informational 
requests. In addition, there are Subject Matter Experts available at 
the Regional and Washington Offices to answer questions in more 
technical areas such as Information Systems, Capital Markets, 
Accounting, Trust and other subject areas.
     The agency provides compliance assistance education. 
Perhaps the most extensive educational activities occur during the 
examination process. Examiners review a bank's procedures, practices, 
policies, and records to determine compliance with laws, regulations, 
and supervisory policies. The vast majority of banks are well run and 
compliance information customized to the individual bank's activities 
is provided to bank management and employees to assist in future 
activities. In the case of problem institutions, a more formal program 
to correct deficiencies identified at the examination is put in place. 
Between examinations, the FDIC has a Banker Outreach Program where 
senior FDIC staff contact and meet with bank management to discuss new 
technologies, product innovations, and recent statutory changes.
    The FDIC maintains a structured compliance educational program in 
its Directors' Colleges and in FDIC sponsored symposiums, roundtables, 
and conferences. In 2003 and 2004, the FDIC held outreach roundtable 
discussions on Consumer Debt, the Corporate Credit Cycle, and the 
Commercial Real Estate Cycle and a symposium on Tapping the Unbanked 
Market and Protecting the Financial Sector. Compliance assistance is 
also provided when bankers meet with senior FDIC officials at state 
banker association meetings and industry gatherings.
    The FDIC provides a number of compliance assistance publications 
and other regulatory information:
Supervisory Information:
     Financial Institution Letters--supervisory guidance on 
regulations and policies
     FDIC Law, Regulations, Related Acts
     FDIC Enforcement Decisions and Orders
     Merger Decisions

Examination Manuals:

     Manual of Examination Polices
     Compliance Examination Manual
     FFIEC Information Technology Examination Handbook
     Information Technology Examination Procedures
     E-Banking Examination Procedures
     Trust Examination Manual
     Guide to the Interagency Country Exposure Review Committee 
Process
     Guidelines for Payday Lending

Monthly, Quarterly, and Annual Publications:

     FDIC Annual Report--summary of operations and initiatives 
for the year
     Letter to Stakeholders--Chairman's report on FDIC's 
priorities
     FYI--An electronic newsletter that highlights analyses in 
the areas of risk
     FDIC Banking Review--Academic research on banking and 
supervision
     Working Paper Series--Academic research on banking and 
finance
     FDIC Outlook--Economic and Banking Risk Analysis from 
national and regional perspectives
     FDIC State Profiles--Macroeconomic and banking conditions 
in each state
     Quarterly Banking Profile--Bank performance, trends and 
data tables
     FDIC Consumer News--Banking and financial information for 
consumers
     Failed Bank Cost Analysis
     FDIC/OTS Summary of Deposit
     Trust Assets of Financial Institutions

On-Line Data Queries:

     Institution Directory
     Statistics on Depository Institutions
     Call & Thrift Financial Reports
     Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator
     CRA Statute and Tools
     RESPA Escrow Program

Guides for Bankers and Consumers:

     Pocket Guide for Directors
     Financial Institution Employees Guide to Deposit Insurance
     International Directory of Deposit Insurers
     Mortgage Loan Pre-qualifications: Applications or Not?
     Side by Side: A Guide to Fair Lending
     Uninsured Investment Products: A Pocket Guide
     FDIC Guide to Real Estate Sales
     Privacy Choices
     Symbol of Confidence
     Your Insured Deposit; Your Investments
     Consumer Facts and Investments

Information for Contractors:

     FDIC Acquisitions Policy Manual
     Information for Prospective Outside Counsel
     Office of Executive Secretary Contractor Ethics Decisions, 
1996-Present

Office of the Ombudsman:

    http://www.fdic.gov/regulations/resources/ombudsman/index.html html
    Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Single Point of Contact: 
Carol L. Middlebrook, Ombudsman Specialist, 550 Seventeenth Street, 
NW., PA-1730-2126, Washington, DC 20429. Telephone: 202-942-3807. Fax: 
202-942-3041. E-mail: [email protected]

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

    Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Single Point of Contact: 
Kimberly F. Fernandez, Office of External Affairs, Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. 
Telephone: 202-502-8302. E-mail: [email protected]

Federal Housing Finance Board

    Federal Housing Finance Board Single Point of Contact: Janice Kaye, 
Federal Housing Finance Board, Office of

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General Counsel, 1777 F Street, NW., Washington, DC. Phone: 202-408-
2505. E-mail: [email protected]

Federal Maritime Commission

    Federal Maritime Commission Single Point of Contact: Jane E. 
Gregory, Executive Assistant, Executive Director's Office, Federal 
Maritime Commission, 800 N. Capitol Street, NW., Washington, DC 20573. 
Telephone: 202-523-5800. Fax: 202-523-5827. E-mail: [email protected]

Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service

    Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service Single Point of Contact: 
Dan Funkhouser, Chief Information Officer, Federal Mediation and 
Conciliation Service, 2100 K St NW., Washington, DC 20427. Telephone: 
202-606-5477. E-mail: [email protected]

Federal Reserve Board

    Procurement (Companies wishing to conduct business with the Board): 
Carlos Gutierrez, Small Business Procurement Liaison, 20th and C 
Streets, NW., M/S 128, Washington, DC 20551. Telephone: 202-452-2458. 
E-mail: [email protected]
General Financial Information for Small Businesses
    General Community Development information: www.federalreserve.gov/community.htm
    A Guide to Business Credit for Women, Minorities, and Small 
Businesses:www.federalreserve.gov/community.htm
Federal Reserve Regulatory Reporting Forms
    Current Reporting Forms: www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/reportforms/default.cfm
Reporting Forms Under Review
    www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/reportforms/review.cfm
Banking and Regulatory Information
    General Banking and Regulatory information: www.federalreserve.gov/banknreg.htm
    Regulations (PDF files): www.federalreserve.gov/regulations/default.htm
    Supervision & Regulation Letters (SR Letters): 
www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/srletters/
Federal Reserve Board Publications Department
    Publications available free-of-charge on-line: 
www.federalreserve.gov/publications.htm
    Publications available for order (on-line order form and 
information): Federal Reserve Board, 20th and C Streets, NW., 
Publications Services, M/S127, Washington, DC 20551. Telephone: 202-
452-3245. Fax: 202-728-5886.
www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/order.htm
News and Events
    General News and Events, including: Testimonies and speeches; press 
releases; and services (e-mail notification for press releases and 
other unscheduled postings; personal digital assistant wireless service 
for press releases; and e-mail notification for testimony and 
speeches): www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents.htm
    General Federal Reserve Public website: www.federalreserve.gov
    Federal Reserve Board Single Point of Contact: Cindy Ayouch, Chief, 
Financial Reports section, 20th and C Streets, NW., M/S 41, Washington, 
DC 20551. Telephone: 202-452-3829. Fax: 202-728-5856. E-mail: 
[email protected].

Federal Trade Commission

    The FTC offers a broad array of resources to aid small businesses 
in understanding their obligations under the laws and regulations 
administered by the Commission. The FTC offers general information in a 
variety of forms to address issues and questions that small businesses 
frequently encounter. Such guidance usually will satisfy the needs of 
small businesses for guidance as to their obligations. For example, the 
FTC issues many types of publications designed to explain how small 
businesses and others can conduct their affairs in compliance with the 
laws and regulations administered by the FTC. These include materials 
specifically directed to businesses, such as (1) compliance guides 
explaining the requirements of specific FTC rules in a non-technical 
manner; (2) industry guides addressing common compliance issues under 
the Federal Trade Commission Act, as applied to particular industries 
or particular practices; (3) guidelines and policy statements 
explaining the application of antitrust laws to particular practices or 
industries. These materials frequently contain specific examples and 
illustrative fact patterns that show how the agency would apply the law 
to a particular set of facts. The FTC holds public workshops, 
conferences and other forums to discuss specific topics, which often 
include compliance concerns. Also, FTC staff members and Commissioners 
frequently give speeches and conduct programs geared to explaining 
statutory and regulatory requirements and to answering attendees' 
questions. Where the topics are of particular interest to small 
business, these speeches may involve appearances before groups 
representing small-business interests. Other sources of information 
include full texts of FTC-administered statutes and rules, advisory 
opinions issued by the Commission or its staff, texts of speeches and 
testimony, and information on enforcement actions. The FTC also 
produces and disseminates numerous print and broadcast materials that, 
while directed to consumers, can benefit small businesses by 
identifying the practices that generate consumer protection issues 
between businesses and their customers and explaining how they should 
be handled. These materials and information are readily available to 
small businesses through a variety of sources, including (1) through 
the FTC's website www.ftc.gov, and from links at www.business.gov, 
www.firstgov.gov, and www.sba.gov/yourgovt/federal.html, and (2) 
directly from the FTC, Room H-130, 600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., 
Washington, DC 20580, or call (toll-free) 877-FTC-HELP.
    FTC Compliance Guides are available at http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/businessinfo/consumer.htm, and include, among others:
     Frequently Asked Advertising Questions: A Guide for Small 
Business http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buspubs/ad-faqs.htm
     Complying with the Telemarketing Sales Rule, http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buspubs/tsrcomp.htm#privacy
     How to Comply with the Privacy of Consumer Financial 
Information Rule of the Gramm-Leach-Blilely Act, A Guide for Small 
Businesses from the Federal Trade Commission http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buspubs/glblong.htm
     How to Comply With The Children's Online Privacy 
Protection Rule http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buspubs/coppa.htm
    Where the sources of general information are insufficient to 
provide the needed guidance or assistance, an FTC staff member may 
provide specific, informal advice or arrange for a more formal 
response. Small businesses may make inquiries of the Commission by 
various means. Inquiries can be informal and the business need not even 
identify itself. The FTC also has procedures for providing, where 
appropriate, either a staff advisory opinion or, in specified 
circumstances, a Commission advisory opinion. It is generally most 
effective to discuss the

[[Page 36132]]

issue with a staff person before deciding whether to seek a formal 
advisory opinion.
    Inquiries regarding consumer protection issues: FTC, Room H-130, 
600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20580. Telephone: (toll-free) 
1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).
    Inquiries regarding competition issues: Office of Policy and 
Evaluation, Bureau of Competition, Federal Trade Commission, 
Washington, DC 20580. Telephone (202) 326-3300. Fax (202) 326-2884.
    Federal Trade Commission Single Point of Contact: Donald Clark, The 
Office of the Secretary, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania 
Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20580. Telephone: 202-326-2514. Fax: 202-326-
2496.
    Businesses may also contact any of the FTC's regional offices.

General Services Administration

    General Services Administration Single Point of Contact: Mr. Felipe 
Mendoza, Associate Administrator, Office of Small Business Utilization, 
General Services Administration, 1800 F Street, NW., Room 6029, 
Washington, DC 20405. Telephone: 202-501-0864.

Institute of Museum and Library Services

    Institute of Museum and Library Services Single Point of Contact: 
Rebecca W. Danvers, Ph.D., Director of Research and Technology, 
Institute of Museum and Library Services, 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., 
Room 223, Washington, DC 20506. Phone: 202-606-2478. Fax: 202-606-0395. 
E-mail: [email protected].

Merit Systems Protection Board

    Merit Systems Protection Board Single Point of Contact: Richard A. 
Dorr, Merit Systems Protection Board, 1615 M Street NW., Suite 500, 
Washington, DC 20036. Telephone: 202-653-6772 ext.1113. Fax: 202-653-
7821. E-mail: [email protected].

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

    The Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) 
promotes the utilization of small, disadvantaged and women-owned 
businesses in compliance with Federal laws, regulations, and policies. 
We assist such firms in obtaining contracts and subcontracts with NASA 
and its prime contractors. The OSDBU also facilitates the participation 
of small businesses in NASA's technology transfer and commercialization 
activities. Our objective is not only to ensure that small businesses 
are integrated seamlessly into the aerospace industrial base of the 
country, but that they can contribute to the performance of NASA 
missions. NASA supports a non-retaliation policy against small 
businesses as stated in NASA Policy Directive 5101.32 for the Ombudsman 
program.
    Small businesses seeking work with NASA are directed to our website 
http://osdbu.nasa.gov. Activities in support of small businesses are 
listed with information on how to get involved in obtaining contracts 
and subcontracts. Request for Proposals open for bid can be reviewed on 
the Internet at http://procurement.nasa.gov.
    To get the highest return on investment, the NASA OSDBU has 
designed, implemented, and facilitated user-friendly programs and 
initiatives. This ensures the full integration of capable and high-
quality small businesses into the competitive base of contractors from 
which NASA regularly purchases products and services. In addition, the 
OSDBU has an outreach effort to communicate with its target small 
business constituents, as well as an in-reach program to educate NASA 
technical, procurement, and administrative personnel about programs and 
policies. The OSDBU also disseminates information about its programs 
through conferences, forums, training and development programs, 
counseling, promotional materials, and the Internet. A free three-day 
course called Training and Development for Small Businesses in Advanced 
Technologies (TADSBAT) acquaints companies with the NASA culture. This 
course is held four times a year at different locations nationally. In 
addition, two forums were developed to seek high-technology firms 
capable of participating in the Agency's most complex programs. The 
Aerospace Technology Small Disadvantaged Forum is conducted twice a 
year at two of the aeronautics Field Centers where three to five high-
tech SDBs are selected to give presentations to senior level technical 
managers. From the forum's inception in 1993 through FY 2001, more than 
$85 million have been awarded to some of the presenters. A similar 
format is used for the Semi-annual Science Forums for Small Businesses. 
The Science Forums create a ``high-level marketing opportunity'' for 
selected small businesses to present their capabilities to earth 
science personnel at the Goddard Space Flight Center and to space 
science personnel at The Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Since the inception 
of this program in 1997, over $47 million in contracts and subcontracts 
have been awarded to participants.
    As NASA's premier initiative, the Mentor-Prot[eacute]g[eacute] 
Program is designed to encourage prime contractors to assist 
disadvantaged companies in expanding their technical capabilities where 
such firms are underrepresented in the market. Prime contractors 
receive a variety of incentives during the source selection process, 
plus award fee increments during the period of the contract, if 
performed successfully. To spur small businesses to actively pursue 
opportunities for commercializing NASA technology, the OSDBU, in 
conjunction with the Minority Owned Business Technology Transfer 
Consortium (MBTTC) puts on seminars throughout the year. Companies 
learn about the NASA Commercialization Technology Network, how to 
identify technologies and work with researchers and scientists, how to 
apply for licensing agreements, and how to find financing sources.
    ``Socioeconomic Procurement as a Business Imperative'' is a one-day 
course given four times a year at different NASA Centers to a cross-
section of the Agency's technical, procurement, and administrative 
personnel. The course emphasizes the value-added benefit of utilizing 
diverse small businesses (in addition to being in compliance with laws 
and regulations that require it). On its own initiative, NASA has 
established a one percent goal as a percent of total contract value 
awarded yearly to Historically Black Colleges and Universities and 
other minority educational institutions. NASA is promoting the 
integration of this underutilized national resource.
    To enhance the competitive advantage of small businesses in the 
national and world marketplace NASA has promoted the international 
quality management standard, ISO 9000. Since 1996, NASA has conducted 
seminars at major small business conferences on how to get certified. 
The NASA OSDBU staff became the first Federal headquarters office to 
become certified. The OSDBU wants to ensure that small businesses are 
aware of the fundamentals of an effective teaming agreement with large 
prime contractors. Seminars are taught by the Assistant Administrator 
for Small Business and are designed to enable small businesses to 
understand the legal structure of written teaming agreements, as well 
as the factors to consider when choosing a potential teaming partner. 
The NASA Minority Business Resource Advisory Committee (MBRAC) was 
organized to include executive members from disadvantaged companies who

[[Page 36133]]

could advise the Administrator on how to increase small business 
involvement in NASA and remove regulatory obstacles to that end. 
Recommendations have been made and implemented in the areas of 
procurement source criteria, contract fee structure, contracting goals, 
and the review of subcontracting plans. The NASA Prime Contractor 
Roundtable was designed to facilitate an exchange between NASA and its 
prime contractors, mainly on how to increase the use of small 
businesses in their respective subcontracting programs. NASA's 
Assistant Administrator for Small Business is a board member of the 
World Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, an affiliated 
organization to the United Nations. Through this association, NASA is 
able to advise American small businesses on the advantages of competing 
in the world marketplace.
    National Aeronautics and Space Administration Single Point of 
Contact: Ms. Patricia L. Dunnington, Chief Information Officer, 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), 300 E Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20546. Telephone: (202) 358-3261. Fax: (202) 358-
3063. E-mail: [email protected].

National Archives & Records Administration

    The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) ensures, 
for citizens and Federal officials, ready access to essential evidence 
that documents the rights of American citizens, the actions of Federal 
officials, and the national experience. It establishes policies and 
procedures for managing U.S. Government records and assists Federal 
agencies in documenting their activities, administering records 
management programs, scheduling records, and retiring noncurrent 
records. NARA accessions, arranges, describes, preserves, and provides 
access to the essential documentation of the three branches of 
Government; manages the Presidential Libraries system; and publishes 
the laws, regulations, and Presidential and other public documents. It 
also assists the Information Security Oversight Office, which manages 
Federal classification and declassification policies, and the National 
Historical Publications and Records Commission, which makes grants 
nationwide to help nonprofit organizations identify, preserve, and 
provide access to materials that document American history.
    See www.archives.gov for information on the National Archives and 
Records Administration's programs and activities. One resource for 
small businesses is NARA's Office of the Federal Register (see http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/index.html). That office provides 
ready access to the official text of Federal laws, Presidential 
documents, administrative regulations and notices, and descriptions of 
Federal organizations, programs and activities.
    National Archives and Records Administration Single Point of 
Contact: Nancy Allard, Policy and Communications Staff, Office of the 
Archivist, NARA. Telephone: 301-837-1477. Fax: 301-837-0319. E-mail: 
[email protected].

National Commission on Libraries & Information Science

    National Commission on Libraries and Information Science Single 
Point of Contact: Madeleine C. McCain, Director of Operations, U.S. 
National Commission on Libraries and Information Science. Telephone: 
(202) 606-9200. E-mail: [email protected]. Web site: www.nclis.gov.

National Credit Union Administration

    Point of Contact: Neil McNamara, National Credit Union 
Administration, 1775 Duke St., Alexandria, VA 22314-3428. Telephone: 
(703) 518-6440. Telephone: (703) 518-6570. Other points of contact are 
accessible through the NCUA website at www.ncua.gov and by telephone at 
(703) 518-6300.

National Endowment for the Arts

    National Endowment for the Arts Single Point of Contact: William 
Hummel, 1100 Pennsylvania Ave. Rm. 618, Washington, DC 20506. 
Telephone: 202-682-5417. E-mail: [email protected].

National Endowment for the Humanities

    National Endowment for the Humanities Single Point of Contact: 
Susan G. Daisey, Director, Office of Grant Management, National 
Endowment for the Humanities, 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Room 311, 
Washington, DC 20506. Telephone: 202-606-8494. Fax: 202-606-8633. E-
mail: [email protected].

National Indian Gaming Commission

    National Indian Gaming Commission Single Point of Contact: Penny 
Coleman, Acting General Counsel, NIGC, 1441 L Street NW., Suite 9100, 
Washington, DC 20005. Telephone: 202-632-7003. Fax: 202-632-7066. Web 
site: www.nigc.gov

National Labor Relations Board

    National Labor Relations Board Single Point of Contact: Hugo Voogd, 
Deputy to the Assistant General Counsel, National Labor Relations 
Board, Division of Operations-Management, 1099 14th Street, NW., Room 
10204, Washington, DC 20570. Telephone: 202-273-0057.
    The following actions have been taken to provide compliance 
assistance to all NLRB ``customers'':
     NLRB strives to improve services to members of the public 
with limited English proficiency. These improvements would assist small 
businesses owned or managed by non-English speakers. Recent 
improvements include adding a folder to its web site that explains the 
NLRB's function and services in Spanish.
     NLRB continually seeks to improve the public information 
officer program in its field offices to ensure that the public is 
assisted properly with questions about their rights under the National 
Labor Relations Act (NLRA). NLRB information officers have responded to 
over 150,000 inquires annually. Most direct individuals to other 
agencies or provide explanations about the individual's rights under 
the NLRA. The services provided under our public information officer 
program assists small businesses by discouraging the filing of 
frivolous charges. Recently, the NLRB made available to the public a 
toll-free telephone number that will connect the caller directly to the 
NLRB's office that is closest to caller's residence or office. 
Information provided through the toll-free telephone number is also 
available in Spanish.
     NLRB web site contains a statement of its Standards of 
Service, providing clear explanations about what parties to NLRB 
proceedings can expect after charges and petitions are filed. Our web 
site provides for a procedure for the public to comment on how our 
services can be improved. (www.nlrb.gov) In addition, the web site now 
makes available to members of the public, including small businesses, 
electronic copies of case handling manuals, the Board's Rules and 
Procedures, and recently issued Board decisions and other memoranda.
     NLRB has implemented new procedures on its web site that 
enhance the ability of parties to its proceedings to communicate with 
the Agency through e-mail and submit certain documents electronically.
     NLRB field offices are continually encouraged to expand 
their outreach programs by speaking to business groups and labor 
organizations about our procedures, and participating in labor-
management conferences where changes in the current case law are 
explained and discussed. Many small businesses take advantage of these 
conferences so that they can learn how

[[Page 36134]]

to stay in compliance with the National Labor Relations Act.

National Mediation Board

    National Mediation Board Single Point of Contact: Denise M. Vines, 
Supervisory Finance & Administration Specialist, Washington, DC 20572. 
Telephone: 202-692-5010. E-mail: [email protected].

National Science Foundation

    National Science Foundation Single Point of Contact: Donald Senich, 
Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization 
Research and Development, 4201 Wilson Blvd, Rm. 527, Arlington, VA 
22230. Telephone: 703-292-7082. Fax: 703-292-9055. E-mail: 
[email protected]

National Transportation Safety Board

    National Transportation Safety Board Single Point of Contact: 
Deborah Bruce, PhD, National Transportation Safety Board, Safety 
Studies and Statistical Analysis Division, 490 L'Enfant Plaza East, 
SW., Washington, DC 20594. Telephone: 202-314-6511. E-mail: 
[email protected]

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

    Nuclear Regulatory Commission Single Point of Contact: Brenda 
Shelton, Chief, NRC Records Mgmt Branch, OCIO, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. Telephone: 301-415-7233. Fax: 
301-415-6434. E-mail: [email protected]. web site: http://www.nrc.gov/

Compliance Assistance Information

    Mauricio Vera ([email protected]) (Telephone: 301-415-7160) is the point 
of contact for small business inquiries pertaining to contracting 
opportunities with NRC. Detailed information on the small business 
program can be found at http://www.nrc.gov/who-we-are/small-business.html.
    Michael Lesar ([email protected]) is the point of contact to provide 
assistance to small entities that have questions regarding compliance 
with NRC regulations and/or the impact of NRC rulemakings on small 
entities. Information on NRC's policy and procedures in this area can 
be found at http://www.nrc.gov/what-we-do/regulatory/rulemaking/flexibility-act.html.

Office of Personnel Management

    Office of Personnel Management Single Point of Contact: Tina B. 
McGuire, Chief, Contracting Group, CCFAS, United States Office of 
Personnel Management, 1900 E Street, NW., Room 1342, Washington, DC 
20415. Telephone: (202) 606-4591. E-mail: [email protected]

Overseas Private Investment Corporation

    General Information, Small Business Hotline: 1-800-CALL-SBC; (1-
800-225-5722), Local Area Telephone: 202-336-8700, Fax: 202-336-8701, 
E-mail: [email protected].
    Overseas Private Investment Corporation Single Point of Contact: 
Mitchell Strauss, Small and Medium Enterprise Department, Overseas 
Private Investment Corporation, 1100 New York Ave NW., Washington, DC 
20527. Phone: 202-408-6300. Fax: 202-408-9866. E-mail: [email protected]

Peace Corps

    The Peace Corps, as a small Federal Agency, relies on and contracts 
with small businesses for a majority of our products and services. The 
Office of Contracts maintains a list of submitted contractors to match 
against our posted contracting requirements. The list is maintained for 
one year after submission. An agency database is maintained for 
overseas contractors. To enroll in this database, visit our web site.
    Many short-term training contractors are needed for overseas 
services. Contracting opportunities available are posted on our web 
site. Visit our web site at www.peacecorps.gov under the heading About 
the Peace Corps, click on Management, and then click on Contracting 
Opportunities. On this web page, click on learn more to see overseas 
training services needed and to find information about being added to 
our database. Contracts for over $25,000 are posted on FedBizOpps.
    Any questions or for further information, contact Ms. Judy Dawes. 
Ms.Dawes will provide assistance and explanations in complying with 
Peace Corps regulatory procedures and requirements for contracting.
    Peace Corps Single Point of Contact: Judy Dawes, Peace Corps, 
Office of Contracts, Deputy Director, 1111 20th Street, NW., Room 4444, 
Washington, DC 20526. Telephone: 202-692-1624. Fax: 202-692-1621. Toll 
Free: 800-424-8580. E-mail: [email protected] Website: 
www.peacecorps.gov

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation

Customer Service Center
    A toll free number (1-800-736-2444) dedicated to pension plan 
administrators and plan professionals.

Office of the RegFair Representative

    This office functions independently of enforcement and compliance 
activities, addresses issues raised by businesses that sponsor defined 
benefit pension plans, the vast majority of which are small businesses. 
The RegFair Representative is also PBGC's Problem Resolution Officer 
for plan practitioners, and can be reached via a toll-free number (1-
800-736-2444, ext. 4163) or e-mail ([email protected]).

Ask an Attorney

    An attorney in PBGC's Office of the General Counsel is available by 
telephone or e-mail for informal advice on legal issues pertaining to 
compliance, enforcement, and other matters of concern. The General 
Inquiry Attorney can be reached via a toll-free number (1-800-736-2444, 
ext. 4020) or e-mail ([email protected]).
PBGC's Web site
    The PBC web site (www.pbgc.gov) includes:
     The Small Business Guide to the PBGC. This easy-to-read 
synopsis of all of a small plan sponsor's obligations under ERISA and 
our regulations makes it much easier for the small business owner to 
understand and comply with the program requirements. The booklet also 
contains phone numbers and other information on where to go for help.
     Frequently Asked Questions.
     PBGC forms and instructions.
     Fact sheets on PBGC programs.
     Opinion Letters. The General Counsel issues formal 
opinions on legal issues under Title IV of the Employee Retirement 
Income Security Act (ERISA).
     The Blue Book sets forth various questions of general 
interest to practitioners posed by representatives of the Enrolled 
Actuaries Program Committee, and provides answers from PBGC staff.
     PBGC's Annual Report provides financial information and 
describes its customer service, enforcement and compliance activities.

    Note: All resources and publications available on PBGC's website 
can also be obtained by calling our Customer Service Center (1-800-
736-2444).

Outreach
    PBGC's outreach efforts include:
     Meetings and conferences. PBGC representatives participate 
in meetings and conferences with pension practitioners to address 
issues of mutual concern and to get their feedback.
     Focus groups. We conduct periodic focus groups to help 
determine ways in which we can better serve our customers; for example, 
with members of the American Society of Pension

[[Page 36135]]

Actuaries (ASPA), a group which serves primarily small businesses.
     Surveys. Surveys are conducted regularly to continuously 
receive feedback from our pension practitioners, the majority of whom 
deal with the pension plans of small businesses.
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Policy
    Under PBGC's ADR policy, PBGC examines the suitability of using ADR 
to resolve issues that would otherwise be resolved by adversarial 
administrative or judicial processes. In appropriate disputes, PBGC 
uses ADR in a good faith effort to achieve consensual resolution of 
issues in controversy, including compliance and enforcement matters.
    Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Single Point of Contact: Diane 
Morstein, Customer Service Center, Practitioner Problem Resolution 
Officer. Toll Free: 1-800-736-2444 ext 4136.
    The public can fully resolve most issues by calling PBGC Customer 
Service Center staff, at 1-800-736-2444.

Railroad Retirement Board

    The Railroad Retirement Board's primary function is to administer 
comprehensive retirement-survivor and unemployment-sickness benefit 
programs for the nation's railroad workers and their families under the 
Railroad Retirement and Railroad Unemployment Insurance Acts. In 
connection with the retirement program, the RRB has administrative 
responsibilities under the Social Security Act for certain benefit 
payments and railroad workers' Medicare coverage.
    Railroad Retirement Board Single Point of Contact: Ronald J. 
Hodapp, Chief, Information Resources Management, Railroad Retirement 
Board, Telephone: 312-751-3366. E-mail: [email protected] Web site: 
www.rrb.gov.

Securities and Exchange Commission

    Congress created the Securities and Exchange Commission in 1934 to 
protect investors, and to maintain fair, honest, and efficient national 
securities markets. The Commission provides extensive compliance 
assistance to the public. Small businesses subject to SEC regulation 
include:
     Issuers of securities,
     Investment companies and investment advisers,
     Broker-dealers, and
     Transfer agents.
    Other businesses affected by SEC regulation include auditors of 
companies whose stocks are publicly held and subject to registration 
with the SEC. The SEC's Office of Small Business Policy, telephone 
number (202-942-2950), should generally be the first point of contact 
for any small business that seeks compliance assistance from the 
Securities and Exchange Commission. This office is the primary resource 
for small business issuers of securities. Small regulated entities may 
wish to contact the appropriate Division or other office directly 
(Market Regulation for broker-dealers and transfer agents; Investment 
Management for investment companies and investment advisers; the Office 
of Chief Accountant for accountants).
    Members of the public seeking compliance assistance for Securities 
and Exchange Commission regulation may contact SEC staff by mail, e-
mail, or telephone.
Sources of SEC Information
     Organization and functions of the SEC: The Investor's 
Advocate: http://www.sec.gov/about/whatwedo.shtml
     Brief review of governing federal regulations: The Laws 
That Govern the Securities Industry http://www.sec.gov/about/laws.shtml
     SEC regulation of small business capital formation and 
smaller public companies: Q & A: Small Business and the SEC http://www.sec.gov/info/smallbus/qasbsec.html
     SEC regulation of securities brokers and dealers: 
Compliance Guide to the Regulation of Brokers and Dealers http://www.sec.gov/divisions/marketreg/bdguide.htm
     Regulations and Forms for Small Securities Issuers that 
issue securities subject to SEC regulation: Regulations and Forms 
Applicable to Small Businesses http://www.sec.gov/info/smallbus.shtml
     Regulations and forms for registered investment advisers: 
Investment Adviser Regulation http://www.sec.gov/divisions/investment/iard/iastuff.shtml
     SEC forms and instructions for registered investment 
advisers: Investment Adviser Forms http://www.sec.gov/divisions/investment/iard/iastuff.shtml
     Procedures for obtaining accounting or auditing advice 
from the SEC's Chief Accountant's Office: Guidance on Consulting with 
the Office of the Chief Accountant http://www.sec.gov/info/accountants.shtml
     Descriptions of most commonly used SEC forms: http://www.sec.gov/info/edgar/forms.htm
     SEC regulations for recordkeeping and capital requirements 
for securities brokers and dealers: Broker-Dealer Net Capital and Books 
and Records Guidance http://www.sec.gov/divisions/marketreg/bdnetcapital.htm
     Staff analyses of securities laws and regulations as 
applied to particular legal, regulatory, or accounting issues: Staff 
Interpretations http://www.sec.gov/interps.shtml.
Seminars and Classes
     Annual meeting to explore means to improve capital 
formation for small business: Annual Government-Business Forum on Small 
Business Capital Formation http://www.sec.gov/info/smallbus/sbforum.shtml
Web-Based Compliance
     Small Cap and Private Companies: http://www.sec.gov/info/
smallbus/qasbsec.htm
     Investment Adviser Registration: IARD http://www.sec.gov/divisions/investment/iaregulation.shtml
     Registration and disclosure documents required to be and 
voluntarily filed electronically: EDGAR--electronic filing of SEC 
disclosure documents http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml
Telephone Service
     Office of Small Business Policy: 202-942-2950
     Division of Enforcement: 202-942-4530
     Toll-Free Consumer Information: 1-800-SEC-0330
     Small and minority business procurement: (202) 942-4990
     Public company disclosure requirements: 202-942-2825
     Office of Interpretations and Guidance for Market 
Regulation: 202-942-0069
     Regulation of Investment Companies and Investment 
Advisers: 202-942-0659
Online/e-mail Service
     Inquiries about federal requirements for securities 
registration and corporate disclosure: [email protected]
     Inquiries about applicability of securities laws to small 
business: [email protected]
     Inquiries about the conduct of federally-regulated 
securities markets: [email protected]
     Inquiries about federal regulation of investment advisers: 
[email protected]
     Inquiries about federal regulation of investment 
companies: [email protected]
Contacts
     Homepage: http://www.sec.gov
     News: http://www.sec.gov/news.shtml

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     Regulatory: http://www.sec.gov/about/laws.shtml; http://www.sec.gov/rules.shtml
     Small Business: http://www.sec.gov/info/smallbus.shtml
     E-mail: [email protected]
     Phone Number: (202) 942-2950
    Securities and Exchange Commission Single Point of Contact: Gerald 
Laporte, Chief, Office of Small Business Policy, Division of 
Corporation Finance, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 5th Street 
NW., Room 3501, Washington, DC 20549-0310. Telephone: 202-942-2950. 
Fax: 202-942-9516. E-mail: [email protected].

Selective Service System

    Selective Service System Single Point of Contact: Calvin 
Montgomery, 1515 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22209. Telephone: 703-605-
4038. E-mail: [email protected].

Small Business Administration

    Small businesses wanting access to SBA programs should call SBA's 
Answer Desk toll-free or e-mail [email protected]. In many cases, the 
SBA information technician receiving a call will directly answer the 
question. If a matter needs attention from a particular program 
specialist in the caller's immediate area of the country, the SBA 
Answer Desk can put the caller in touch with a specific individual in 
an SBA District Office or program office.
    SBA Answer Desk: 6302 Fairview Road, Suite 300, Charlotte, North 
Carolina 28210. Answer Desk TTY: (704) 344-6640. 1-800-UASK-SBA (1-800-
827-5722). TTY Directory [Text] or [PDF]. Send e-mails to: 
[email protected].
    Other good ways to access compliance information about SBA programs 
are going to the SBA website's frequently asked questions about SBA 
programs at http://app1.sba.gov/faqs/ or to SBA's main webpage http://www.sba.gov/.
    Small Business Administration Single Point of Contact: Ms. 
Jacqueline K. White, Chief , Administrative Information Branch, U.S. 
Small Business Administration, 409 3rd Street, SW., MC5101, Washington, 
DC 20416-0005. Telephone: 202-205-7044. Fax: 202-481-2916. E-mail: 
[email protected].

Social Security Administration

    The majority of the services listed below are offered as a part of 
the Social Security Administration's (SSA) service to the business 
community in general, not specifically to small businesses. These 
services are directed primarily to employers, businesses or 
organizations that serve as representative payees to Social Security 
beneficiaries, businesses that seek contracts with SSA and schools. 
There are four primary avenues of access to these services with 
significant overlaps among them.
Toll-Free Telephone Service
     Employers may use the toll-free access number (800 772-
1213) to verify that they have the correct Social Security number (SSN) 
for an employee. This verification prevents the often difficult job of 
correcting wage reports made under an incorrect SSN. Up to five SSNs 
may be verified with one call if the employer can furnish his or her 
address and employer identification number (EIN). If employers need to 
verify more than 5 SSNs, but less than 50, the teleservice 
representative will advise the employer to contact the nearest SSA 
Field Office (FO) and will provide the FO's telephone number and 
address. There is a procedure for verifying more than 50 SSNs, but we 
do not expect that to be an issue with small businesses.
     New employers wishing to apply for an EIN may also call 
800-772-1213 and request that application form SS-4, Application for 
Employer Identification Number, be sent to them along with the Internal 
Revenue Service (IRS) publication, Instructions for Form SS-4.
     SSA maintains the SSA Employer Reporting Service Center at 
800 772-6270 or online at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/employer/. It 
can also be reached online from the SSA employer portal page. The 
Center can provide detailed information on the best way for an employer 
to report wages. An employer calling the main SSA 800 number and 
wanting more in-depth information about reporting wages, etc., will be 
referred to this number or website.
     Organizational Representative Payees include governmental 
or non-profit social service agencies that manage benefits for 
beneficiaries who are not able to manage benefits on their own and who 
have no friends or relatives suitable or willing to be payees. 
Organizational representative payees who must deal with the many issues 
that arise with beneficiaries who cannot manage their own benefits, 
including changes in address or circumstances, non-receipt of check, 
work issues and many other issues, can interact with SSA primarily by 
calling the main 800 number.
Online Services
     The SSA website, http://www.socialsecurity.gov, contains a 
link that directs businesses to the Business Services Online (BSO) 
website, http://www.socialsecurity.gov/bso/bsowelcome.htm. BSO is a 
suite of business services including Registration Services, Employer 
Services (Submit a Wage File, W-2 Online, View Status, View Notices and 
View Errors) and the Social Security Number Verification Service. The 
W-2 Online portion of the website is designed specifically for small 
businesses. The site allows employers to complete up to 20 W-2 forms on 
their computer screens. The service automatically computes the W-2 data 
for them, and the report is transmitted to SSA electronically. 
Employers can also print copies for their employees and for their 
records. Multiple sets of 20 W-2s can be submitted.
    In 2003, almost 200,000 W-2s for 2002 were submitted to SSA via W-2 
Online that would have otherwise been submitted on paper forms. The 
employer must be a registered BSO user to use these services, but 
registration is free. Businesses needing personalized assistance with 
wage reporting can follow a link, http://www.socialsecurity.gov/employer/wage_reporting_specialists.htm, to find a current list of 
Employer Services Liaison Officers in each region who are available to 
discuss specific wage reporting issues by phone. The Social Security 
personnel can help callers with all questions about how to submit W-2s 
to SSA. The telephone numbers are not toll-free.
     SSA's Office of Acquisition and Grants (OAG) maintains a 
website, www.socialsecurity.gov/oag, which contains acquisition 
information to assist small businesses interested in doing business 
with SSA. SSA's policies make doing business with the Agency easy for 
small businesses. All contracts are offered on an ``open bid'' basis, 
which means the bidding contractor does not have to be on any specific 
list of approved contractors. Some contracts are reserved for award to 
small businesses only.
     SSA maintains a website, www.socialsecurity.gov/payee, 
dedicated to Representative Payee requirements and responsibilities. 
This is significant, because many beneficiaries who need a payee have 
no family or friends willing to serve in this capacity. As a result, 
many small social service organizations serve as payees. This website 
makes it easy for small businesses to apply and be approved as an 
organizational payee. Training materials for payees are available at 
the website, including a written lesson, a PowerPoint presentation and 
a video. The written material and the PowerPoint program can be 
downloaded

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from the website, and the video can be ordered. Interested parties can 
request the material, including the video, on a compact disk.
     SSA must verify the full time attendance of certain 
students by asking school officials to complete a form certifying that 
the student/beneficiary is in full time attendance at the school. 
School officials can access a dedicated website, http://www.socialsecurity.gov/schoolofficials/, which explains the 
verification process, why the information is needed and what is 
expected of them. The site also has a ``Frequently Asked Questions'' 
page for school officials and also a page, http://www.socialsecurity.gov/schoolofficials/faqs_students.htm, for 
students. School officials and students are able to download the form 
if they lose the form they received from SSA.
Publications
     SSA publishes a quarterly newsletter in conjunction with 
the IRS called the ``SSA-IRS Reporter.'' This newsletter is mailed by 
IRS along with Form 941, Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return. It 
contains up-to-date wage and tax reporting information. While it is 
mailed to all employers, surveys show that it is predominately read by 
small business owners.
     The Employer's Guide to Filing Timely and Accurate W-2 
Wage Reports is available both in hard copy and on the SSA website at 
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/employer/pub.htm. This pamphlet (SSA Pub. 
No. 16-004) explains an employer's responsibilities, how to file, where 
to file, how to avoid common reporting errors, how to correct them, 
finding help, etc.
     The publication, A Guide for Farmers, Growers and Crew 
Leaders (SSA Publication No. 05 10025), provides information on Social 
Security's benefit package and how to report income to SSA. This guide 
is available on SSA's website at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/employer/pub.htm.
Outreach
     SSA participates in a number of IRS-related events. Staff 
attend six tax seminars a year presented by IRS. SSA staffs a booth at 
these public seminars and also provides a 1\1/2\-hour workshop on 
employer reporting. A number of small businesses attend these 
workshops. SSA staff make presentations at eight payroll reporting 
conferences each year in different parts of the country. These 
conferences are attended primarily by larger businesses, but they are 
open to any business.
     SSA holds The National Payroll Reporting Forum on an 
annual basis at its Baltimore headquarters. This forum was established 
in 1990 so that Federal agencies and the business community could 
gather, identify, discuss and resolve common wage and tax reporting 
issues. This forum has had a significant effect on the accuracy of the 
wage data submitted to SSA. The forum also provides the business 
community an opportunity to have a voice in initiatives that will 
ultimately affect the way it does business. The forum is attended by 
many small companies from the surrounding states as well as by national 
payroll organizations and service bureaus. The Agency is holding the 
2004 conference on May 20, 2004 at SSA headquarters in Baltimore.
     SSA's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business 
Utilization assists small businesses by scheduling one-on-one meetings 
and participating in various procurement trade shows and conferences.
    Social Security Administration Single Point of Contact: Elizabeth 
A. Davidson, SSA Reports Clearance Officer, 1338 Annex Building, 6401 
Security Boulevard, Woodlawn, MD 21235. Telephone: 410-965-0454. Fax: 
410-965-6400. E-Mail: [email protected].

Surface Transportation Board

    The Surface Transportation Board (STB) is an independent 
adjudicatory body administratively housed within the Department of 
Transportation. STB is responsible for the economic regulation of 
interstate surface transportation, primarily railroads, within the 
United States. STB's mission is to ensure that competitive, efficient 
and safe transportation services are provided to meet the needs of 
shippers, receivers and consumers. In furtherance of its mission, STB 
provides a number of services that small businesses might find useful:
     General Information: 202-565-1500
     Procurement: 202-565-1701
     Public Services: 202-565-1592 (how to participate in 
agency proceedings)
     Library/publications: 202-565-1668
     Rail Consumer Assistance (toll free): 866-254-1792
     Home page: www.stb.dot.gov
     Publications: Overview--Abandonments and Alternatives to 
Abandonments; So You Want to Start a Small Railroad
    Surface Transportation Board Single Point of Contact: Anne K. 
Quinlan, 1925 K Street, NW., Ste. 894, Washington, DC 20423-0001. 
Telephone: 202-565-1727. E-mail: [email protected].

Tennessee Valley Authority

Business Incubation Program
    Over the years, TVA has provided capital to help communities 
establish business incubators to support new and expanding enterprises. 
The TVA Business Incubation Network includes 24 operational sites 
across the Valley where tenants share services, equipment, and building 
space. TVA provides technical and financial assistance to members of 
the TVA-supported network and also maintains the Business Incubator 
Tenant Loan Fund, a revolving fund that helps tenants meet short-term 
needs for cash flow and operating capital.
Online Business Resource Center
    TVA's Web-based center serves as an information gateway to valuable 
public and private resources on entrepreneurship, financial and 
technical assistance, industrial organizations, and business services. 
Topics range from setting up a business plan to finding capital, paying 
taxes, and marketing. The site provides access to the programs and 
services offered by TVA, other Tennessee Valley organizations, and 
nationwide resources. Visit the Online Business Resource Center at 
www.tva.com/econdev/obr.
Minority Business Development Program
    TVA supports the growth and expansion of minority and socially and 
economically disadvantaged businesses with diverse packages of 
technical, capital, and managerial assistance. A key feature of the 
program is the Minority Business Development Loan Fund (MBDLF), a 
revolving fund that provides for loans ranging from $50,000 to 
$500,000. Through the MBDLF and the Valley Coalition, a partnership 
between TVA and regional banks, TVA promotes job creation and 
stimulates capital investment in the Valley.
Small and Minority Business Mentoring
    Small and minority businesses that provide services to TVA receive 
support through TVA's mentoring program, which helps these firms grow 
and enhance their business operations. Assistance includes matching 
suppliers with business opportunities, identifying key business 
contacts, encouraging joint ventures and alliances, and linking TVA 
procurement needs with manufacturers and businesses in the Tennessee 
Valley.

[[Page 36138]]

Partners
    TVA's economic development programs are delivered in partnership 
with public and private organizations. Some of our partners are:
     Distributors of TVA power
     Chambers of commerce and local economic development 
authorities
     TVA-supported business incubators
     State departments of economic and community development
     The U.S. Small Business Administration
     The U.S. Department of Commerce's Minority Business 
Development Agency
     Small business development centers
     U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development
     The Valley Coalition, a public/private lending and 
business assistance partnership between TVA and participating Valley 
financial institutions.
    Small Business Assistance Web site: http://www.tva.com/econdev/smallbiz.htm
    Tennessee Valley Authority Single Point of Contact: Philip S. 
McMullan, Project Manager, Business Growth and Innovation, TVA. 
Telephone: 615-232-6227. Fax: 615-232-6189. E-mail: [email protected] 
Web site: www.tva.com/econdev/obr

Morris K. Udall Foundation

    Morris K. Udall Foundation Single Point of Contact: Ellen Wheeler, 
Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel, Morris K. Udall 
Foundation, 130 S. Scott Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85701. Telephone: 520-670-
5529. Fax: 520-670-5530. E-mail: [email protected]

U.S. Access Board

    The U.S. Access Board (Board) develops and maintains accessibility 
guidelines and standards for the built environment, transportation 
vehicles, electronic and information technology and telecommunications. 
These design requirements are used to enforce several different laws, 
including the Americans with Disabilities Act. A key part of the 
Board's mission is providing technical assistance on the design 
requirements it develops and maintains. Information about any of the 
Board's guidelines or standards or accessible design can be obtained 
through the Board's toll free numbers at 800-872-2253 (v) and 800-993-
2822 (TTY); through fax at 202-272-0081; mail addressed to U.S. Access 
Board 1331 F St. NW., Ste. 1000, Washington, DC 20004; e-mail to 
board.gov">ta@access-board.gov or from the Board's Web site http://www.access-
board.gov.
    In addition, the Board participates in a wide range of training 
programs and conferences throughout the country every year. Information 
on upcoming events is available from the Board and is posted on its Web 
site at http://www.access-board.gov/research&training/Training.htm. The 
Board also publishes a host of guidance materials on its design 
requirements and other aspects of accessible design. Board publications 
are available in a variety of accessible formats. Copies of all Board 
publications are available free from the Board, including through its 
Web site at http://www.access-board.gov/indexes/pubsindex.htm.
    U.S. Access Board Single Point of Contact: Elizabeth Stewart, 
Deputy General Counsel, U.S. Access Board, 1331 F Street NW., Suite 
1000, Washington, DC 20004. Telephone: (202) 272-0042. TTY: (202) 272-
0082. Fax: (202) 272-0081. E-mail: board.gov">stewart@access-board.gov.

U.S. International Trade Commission

    U.S. International Trade Commission Single Point of Contact: John 
Greer, 500 E St. SW., Washington DC 20436. Telephone: 202-205-3141. 
Fax: 202-205-2139. E-mail: [email protected].

U.S. Trade Representative

    U.S. Trade Representative Single Point of Contact: Gregory M. 
Walters, Director of Small Business Affairs, Office of the U.S. Trade 
Representative, 600 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20508. Telephone: 
(202) 395-6120. Fax: (202) 395-3692. E-Mail: [email protected].

[FR Doc. 04-14659 Filed 6-25-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3110-01-P