What We Do

OSDBU advocates and advances the business, regulatory, and environmental compliance concerns of small and socio-economically disadvantaged businesses and minority academic institutions. The office:

• develops programs to stimulate and improve the involvement of small business, minority business, and women-owned business enterprises in the overall EPA procurement process,
• increases and encourages the utilization and participation of disadvantages business enterprises in procurements funded by EPA assistance agreements,

The Agency's Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman (ASBO), located in OSDBU, supports the environmental and compliance performance of small businesses while reducing the regulatory burden on small businesses, including the cost of compliance and the adverse impact on business operations. ASBO also:

• responds to citizens' complaints under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (PDF) (15pp, 195K, about PDF), commonly known as AHERA (Public Law 99-519),
• serves as a liaison between EPA and the small business community,
• advocates for small business during the EPA rulemaking process,
• provides technical assistance to small businesses, and
• supports the national network of Small Business Environmental Assistance Programs. Exit

Programs and projects managed by OSDBU

• Small Business Ombudsman
• Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program
• Advocacy for Small Businesses in EPA Procurement (Direct)

Mail code: 1230T | EPA mailing addresses
Location: EPA Headquarters at Washington, D.C. Federal Triangle campus

OSDBU Organization

• Phone: 202-564-6568
• Email: benjamin-sirmons.denise@epa.gov

OSDBU includes:

• Procurement Opportunities Support
  Lamont Norwood, Direct Procurement National Program Manager
  • Phone: 202-566-2933
  • Email: norwood.lamont@epa.gov
• Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program
  National Program Coordinator  
  Teree Henderson
  • Phone: 213-244-1818
  • Email: herderson.teree@epa.gov
• Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman
  Joan B. Rogers, Deputy Director
  • Phone:202-564-6568
  • Email: rogers.joanb@epa.gov