About the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU)

What We Do

OSDBU advocates and advances the business, regulatory, and environmental compliance concerns of small and socio-economically disadvantaged businesses. OSDBU is also responsible for the implementation of procedures and oversight of small business programs mandated and described under several statutory authorities and Executive Orders.

OSDBU: EPA's Champion for Small Business

Programs and Projects Managed by OSDBU

Procurement Opportunities Support for Small Businesses

OSDBU’s Small Business Solutions and Opportunities (SBSO) Team is responsible for the implementation of Section 15(k) of the Small Business Act, to ensure that small businesses are afforded the maximum practicable opportunity to participate in EPA’s acquisitions. The SBSO Team also monitors and evaluates Agency performance in achieving EPA’s small business goals.

In accordance with Section 15(k) of the Small Business Act, the SBSO Team provides small and socioeconomic businesses technical assistance and information on EPA acquisitions. This includes, among other things, providing technical assistance concerning;

Obtaining payments or late payment interest penalties (Section 15(k)(6));
EPA’s unsolicited proposal process (Section 15(k)(14));
Solicitation that may unduly restrict small business competition (Section 15(k)(17)); and
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs (Section 15(k)(21)).

For assistance with any of these areas, please contact the OSDBU staff at: OSDBU@epa.gov. You may also obtain additional information on the SBIR and STTR programs at: https://www.sbir.gov/about and https://www.epa.gov/sbir.

Consistent with Section 15(k)(19) of the Small Business Act, small business prime contract and subcontract awardees who seek assistance in identifying resources for education and training on compliance with post award contracting regulations, contact the OSDBU staff at OSDBU@epa.gov.

Learn more about EPA's advocacy for small businesses in EPA procurement.

Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman

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.

Learn more about the Small Business Ombudsman.

OSDBU Organization

Denise Sirmons, Director

Biography
Phone: 202-566-2075
Email: benjamin-sirmons.denise@epa.gov

OSDBU includes:

Small Business Solutions Team
Jerome Greene, Deputy Director
- Phone: 202-565-0037
- Email: greene.jerome@epa.gov

Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman
Paula Zampieri Hoag
- Phone: 202-566-2496
- Email: hoag.paula@epa.gov