Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Ombudsman Guidance

From the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS)

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) is the Federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) ombudsman. In this role, we offer dispute resolution services to help resolve FOIA disputes; review agency FOIA policies, procedures, and compliance; and identify procedures and methods for improving FOIA compliance. Our guidance includes recommendations for improving the FOIA process and compliance with the statute and is non-binding on agencies and the public. Our guidance also provides information to help FOIA requesters make use of our dispute resolution services and better navigate the FOIA request process. In the list below, you can search, access, and read current FOIA ombudsman guidance. You can find additional resources, links to governing regulations, and more at the OGIS website.

Show entries

Number	Date issued	Title	General topic	Summary	Date posted to portal
OGIS Advis Op 2018-01	07/18/2018	Agency Communication with Requesters	Communication issues	Advisory opinion directed towards agencies regarding communications with FOIA requesters.	02/19/2020
OGIS Handbook 2017-01	07/09/1905	Request OGIS assistance	Dispute resolution services	Defines OGIS' mediation role and processes, outlines actions requesters must take before submitting a mediation request, what to submit, and what the dispute resolution process will entail.	02/19/2020
OGIS Guidance 2017-01	08/18/2017	Flyer on how to request OGIS assistance with a FOIA issue or dispute	Dispute resolution services	Defines OGIS' mediation role and processes in a simple flyer format, outlines actions requesters must take before submitting a mediation request and what to submit.	02/19/2020
OGIS Guidance 2011-02	02/25/2011	Agency Best Practices: Chart for Agencies (02/25/11)	Improving FOIA compliance	Identifies procedures and methods for improving agency FOIA compliance -- recommendations for agencies to better meet requirements contained in FOIA memoranda issued by the President and attorney general and the FOIA itself. Includes best practices for response time, tolling, fees, tracking, liaisons, OGIS interaction, website information, responding to requests, and more.	02/19/2020
OGIS Guidance 2011-01	date unknown	Agency Best Practices: FOIA and Database Requests	Improving FOIA compliance	Identifies procedures and methods for improving agency FOIA compliance -- recommends actions for agencies so they can better respond to FOIA requests that involve databases.	02/19/2020
OGIS Guidance 02	date unknown	Requester Best Practices: Filing a FOIA Request	Improving FOIA compliance	Identifies procedures and methods for improving FOIA compliance -- recommends considerations and steps for submitting FOIA requests that will better enable agencies to provide the requested records.	02/19/2020
OGIS FAQs 01	date unknown	FOIA Frequently Asked Questions	Improving FOIA compliance	Identifies procedures and methods for improving FOIA compliance -- provides tips on filing FOIA appeals, what records the FOIA covers, intersection with the Privacy Act, Vaughn index requirements, and agency destruction of records responses.	02/19/2020
OGIS Handbook 02	date unknown	Mediation Program	Dispute resolution services	Describes, for agencies and FOIA requesters, OGIS' dispute resolution program, the mediation process, requesting dispute resolution services, sample response letter language for agencies, OGIS performance metrics, and OGIS mediation program response letters to mediation parties.	02/19/2020
OGIS Handbook 01	date unknown	FOIA Compliance Program	Improving FOIA compliance	Describes how OGIS reviews agency policies, procedures, and compliance. Describes the program and requirements for agencies, outlines OGIS' review methodology, and contains published agency compliance, targeted assessment, and self-assessment reports (which are regularly updated).	02/19/2020
OGIS Guidance 01	date unknown	Routine Uses	Dispute resolution services	Provides guidance on which agencies have routine uses that allow them to release FOIA request information to OGIS as part of OGIS' dispute resolution services. Explains to requesters that they do not need to submit a consent form to OGIS if their case is with one of these agencies.	02/19/2020

Showing 1 to 10 of 10 entries

Superseded / Cancelled FOIA Guidance

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