NARA Bulletin 2003-02
ATTENTION! This page has been superseded. The information listed below is no longer accurate. For NARA's current guidance please visit http://www.archives.gov/records-mgmt/bulletins. Please note that this page is available only as a technical and historical reference.
November 14, 2002
TO: Heads of Federal agencies
SUBJECT: NARA GPEA Guidance; Continued Availability
EXPIRATION DATE: November 30, 2004
1. What is the purpose of this bulletin? This bulletin announces the continued availability of "Records Management Guidance for Agencies Implementing Electronic Signature Technologies," which was developed by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in response to the Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA), and issued with NARA Bulletin 2001-02. The guidance is available on the NARA web site at
http://www.archives.gov/records-mgmt/policy/electronic-signature-technology.html.
Paper copies will be provided upon request.
2. What is the background to this guidance? GPEA (Pub. L. 105-277) requires that by October 21, 2003, when practicable, Federal agencies use electronic forms, electronic filing, and electronic signature to conduct official business with the public. In doing this, agencies will create records with business, legal, and in some cases, historical value. This guidance focuses on records management issues involving records that have been created using electronic signature technology. It supplements the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance for agencies implementing GPEA, as well as other NARA guidance.
3. What corrections are made to this guidance?
a. Web site addresses. NARA has made changes to its web site, now located at www.archives.gov, resulting in new web site addresses. NARA has updated these URLs in the body of the guidance and in its Appendix B.
b. Telephone numbers. NARA installed a new telephone system resulting in a change to all telephone numbers at its College Park, Maryland, facility. Telephone numbers cited in Appendix B have been updated to reflect these changes.
4. How long is the GPEA guidance valid? This guidance is effective indefinitely. Any changes to the guidance will be issued in a future bulletin.
5. Is further information available? For further records management information and assistance, Federal agencies may contact the Office of Records Services-Washington, DC, Modern Records Programs at 301-837-1738, or the Office of Regional Records Services at 301-837-2950, as provided in Appendix B of the guidance.
JOHN W. CARLIN
Archivist of the United States