[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 19 (Wednesday, January 29, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 5137-5147]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-00057]



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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

41 CFR Part 105-60

[GSPMR Case 2016-105-1; Docket No. 2016-0004, Sequence No. 1]
RIN 3090-AJ74


Public Availability of Agency Records and Informational Materials

AGENCY: Office of Administrative Services (OAS), General Services 
Administration (GSA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: GSA is amending the General Services Administration's 
regulations implementing the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The 
regulations are being updated to incorporate changes brought about by 
the amendments to FOIA under both statutory and nonstatutory 
authorities. Specifically, this rule amends GSA's regulations under 
FOIA to incorporate certain changes made to FOIA by the FOIA 
Improvement Act of 2016. Additionally, the regulations are being 
updated to reflect developments in case law, recent guidance from the 
Department of Justice--Office of Information Policy for processing FOIA 
requests, technological advancements in how the FOIA is administered, 
and to update the cost figures used in calculating and charging search/
or review fees. Finally, the revisions to the rule increase the amount 
of information that members of the public may receive from the agency 
without being charged processing fees through proactive agency 
disclosures.

DATES: Effective: February 28, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Travis S. Lewis, Director of GSA, 
OAS, Freedom of Information Act Requester Service Center, at 202-219-
3078 or via email at [email protected] for clarification of content. 
For information pertaining to status or publication schedules, contact 
the Regulatory Secretariat Division at 202-501-4755. Please cite GSPMR 
Case 2016-105-1.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    GSA published a proposed rule in the Federal Register at 83 FR 
28592 on June 20, 2018, to amend the General Services Administration 
rule to regulations implementing the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
    The FOIA provides that any person has a right, enforceable in 
Federal court, to obtain access to Federal agency records, except to 
the extent that such records (or portions of them) are protected from 
public disclosure by one of nine exemptions or by one of three special 
law enforcement record exclusions. FOIA thus established a statutory 
right of public access to Executive Branch information in the Federal 
Government. Part 105-60 of 41 CFR establishes the policies, 
responsibilities, and procedures for the release of GSA records that 
are under the jurisdiction of GSA to members of the public. These 
regulations apply to information found in all GSA agency organizations 
and components.
    This final rule revises GSA's regulations under the FOIA to address 
changes to the language of several procedural provisions and to 
incorporate certain changes brought about by the amendments to FOIA 
under the FOIA Improvement Act of 2016 Public Law 114-185, 130 Stat. 
538 (June 30, 2016).
    The final rule also incorporates changes to the language and 
structure of the current GSA regulations enumerated in 41 CFR part 105-
60 to achieve the aforementioned updates. Please note that the final 
rule that applies to GSA's FOIA Fee Schedule can be found in Subpart 
J--Fees. The revisions also increase the amount of information that 
members of the public may receive from the agency without being charged 
processing fees through proactive disclosures of agency records online 
in the GSA FOIA Reading Room.
    The FOIA Improvement Act of 2016 provides that agencies shall allow 
a minimum of 90 days for requesters to file an administrative appeal. 
The Act also requires that agencies notify requesters of the 
availability of dispute resolution services at various times throughout 
the FOIA process. Finally, the Act codifies the ``foreseeable harm'' 
standard. Additionally, GSA's FOIA regulations are being updated to 
reflect developments in case law, technological changes in the 
administration of FOIA, executive guidance from the Department of 
Justice, other non-statutory authorities such as Presidential Executive 
Orders, including current cost figures to be used in calculating and 
charging fees.

II. Discussion and Analysis

    GSA has reviewed the public comments in the development of the 
final rule. A discussion of the comments is provided as follows:

A. Summary of Significant Changes

    There were no significant changes as a result of the comments 
received.

B. Analysis of Public Comments

    Comment: The first respondent expressed that GSA should remove its 
references to the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Uniform 
Freedom of Information Act Fee Schedule and Guidelines (``OMB 
Guidelines'') as both an authority for interpreting the FOIA and GSA's 
implementing regulations, because the OMB Guidelines are now outdated.
    Response: Per the Freedom of Information Reform Act of 1986 (Pub. 
L. 99-570), all federal agencies subject to the FOIA are required to 
promulgate regulations implementing the FOIA's amended fee and fee 
waiver provisions reflecting the OMB Guidelines. To date, there has not 
been a statutory amendment to the Freedom of Information Reform Act of 
1986 (Pub. L. 99-570) nor any case precedent which has eliminated GSA's 
requirement to promulgate regulations implementing the FOIA's amended 
fee and fee waiver provisions reflecting the OMB Guidelines. GSA will 
continue to implement the OMB Guidelines accordingly.
    Comment: The second respondent expressed that streamlining the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) via a time/or page limit on 
NEPA documents will just create the need for more administrative 
paperwork and project management costs as government decision-makers 
struggle to meet these new requirements. This will thus divert time 
from the more important work of thinking about and discussing proposed 
NEPA related projects.
    Response: Responder's comment does not make mention of nor concerns 
GSA's FOIA regulations. This comment is not germane to GSA.

III. Executive Orders 12866 and 13563--Regulatory Review

    Executive Orders (E.O.) 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess 
all costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if 
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize 
net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public 
health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). E.O. 
13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and benefits, 
of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting flexibility. 
This is not a significant regulatory action and, therefore, was not 
subject to review under Section 6(b) of E.O. 12866, Regulatory Planning 
and Review, dated September 30, 1993. This rule is not a major rule 
under 5 U.S.C. 804.

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IV. Executive Order 13771

    This rule is not subject to E.O. 13771, because this rule is not a 
significant regulatory action under E.O. 12866.

V. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities within the meaning of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq. This final rule is 
also exempt from the Administrative Procedure Act per 5 U.S.C. 
553(a)(2), because it applies to agency management or personnel.

VI. Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

    This final rule is also exempt from Congressional review prescribed 
under 5 U.S.C. 801 since it relates solely to agency management and 
personnel.

VII. Paperwork Reduction Act

    This final rule does not contain any information collection 
requirements that require approval of the Office of Management and 
Budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).

VIII. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    This rule will not result in the expenditure by State, local, and 
tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100 
million or more in any one year, and it will not significantly or 
uniquely affect small governments. Therefore, no actions were deemed 
necessary under the provisions of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 
1995.

List of Subjects in 41 CFR Part 105-60

    Administrative practice and procedure, Records, Information, 
Confidential business information, Freedom of Information Act, Privacy 
Act.

    Dated: December 23, 2019.
Emily W. Murphy,
Administrator.

0
For the reasons stated in the preamble, GSA revises 41 CFR part 105-60 
to read as follows:

PART 105-60--PUBLIC AVAILABILITY OF AGENCY RECORDS AND 
INFORMATIONAL MATERALS

Sec.
Subpart A--General Policy
105-60.000 Scope of part.
105-60.001 General policy.
Subpart B--Proactive Disclosures
105-60.100 Public availability of information.
Subpart C--Requirements for Making Requests
105-60.200 Making a request.
105-60.201 Description of records sought.
Subpart D--Responding to Requests
105-60.300 Responsibility for responding to requests.
105-60.301 Acknowledging FOIA request
105-60.302 Responding to FOIA requests.
105-60.303 Consolation, referral, and coordination
105-60.304 Time requirements to respond to FOIA requests.
105.60.305 Unusual circumstances.
105.60.306 Expedited processing.
Subpart E--Acknowledging the FOIA Request
105-60.400 Applying FOIA exemptions.
Subpart F--Final Responses to the FOIA Request
105-60.500 Final response procedures and rules.
Subpart G--Handling Confidential Commercial Information
105-60.600 Procedural and lawful considerations.
105-60.601 Submitter's opportunity to object to disclosure.
Subpart I--Appeals
105-60.700 Submitting an appeal.
105-60.701 Adjudication of appeals.
105-60.702 Requirements to preserve FOIA records.
Subpart J--Fees
105-60.800 General provisions.
105-60.801 Definitions pertaining to fee assessments.
105-60.802 Fees to be charged.
105-60.803 Restrictions on charging fees.
105-60.804 Fee Schedule.
105-60.805 Anticipated fees.
105-60.806 Advanced payments.
105-60.807 Fee waivers and fee reductions.
Subpart K--Other Rights and Services
105-60.900 Coda.

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301 and 552; 40 U.S.C. 486(c).

Subpart A--General Policy


Sec.  105-60.000  Scope of part.

    This part contains the rules that the U.S. General Services 
Administration, hereinafter GSA, follows in processing requests for 
records under the Freedom of Information Act (``FOIA''), 5 U.S.C. 552. 
The rules in this part should be read in conjunction with the text of 
the FOIA and the Uniform Freedom of Information Fee Schedule and 
Guidelines published by the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB 
Guidelines''). Requests made by individuals for records about 
themselves under the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a, are processed 
in accordance with Privacy Act regulations as well as under this part.


Sec.  105.60.001  General policy.

    (a) In compliance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), as 
amended 5 U.S.C. 552, a positive and continuing obligation exists for 
GSA to make available to the fullest extent practicable upon request by 
members of the public, all records and informational materials that are 
generated, maintained, and controlled by GSA.
    (b) This subpart also covers exemptions from disclosure of these 
records; procedures for the public to inspect or obtain copies of GSA 
records.
    (c) The regulations promulgated in this subpart are consistent with 
amendments to 5 U.S.C. 552a as well as other applicable Federal laws 
germane to disclosure of information to the public.
    (d) This subpart applies to all GSA organizations, portfolios, 
business lines, regional offices and components. The aforementioned 
units may establish additional rules for processing FOIA requests due 
to unique program requirements; however, such rules shall be consistent 
with these rules and have the concurrence of the GSA Administrator and 
GSA Chief FOIA Officer.
    (e) Any internal GSA policies or procedures inconsistent with the 
policies and procedures promulgated in this subpart are superseded by 
this subpart to the extent of that inconsistency.
    (f) This subpart does not entitle any person to any service or to 
the disclosure of any GSA records that are not required to be disclosed 
under the FOIA.

Subpart B--Proactive Disclosures


Sec.  105-60.100  Public availability of information.

    Records that FOIA in 5 U.S. Code section 552(a)(2) requires GSA to 
make available for public inspection in an electronic format can be 
accessed via GSA's website at www.gsa.gov. Additionally, the GSA FOIA 
Reading Room, and the FOIA Online System. GSA is responsible for 
determining which of its records shall be made publicly available, for 
identifying additional records of interest to the public that are 
appropriate for public disclosure, and for posting and indexing such 
records. These records shall be made available electronically via the 
GSA FOIA Reading Room. GSA shall ensure that its online FOIA Library of 
posted records and indices is reviewed and updated on an ongoing basis. 
GSA maintains a FOIA Requester Service Center, the office that oversees 
FOIA requests for all of GSA, and a FOIA

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Public Liaison to assist individuals in locating records particular to 
an agency. A list of agency FOIA Public Liaisons is available at: 
http://www.foia.gov/.

Subpart C--Requirements for Making Requests


Sec.  105-60.200  Making a request.

    (a) To make a request for GSA records, a requester shall file their 
request to the GSA FOIA Requester Service Center via one of the 
following, via the FOIAonline website: (https://foiaonline.gov/foiaonline/action/public/home). From FOIAonline you can submit FOIA 
requests to GSA and other participating FOIAonline agencies, track the 
status of requests, search for requests submitted by others, access 
previously released records, and generate agency-specific FOIA 
processing reports.
    (b) If it is not reasonably possible for a requester to submit an 
electronic request via FOIAonline, the requester shall submit their 
request via U.S. Mail to the following address: GSA FOIA Requester 
Service Center (H3), Room 7308, 1800 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20405. 
Fax: 202-501-2727. Alternatively, a FOIA requester may email its FOIA 
request to [email protected] (Subject: FOIA Request via Email).
    (c) FOIA request description requirements:
    (1) The requester shall provide the following items of contact 
information when submitting a request to GSA:
    (i) Full name with honorific (Mr., Ms., Mrs., Dr., etc.);
    (ii) Complete mailing address; and
    (iii) Telephone number.
    (2) This requirement is applicable to both FOIA requests submitted 
electronically and via U.S. mail, respectively.
    (3) Although it is not a mandatory requirement, GSA also recommends 
the requester provide a personal/business email address for remittance 
as well.
    (d) A requester who is making a request for records about himself 
or herself shall comply with the verification of identity requirements 
as specified in paragraph (e) of this section.
    (e) Where a request for records pertains to another individual, a 
requester may receive access to the requested records by submitting: 
Either a notarized authorization signed by the individual permitting 
that he or she explicitly grants access to the requested records 
pursuant to the requirements set forth in 28 U.S.C. 1746 or by 
submitting proof that the individual is deceased (e.g., a copy of a 
death certificate or an obituary). As an exercise of administrative 
discretion, GSA can require a requester to supply additional 
information such as a Certification of Identity Form in order to 
sufficiently verify the individual submitting the request and/or also 
verify that a particular individual has consented to disclosure.


Sec.  105-60.201  Description of records sought.

    (a) Requesters shall describe the records sought in sufficient 
detail to enable GSA personnel to locate them with a reasonable amount 
of effort. To the extent possible, requesters should include the 
following information in their FOIA request, which may help GSA 
identify the requested records the date/timeframe the requested 
information was created or occurred, title or name, author, recipient, 
subject matter of the record, case number, file designation, contract 
number, leasing identification number, or reference number and if 
known, the component of GSA housing the records.
    (b) Before submitting a FOIA request, requesters may contact the 
GSA FOIA Requester Service Center or GSA FOIA Public Liaison to discuss 
the records they seek and to receive assistance in describing the 
records. If after receiving a request, GSA determines that it does not 
reasonably describe the records sought, GSA shall inform the requester 
what additional information is needed or why the request is otherwise 
insufficient. Requesters who are attempting to reformulate or modify 
such a request may discuss their request with their assigned Government 
Information Specialist or FOIA Public Liaison. If a request does not 
reasonably describe the records sought, GSA's response to the request 
may be delayed.
    (c) In order to efficiently respond to FOIA requests within the 
required 20-business-day timeframe per 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(6)(A), GSA may 
close an unperfected request 10 business days after GSA notifies the 
requester of the information needed to perfect the request. If the 
request does not reasonably describe the records sought, it is 
unperfected. A perfected FOIA request is a FOIA request for records 
that adequately describes the records sought, is made in accordance 
with GSA's regulations, has been received by the GSA FOIA Requester 
Service center, and for which there is no remaining question about the 
payment or amount of applicable fees.
    (d) Requesters may specify whether they prefer to receive paper 
copies of the records or receive the records electronically. GSA shall 
accommodate the request if the record is readily reproducible in the 
requested form.

Subpart D--Responding to Requests


Sec.  105-60.300  Responsibility for responding to FOIA requests.

    (a) The GSA FOIA Requester Service Center is responsible for 
managing all requests for records submitted to GSA from initial receipt 
of the FOIA request through the agency's final decision to release in 
whole or in part, or withhold the requested records.
    (b) Upon receiving a request for records, the GSA FOIA Requester 
Service Center shall determine whether the requested records reside 
within GSA. If GSA does not have ownership of the requested records, 
the GSA FOIA Requester Service Center shall make a good faith effort to 
redirect the requester to the appropriate record location or/entity 
that has control and ownership of the requested record, if known.
    (c) If GSA has possession of the requested records, the FOIA 
Requester Service Center shall work in coordination with the 
appropriate GSA component/or program office to fulfill the FOIA request 
in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552.


Sec.  105-60.301  Acknowledging FOIA requests.

    (a) To the extent practicable, GSA shall communicate with 
requesters electronically via the FOIAonline web portal and/or email.
    (b) Upon receipt of a request, GSA shall send requesters an 
acknowledgement letter within 2 business days containing a brief 
description of the records sought so requesters may more easily keep 
track of their requests.
    (c) When a request is submitted via FOIAonline, the system 
automatically generates a tracking number, which allows for easy 
identification of each request. This tracking number shall be included 
in the acknowledgement letter.
    (d) When GSA receives a request not directly entered by the 
requester into FOIAonline (i.e., email, fax, standard mail, etc.) the 
FOIA Requester Service Center shall immediately upload the request into 
the FOIAonline system and it shall be assigned a tracking number that 
shall be communicated to the requester.


Sec.  105-60.302  Responding to FOIA requests.

    (a) GSA shall provide an estimated date by which the agency expects 
to provide a response to the requester. If a request involves a 
voluminous amount of material or searches in multiple locations, GSA 
may provide an interim

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response, meaning the agency releases the records on a rolling basis as 
the records are located and verified.
    (b) In determining which records are responsive to a request, the 
agency shall include only the records in its possession as of the date 
the agency receives the perfected FOIA request. If any other date is 
used, GSA shall inform the requester accordingly. A record that is 
excluded from the requirements of the FOIA pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552(c) 
is not considered responsive to a request.
    (c) Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552, GSA is not required to perform the 
following in response to a FOIA request:
    (1) Answer questions or interrogatories posed as FOIA requests;
    (2) Issue guidance/or opinions;
    (3) Analyze and/or interpret documents for a requester;
    (4) Create records;
    (5) Conduct research; or
    (6) Initiate investigations.
    (d) The GSA Administrator and GSA Chief FOIA Officer and/or their 
assigned delegates are authorized to grant or deny any requests for 
records or portions thereof that are generated, maintained, or 
controlled by GSA.


Sec.  105-60.303  Consultation, referral, and coordination.

    (a) All consultations and referrals received by GSA shall be 
handled according to the date the other agency received the perfected 
FOIA request.
    (b) GSA may establish agreements with other agencies to eliminate 
the need for consultations or referrals with respect to particular 
types of records.
    (c) When GSA is reviewing records located in response to a FOIA 
request, GSA shall determine whether another agency of the Federal 
Government is better able to determine if the records are releasable 
under the FOIA. As to any such record, GSA shall proceed in one of the 
following ways:
    (1) Consultation. When GSA receives a request for records that 
either originated with another agency or is a GSA record that includes 
information that originated with another agency, GSA should typically 
consult with that other agency prior to making a release determination.
    (2) Referral. (i) Whenever GSA receives a request for records that 
are known to be the primary responsibility of another agency, GSA shall 
refer the responsibility for responding to the request regarding 
records to that agency. Ordinarily, the agency that created the records 
is presumed to be the best agency to make the disclosure determination. 
However, if GSA and the originating agency jointly agree that GSA is in 
the best position to respond regarding the record, then the responsive 
record(s) may be handled as a consultation.
    (ii) Whenever GSA refers any part of the responsibility for 
responding to a record request to another agency, GSA shall maintain 
documentation that the referral to the other agency has occurred, and 
shall notify the requester of the referral. The notification to the 
requester shall include both the name of the agency to which the record 
request was referred and the contact information for the agency's FOIA 
office/or personnel.
    (iii) This referral procedure is not appropriate where disclosure 
of the identity of the agency to which the referral would be made could 
reasonably harm an interest protected by an applicable exemption, such 
as the exemptions that protect personal privacy or national security 
interests. If a non-law enforcement agency responding to a request for 
records on a living third party locates within its files records 
originating with a law enforcement agency, and if the existence of that 
law enforcement interest in the third party was not publicly known, 
then to disclose that law enforcement interest could cause an 
unwarranted invasion of the personal privacy of the third party. 
Similarly, if GSA locates a record that originates with an intelligence 
community agency, and the involvement of that agency in the matter is 
classified and not publicly acknowledged, then to disclose or give 
attribution to the involvement of that Intelligence Community agency 
could cause national security harms. Records meeting these criteria 
shall be treated as a consultation.
    (iv) In such instances, in order to avoid a harm to an interest 
protected by an FOIA applicable exemption, GSA should coordinate with 
the originating agency to seek its views on the disclosability of the 
record. The release determination for the record that is the subject of 
the coordination should then be conveyed to the requester by GSA.
    (4) Classified information. (i) On receipt of any request involving 
classified information, GSA shall determine whether the information is 
currently and properly classified in accordance with applicable 
classification rules. Whenever a request involves a record containing 
information that has been classified or may be appropriate for 
classification by another agency under any applicable executive order 
concerning the classification of records, GSA shall refer request for 
records to the agency that classified the information or that should 
consider the information for classification.
    (ii) Whenever GSA's records contain information that has been 
derivatively classified (i.e., it contains information classified by 
another agency), GSA shall refer the responsibility for responding to 
that portion of the request to the agency that classified the 
information.


Sec.  105-60.304  Time requirements to respond to FOIA requests.

    (a) Upon receipt of perfected request via U.S. mail, email, or 
facsimile, the GSA FOIA Requester Service Center shall begin processing 
the request for records. Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(6)(A)(i), GSA has 
20 business days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays) 
to inform the requester of the agency's determination with respect to 
the request for records, unless in the alternative, the agency has 
negotiated a different timeframe based on scope and level of effort to 
prepare the FOIA request response. If a requester does not receive a 
response to their perfected FOIA request within the statutory timeframe 
requester may seek judicial review in the U.S. District Court in the 
district in which the requester resides or has a principal place of 
business, or where the records are situated, or in the U.S. District 
Court for the District of Columbia.
    (b) GSA shall to the greatest extent practicable respond to FOIA 
requests by order of receipt of the requests.
    (c) GSA shall designate a specific track for requests that are 
granted expedited processing, in accordance with the standards set 
forth in this subpart. GSA may also designate additional processing 
tracks that distinguish between simple and more complex requests based 
on the estimated amount of work or time needed to process the request. 
Among the factors GSA may consider are the number of records requested, 
the number of pages involved in processing the request, and the need 
for consultations or referrals. GSA shall advise requesters of the 
track into which their request falls upon request, and when 
appropriate, offer the requester an opportunity to narrow the scope 
and/or modify their requests.
    (d) GSA may aggregate requests in cases where it reasonably appears 
that multiple requests for records were submitted either by a requester 
or by a group of requesters acting in concert for the same, or similar 
information to ensure it is fulfilled in a timely manner. GSA cannot 
aggregate multiple requests for unrelated subject matters.

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Sec.  105-60.305  Unusual circumstances.

    Whenever GSA cannot meet the statutory time limit for processing a 
request because of ``unusual circumstances,'' as defined at 5 U.S.C. 
552(a)(6)(A)(iii), GSA shall, before expiration of the 20-day statutory 
time period to respond to a request for records, notify the requester 
in writing of the unusual circumstances involved and of the date by 
which GSA estimates the processing of the request shall be completed. 
Where the extension of time is anticipated to exceed 10 business days, 
GSA shall provide the requester with an opportunity to modify the 
request or arrange an alternative time period for processing the 
original or modified request. GSA shall make available its FOIA Public 
Liaison for this purpose. GSA shall also alert requesters to the 
availability of the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) to 
provide dispute resolution services.


Sec.  105-60.306  Expedited processing.

    (a) A request for expedited processing may be made at any time. In 
order to qualify for consideration for expedited processing, the 
request shall reasonably describe the records sought. Expedited 
requests should be described in sufficient detail to facilitate 
expedited processing.
    (b) A requester who seeks expedited processing shall submit a 
statement with their FOIA request, certified to be true and correct, 
explaining in detail the basis for making the request for expedited 
processing as described in paragraphs (c)(1) through (4) of this 
section. As a matter of administrative discretion, GSA may waive the 
formal certification requirement.
    (c) GSA may process requests and appeals on an expedited basis 
whenever it is determined that they involve:
    (1) Circumstances in which the lack of expedited processing could 
reasonably be expected to pose an imminent threat to the life or 
physical safety of an individual;
    (2) An urgency to inform the public about an actual or alleged 
Federal Government activity, if made by a person who is primarily 
engaged in disseminating information; or
    (3) The loss of substantial due process rights; or
    (4) A matter of widespread and exceptional media interest in which 
there exist possible questions about the Government's integrity that 
affect public confidence.
    (d) GSA shall notify the requester within 10 calendar days of its 
receipt of a request for expedited processing and of its decision 
whether to grant or deny expedited processing. If expedited processing 
is granted, the request shall be given priority, placed in the 
processing track for expedited requests, and processed as soon as 
practicable. If a request for expedited processing is denied, GSA shall 
act on any appeal of that decision within 3 business days.

Subpart E--Acknowledging the FOIA Request


Sec.  105-60.400  Applying FOIA exemptions.

    (a) 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(1)-(9) of the Freedom of Information Act 
provides that the disclosure requirements of FOIA do not apply to 
matters that are:
    (1) Specifically authorized under the criteria established by an 
executive order to be kept secret in the interest of national defense 
or foreign policy and are in fact properly classified pursuant to such 
executive order (see Executive Order No. 13,526);
    (2) Related solely to the internal personnel rules and practices of 
an agency;
    (3) Specifically exempted from disclosure by statute other than 5 
U.S.C. 552(b)(1)-(9), provided that such statute:
    (i) Requires that the matters be withheld from the public in such a 
manner as to leave no discretion on the issue;
    (ii) Establishes particular criteria for withholding or refers to 
particular types of matters to be withheld;
    (4) Trade secrets and commercial or financial information that 
could harm the competitive posture or business interests of a company;
    (5) Interagency or intra-agency memorandums or letters that would 
not be available by law to a party other than an agency in litigation 
with the agency, provided that the deliberative process privilege shall 
not apply to records created 25 years or more before the date on which 
the records were requested;
    (6) Personnel and medical files and similar files the disclosure of 
which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal 
privacy;
    (7) Records or information compiled for law enforcement purposes, 
but only to the extent that the production of such law enforcement 
records or information:
    (i) Could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement 
proceedings;
    (ii) Would deprive a person of a right to a fair trial or an 
impartial adjudication;
    (iii) Could reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted 
invasion of personal privacy;
    (iv) Reasonably be expected to disclose the identity of a 
confidential source, including a State, local, or foreign agency or 
authority or any private institution that furnished information on a 
confidential basis, and, in the case of a record or information 
compiled by a criminal law enforcement authority in the course of a 
criminal investigation or by an agency conducting a lawful national 
security intelligence investigation, information furnished by a 
confidential source;
    (v) Would disclose techniques and procedures for law enforcement 
investigations or prosecutions, or would disclose guidelines for law 
enforcement investigations or prosecutions if such disclosure could 
reasonably be expected to risk circumvention of the law; or
    (vi) Could reasonably be expected to endanger the life or physical 
safety of any individual;
    (8) Contained in or related to examination, operating, or condition 
reports prepared by, on behalf of, or for the use of an agency 
responsible for the regulation or supervision of financial 
institutions; or
    (9) Geological and geophysical information and data, including 
maps, concerning wells.
    (b) GSA will provide any reasonably segregable portion of a record 
to a requester after redacting the portions of the requested records 
that are exempt under this section.

Subpart F--Final Responses to the FOIA Request


Sec.  105-60.500  Final response procedures and rules.

    (a) Once GSA determines that it shall grant a request in full or in 
part, the requester shall be notified of the decision in writing as 
well. GSA shall also inform the requester of any fees charged under 
Sec.  105-60.804 of this part and shall disclose the requested records 
to the requester promptly upon payment of any applicable fees. The 
agency shall inform the requester of the availability of its FOIA 
Public Liaison to offer assistance.
    (b) If GSA makes an adverse determination on any part of the FOIA 
request, it shall notify the requester of that determination in 
writing. Adverse determinations, or denials of requests, include 
determinations that:
    (1) The requested record is exempt from disclosure, in whole or in 
part;
    (2) The FOIA request does not reasonably describe the records 
sought;
    (3) The information requested is not subject to FOIA;
    (4) The requested record does not exist, cannot be located, or has 
been destroyed; or
    (5) The requested record is not readily reproducible in the form or 
format sought by the requester.

[[Page 5142]]

    (c) Records disclosed in part in response to a FOIA request shall 
be marked clearly to show the exemption under which the applicable 
portions of the responsive records were redacted unless doing so would 
harm an interest protected by an applicable exemption.
    (d) Adverse determinations also include denials involving fee 
waiver requests, denials for expedited processing, and the 
administrative closure of FOIA requests due to nonpayment of search and 
review fees for processing the FOIA request.
    (e) Any adverse determination of a FOIA request, in full or in 
part, shall be signed by the Chief FOIA Officer or his or her designee 
and shall include:
    (1) The name and title or position of the person responsible for 
the adverse determination;
    (2) A brief statement of the reasons for the adverse determination, 
including any FOIA exemption that is the basis for GSA's decision;
    (3) An estimate of the volume of any records or information 
withheld, such as the number of pages or some other reasonable form of 
estimation, although such an estimate is not required if the volume is 
otherwise indicated by deletions marked on records that are disclosed 
in part or if providing an estimate would harm an interest protected by 
an applicable exemption; and
    (4) A statement that the denial may be appealed under subpart I of 
this part, and a description of the appeal requirements.
    (5) A statement notifying the requester of the assistance available 
from the agency's FOIA Public Liaison and the dispute resolution 
services offered by OGIS.
    (f) Use of record exclusions pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552(c):
    (1) In the event that GSA identifies records that may be subject to 
exclusion from the requirements of the FOIA pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
552(c), GSA shall confer with Department of Justice, Office of 
Information Policy (OIP), to obtain approval to apply the exclusion.
    (2) If GSA invokes an exclusion, it shall maintain an 
administrative record of the process of invocation and approval of the 
exclusion by OIP.

Subpart G--Handling Confidential Commercial Information


Sec.  105-60.600  Procedural and lawful considerations.

    (a) Confidential commercial information means commercial or 
financial information obtained by GSA from a submitter that may be 
protected from disclosure under Exemption 4 of the FOIA, 5 U.S.C. 
552(b)(4).
    (b) Submitter means any person or entity, including a corporation, 
State, or foreign government, but not including another Federal 
Government entity, that provides confidential commercial information, 
either directly or indirectly to the Federal Government.
    (c) A submitter of confidential commercial information shall use 
good faith efforts to designate by appropriate markings/or redact any 
portion of its submission that it considers to be protected from 
disclosure under Exemption 4. These designations expire 10 years after 
the date of the submission unless the submitter requests and provides 
justification for a longer designation period.
    (d) When notice to submitters is required:
    (1) GSA shall promptly provide written notice to the submitter of 
confidential commercial information whenever records containing such 
information are requested under the FOIA if GSA determines that it may 
be required to disclose the records, provided:
    (i) The requested information has been designated in good faith by 
the submitter as information considered protected from disclosure under 
Exemption 4; or
    (ii) GSA has a reason to believe that the requested information may 
be protected from disclosure under Exemption 4, but has not yet 
determined whether the information is protected from disclosure.
    (2) The notice shall either describe the commercial information 
requested or include a copy of the requested records or portions of 
records containing the information. In cases involving a voluminous 
number of submitters, GSA may post or publish a notice in a place or 
manner reasonably likely to inform the submitters of the proposed 
disclosure, instead of sending individual notifications.
    (e) The notice requirements of this section do not apply if:
    (1) GSA determines that the information is exempt under the FOIA, 
and therefore shall not be disclosed;
    (2) The information has been lawfully published or has been 
officially made available to the public;
    (3) Disclosure of the information is required by a statute other 
than FOIA or by a regulation issued in accordance with the requirements 
of Executive Order 12,600 of June 23, 1987; or
    (4) The designation made by the submitter under paragraph (c) of 
this section appears obviously frivolous. In such a case, GSA shall 
give the submitter written notice of any final decision to disclose the 
information within reasonable time prior to a specified disclosure 
date.


Sec.  105-60.601  Submitters opportunity to object to disclosure.

    (a) GSA shall provide a submitter with 10 business days, within 
which the submitter shall respond to the notice referenced in Sec.  
105-60.600.
    (b) If a submitter has any objections to disclosure, it should 
provide GSA a detailed written statement that specifies all grounds for 
withholding the particular information under any exemption of the FOIA. 
In order to rely on Exemption 4 as the basis for nondisclosure, the 
submitter shall explain why the information constitutes a trade secret 
or commercial or financial information that is privileged or 
confidential and the harm of the release of the information to the 
submitter.
    (c) A submitter who fails to respond within the time period 
specified in the notice shall be considered to have no objection to 
disclosure of the information.
    (d) GSA is not required to consider any information received after 
the date of any disclosure decision. Any information provided by a 
submitter under this subpart may itself be subject to disclosure under 
the FOIA.
    (e) GSA shall consider a submitter's objections and specific 
grounds for nondisclosure in deciding whether to disclose the requested 
information.
    (f) Whenever GSA decides to disclose information over the objection 
of a submitter, the agency shall provide the submitter written notice, 
which shall include:
    (1) A statement of the reasons why each of the submitter's 
disclosure objections was not sustained;
    (2) A description of the information to be disclosed or copies of 
the records as the agency intends to release them; and
    (3) The specified disclosure date.
    (g) Whenever a requester files a lawsuit seeking to compel the 
disclosure of confidential commercial information, GSA shall promptly 
notify the submitter.
    (h) GSA shall notify the requester whenever it provides the 
submitter with notice and an opportunity to object to disclosure; 
whenever it notifies the submitter of its intent to disclose the 
requested information; and whenever a submitter files a lawsuit to 
prevent the disclosure of the information.

Subpart I--Appeals


Sec.  105-60.700  Submitting an appeal.

    (a) A requester may appeal any adverse determination (denial of 
access to records, denial of fee waiver, or

[[Page 5143]]

denial of expedited processing, etc.) to the GSA FOIA Requester Service 
Center which is designated as the agency's FOIA Appeals Office.
    (b) The appeal shall include:
    (1) The FOIAonline tracking number;
    (2) The basis for disagreement with GSA's adverse determination 
that is being appealed; and
    (3) A brief statement of the reasons he or she thinks GSA should 
release the records or provide expedited processing and enclose copies 
of the initial request and denial.
    (c) The requester may submit the appeal electronically to 
[email protected]. The requester should mark the subject line of the 
electronic transmission, ``Freedom of Information Act Appeal.'' In the 
alternative, the requester may submit an appeal via facsimile to 202-
501-2727, or via US mail to U.S. General Services Administration, FOIA 
Requester Service Center (H3), 1800 F Street NW, 7308, Washington, DC 
20405-0001. If the appeal is submitted via US mail, the appeal letter 
must include the words ``Freedom of Information Act Appeal'' on both 
the face of the appeal letter and on the envelope. Failure to follow 
these procedures will delay processing of the appeal.
    (d) The GSA FOIA Officer must receive the requester's appeal no 
later than 90 calendar days after receipt by the requester of any 
adverse determination by GSA with respect to the FOIA request. GSA has 
20 business days after receipt of a proper appeal to issue a response 
to the requester's appeal. The 20-workday time limit shall not begin 
until the GSA FOIA Officer receives the appeal. As noted in Sec.  
105.60.305 of this part, the GSA FOIA Officer may extend this time 
limit in unusual circumstances. GSA will process appeals of denials of 
expedited processing as soon as possible after receiving them. The GSA 
FOIA Officer may also extend the time limit in the event of unusual 
circumstances occur during the processing of appeals as well.


Sec.  105-60.701  Adjudication of appeals.

    (a) The GSA Chief FOIA Officer or his or her designee shall act on 
behalf of GSA on all appeals under this section.
    (b) An appeal ordinarily shall not be adjudicated if the request 
that is the subject of the appeal becomes a matter of FOIA litigation. 
GSA shall administratively close the appeal if it becomes the subject 
of litigation and provide this notice to the requester in writing that 
the request has been administratively closed.
    (c) On receipt of any appeal involving classified information, GSA 
shall take appropriate action to ensure compliance with applicable 
classification rules.
    (d) GSA shall provide its review and decision on any appeal in 
writing. Any decision that either upholds GSA's original determination 
in whole or in part shall contain a statement that identifies the 
reasons for the affirmance, including any FOIA exemptions applied.
    (e) If GSA's decision is remanded or modified on appeal, GSA shall 
notify the requester of that determination in writing. GSA shall then 
further process the request in accordance with that appeal 
determination and shall respond directly to the requester. If GSA 
affirms its original decision after timely receipt of an appeal, GSA 
shall inform the requester via writing as well. GSA shall inform the 
requester of their right to seek judicial review in the U.S. District 
Court in the district in which the requester resides or has a principal 
place of business, or where the records are situated, or in the U.S. 
District Court for the District of Columbia. GSA shall also inform the 
requester of the mediation services offered by the Office of Government 
Information Services (OGIS) of the National Archives and Records 
Administration (NARA) as a non-exclusive alternative to litigation.
    (f) Engaging in dispute resolution or mediation services provided 
by OGIS is a voluntary process. Mediation is a voluntary process. If 
GSA agrees to participate in the mediation services provided by OGIS, 
it will actively engage as a partner to the process in an attempt to 
resolve the dispute.


Sec.  105-60.702  Requirements to preserve FOIA records.

    GSA shall preserve all correspondence pertaining to the requests 
that it receives under this subpart, as well as copies of all requested 
records, until disposition or destruction is authorized pursuant to 
title 44 of the United States Code or the General Records Schedule 4.2 
of the NARA. GSA shall not dispose of or destroy records while they are 
the subject of a pending request, appeal, or lawsuit under FOIA.

Subpart J--Fees


Sec.  105-60.800  General provisions.

    (a) GSA shall charge for processing requests under the FOIA in 
accordance with the provisions of this section and with OMB Guidelines. 
For purposes of assessing fees, FOIA establishes three categories of 
requesters:
    (1) Commercial use requesters;
    (2) Noncommercial scientific or educational institutions or news 
media requesters; and
    (3) All other requesters.
    (b) Fees are assessed depending on the category GSA determines the 
requester falls under in subpart A of this part. Requesters may seek a 
fee waiver. GSA shall consider requests for fee waiver in accordance 
with the requirements in Sec.  105-60.807 of this subpart. To resolve 
any fee issues that arise under this section, GSA may contact a 
requester for additional information. GSA shall ensure that searches, 
review, and duplication of FOIA records are conducted in the most 
efficient and the least expensive manner.
    (c) GSA shall collect all applicable fees before sending copies of 
records to a requester. Requesters pay fees by check, credit card, or 
money order made payable to the U.S. General Services Administration, 
or by another method as determined by GSA.


Sec.  105-60.801  Definitions pertaining to fee assessments.

    (a) A commercial use request is a request that asks for information 
that furthers a commercial, trade, or profit interest, which can 
include furthering those interests through litigation. GSA's decision 
to place a requester in the commercial use category shall be made on a 
case-by-case basis and is based on the requester's intended use of the 
information. GSA shall notify requesters of their placement in this 
category.
    (b) Direct costs are those expenses that GSA incurs in searching 
for and duplicating (and, in the case of commercial use requests, 
reviewing) records in order to respond to a FOIA request. For example, 
direct costs include the salary of the employee performing the work 
(i.e., the basic rate of pay for the employee, plus sixteen (16) 
percent of that rate to cover benefits) and the cost of operating 
computers and other electronic equipment, such as photocopiers and 
scanners. Direct costs do not include overhead expenses such as the 
costs of space or the heating or lighting of a facility.
    (c) Duplication is reproducing a record to respond to a FOIA 
request. Duplicating records can occur via paper, audiovisual materials 
or electronic records.
    (d) An educational institution is any school that operates a 
program of scholarly research. A requester in this fee category shall 
show that the request is made in connection with his or her role at the 
educational institution. Agencies may seek verification from the 
requester that the request is in furtherance of scholarly research.

[[Page 5144]]

    (e) A noncommercial scientific institution is an institution that 
is not operated on a commercial basis. The term `commercial' for 
purposes of this subpart is that which is defined in paragraph (a) of 
this section and that is operated solely for the purpose of conducting 
scientific research the results of which are not intended to promote 
any particular product or industry. A requester in this category shall 
show that the request is authorized by a qualifying noncommercial 
institution, or educational institution of vocational and higher 
learning and where the records are sought to further scientific, or 
academic scholarly research, and are not for a commercial use. GSA 
shall advise requesters of their placement in this category.
    (f) Representative of the news media is any person or entity that 
gathers information of potential interest to a segment of the public, 
uses its editorial skills to turn the raw materials into a distinct 
work, and distributes that work to an audience. The term ``news'' means 
information that is about current events or that would be of current 
interest to the public. Examples of news media entities include 
television or radio stations that broadcast ``news'' to the public at 
large and publishers of periodicals that disseminate ``news'' and make 
their products available through a variety of means to the general 
public, including news organizations that disseminate solely on the 
internet. A request for records supporting the news-dissemination 
function of the requester shall not be considered to be for a 
commercial use. ``Freelance'' journalists who demonstrate a solid basis 
for expecting publication through a news media entity shall be 
considered as a representative of the news media. A publishing contract 
would provide the clearest evidence that publication is expected; 
however, GSA can also consider a requester's past publication record in 
making this determination. GSA shall advise requesters of their 
placement in this category.
    (g) Review is the examination of a record located in response to a 
request in order to determine whether any portion of it is exempt from 
disclosure. Review time includes the process of reviewing each 
individual record for possible redactions and marking the appropriate 
exemptions. Review costs are properly charged even if a record 
ultimately is not disclosed. Review time also includes time spent both 
obtaining and considering any formal objection to disclosure made by a 
confidential commercial information submitter under Sec.  105-60.601 of 
this part. It does not include time spent resolving general legal or 
policy issues regarding the application of exemptions.
    (h) Search is the process of looking for and retrieving records or 
information responsive to a request. Search time includes page-by-page 
or line-by-line identification of information within records and the 
reasonable efforts expended to locate and retrieve information from 
electronic records.


Sec.  105-60.802  Fees to be charged.

    In responding to FOIA requests, GSA shall charge the following fees 
unless a waiver or reduction of fees has been granted under Sec.  105-
60.807 of this subpart. Because the fee amounts provided below already 
account for the direct costs associated with a given fee type, GSA 
shall not add any additional costs to charges calculated under this 
section.
    (a) Search fees. (1) Requests made by educational institutions, 
noncommercial scientific institutions, or representatives of the news 
media are not subject to search fees. GSA shall charge search fees for 
all other requesters, subject to the rules and restrictions enumerated 
in this subpart. GSA may properly charge for time spent searching even 
if the GSA FOIA Requester Service Center does not locate any responsive 
records or if they determine that the records are entirely exempt from 
disclosure.
    (2) For each half hour (30 minutes) spent by GSA personnel 
searching for requested records, including electronic searches that do 
not require new programming, a $24.50 fee shall be assessed per the 
guidelines of the fee schedule enumerated in Sec.  105-60.804 of this 
subpart.
    (3) GSA shall charge the direct costs associated with conducting 
any search that requires the creation of a new computer program to 
locate the requested records. GSA shall notify the requester of the 
costs associated with creating such a program, and the requester shall 
agree to pay the associated costs before the costs may be incurred.
    (4) For requests that require the retrieval of records stored by 
GSA at a Federal records center operated by the NARA, GSA shall charge 
additional costs in accordance with the Transactional Billing Rate 
Schedule established by NARA.
    (b) Duplication fees. (1) GSA shall charge duplication fees to all 
requesters, subject to the restrictions of Sec.  105-60.803 of this 
subpart. GSA shall honor a requester's preference for receiving a 
record in a particular form or format where the agency can readily 
reproduce it in the form or format requested. Where photocopies are 
supplied, GSA shall provide one copy per request at the cost of $0.10 
per copy. For copies of records produced on tapes, disks, or other 
media, GSA shall charge the direct costs of producing the copy, 
including operator time.
    (2) Where paper documents shall be scanned in order to comply with 
a requester's preference to receive the records in an electronic 
format, the requester shall also pay the direct costs associated with 
scanning those materials. For other forms of duplication, GSA shall 
charge the direct costs.
    (3) GSA determines the standard fee for duplication of records as 
follows:
    (i) Per copy of each page (not larger than 8.5 x 14 inches) 
reproduced by photocopy or similar means (includes costs of personnel 
and equipment)--U.S. $0.10.
    (ii) Per copy prepared by any other method of duplication--actual 
direct cost of production.
    (c) Review fees. GSA shall charge review fees to requesters who 
make commercial use requests. Review fees shall be assessed based upon 
the initial review of the record (i.e., the review conducted by GSA to 
determine whether an exemption applies to a particular record or 
portion of a record). No charge shall be made for review during the 
administrative appeal stage of exemptions applied at the initial review 
stage. However, if a particular exemption is deemed to no longer apply, 
any costs associated with GSA or another agency's secondary review of 
the records in order to consider the use of other exemptions may be 
assessed as review fees. Review fees shall be charged at the same rates 
as those enumerated in the fee schedule of this section.


Sec.  105-60.803  Restrictions on charging fees.

    (a) When GSA determines that a requester is an educational 
institution, noncommercial scientific institution, or representative of 
the news media, and that the records are not sought for commercial use, 
GSA shall not charge search fees.
    (b) If GSA fails to comply with the time limits in which to respond 
to a request for agency records under FOIA, it will not charge search 
fees, or in the instances of requests from requesters described in 
paragraph (a) of this section, may not charge duplication fees, except 
as described in paragraphs (b)(1) through (3) of this section. GSA will 
charge duplication fees in accordance with Sec.  105-60.802(b)(1) 
through (3) of this subpart.

[[Page 5145]]

    (1) If GSA has determined that unusual circumstances, as defined by 
FOIA, apply and the agency provided timely written notice to the 
requester in accordance with FOIA, a failure to comply with the time 
limit shall be excused for an additional 10 business days.
    (2) If GSA has determined that unusual circumstances, as defined by 
the FOIA, apply and that more than 5,000 pages are necessary to respond 
to the request, GSA may charge search fees, or, in the case of 
requesters described in paragraph (d)(1) of this section, may charge 
duplication fees, if the following steps are taken. GSA shall have 
provided timely written notice of unusual circumstances to the 
requester in accordance with FOIA and GSA shall have discussed with the 
requester via written mail, email, or telephone (or made not less than 
three good-faith attempts to do so) how the requester could effectively 
limit the scope of the request in accordance with 5. U.S.C. 
552(a)(6)(B)(ii). If this exception is satisfied, the component may 
charge all applicable fees incurred in the processing of the request.
    (3) If a court has determined that exceptional circumstances exist, 
as defined by FOIA, a failure to comply with the time limits shall be 
excused for the length of time provided by the court order.
    (c) No search or review fees shall be charged for a half-hour 
period unless more than half of that period is required for search or 
review.
    (d) Except for requesters seeking records for a commercial use, GSA 
shall provide without charge:
    (1) The first 100 pages of duplication (or the cost equivalent for 
other media); and
    (2) The first 2 hours of search time.
    (e) No fee shall be charged when the total fee, after deducting the 
100 free pages (or its cost equivalent) and the first 2 hours of 
search, is equal to or less than $49.00.


Sec.  105-60.804  Fee schedule.

    Table 1 to Sec.  105-60.804 outlines the basic fee categories and 
applicable fees:

                           Table 1 to Sec.   105-60.804--Fee Requester Category Table
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Requester category           Search fees        Review fees        Duplication fees           Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Commercial use requester...  Yes..............  Yes..............  Yes, first 100 pages,   $49.00/hour plus
                                                                        or equivalent volume    applicable
                                                                        without charge. Then,   duplication
                                                                        U.S. $0.10. per copy    costs.
                                                                        of each page (not
                                                                        larger than 8.5 x 14
                                                                        inches) reproduced by
                                                                        photocopy or similar
                                                                        means (includes costs
                                                                        of personnel and
                                                                        equipment)--OR, per
                                                                        copy prepared by any
                                                                        other method of
                                                                        duplication--actual
                                                                        direct cost of
                                                                        production.
(b) Educational and              No...............  No...............  Yes, first 100 pages,   Eligible
 noncommercial scientific                                               or equivalent volume    requesters not
 institutions.                                                          without charge. Then,   subject to fees
                                                                        U.S. $0.10. per copy    other than
                                                                        of each page (not       duplication
                                                                        larger than 8.5 x 14    costs.
                                                                        inches) reproduced by
                                                                        photocopy or similar
                                                                        means (includes costs
                                                                        of personnel and
                                                                        equipment)--OR, per
                                                                        copy prepared by any
                                                                        other method of
                                                                        duplication--actual
                                                                        direct cost of
                                                                        production.
(c) Representative of news       No...............  No...............  Yes, first 100 pages,   Eligible
 media.                                                                 or equivalent volume    requesters not
                                                                        without charge. Then,   subject to fees
                                                                        U.S. $0.10. per copy    other than
                                                                        of each page (not       duplication
                                                                        larger than 8.5 x 14    costs.
                                                                        inches) reproduced by
                                                                        photocopy or similar
                                                                        means (includes costs
                                                                        of personnel and
                                                                        equipment)--OR, per
                                                                        copy prepared by any
                                                                        other method of
                                                                        duplication--actual
                                                                        direct cost of
                                                                        production.
(d) All other requesters.......  Yes (first 2       No...............  Yes, first 100 pages,   $49.00/hour plus
                                  hours without                         or equivalent volume    applicable
                                  charge).                              without charge. Then,   duplication
                                                                        U.S. $0.10. per copy    costs.
                                                                        of each page (not
                                                                        larger than 8.5 x 14
                                                                        inches) reproduced by
                                                                        photocopy or similar
                                                                        means (includes costs
                                                                        of personnel and
                                                                        equipment)--OR, per
                                                                        copy prepared by any
                                                                        other method of
                                                                        duplication--actual
                                                                        direct cost of
                                                                        production.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


     Note 1 to Sec.  105-60.804:  GSA's calculated hourly rate for 
manual search, computer operator/programmer time, and employee time 
spent reviewing records is set at a flat rate of 49.00 per hour. GSA 
charges for these FOIA services by the hour at $49.00 and half hour 
at $24.50.


    Note 2 to Sec.  105-60.804:  The fee schedule of this section 
does not apply to fees charged under any statute that specifically 
requires GSA to set and collect fees for particular types of 
records. In instances where records responsive to a request are 
subject to a statutorily based fee schedule program, GSA shall 
inform the requester of the contact information for that program.


    Note 3 to Sec.  105-60.804:  If GSA utilizes a contractor or 
agency personnel outside of the FOIA Requester Service Center to 
perform any services described in this subpart, the standard fee is 
based on the equivalent hourly rates.

Sec.  105-60.805  Anticipated fees.

    (a) When GSA determines or estimates that the fees to be assessed 
in accordance with this section shall exceed $49.00, the agency shall 
notify the requester of the actual or estimated amount of the fees, 
including a breakdown of the fees for search, review or duplication, 
unless the requester has indicated a willingness to pay fees as high as 
those anticipated via writing. If only a portion of the fee can be 
estimated readily, GSA shall advise the requester accordingly. If the 
request is not for noncommercial use, the notice shall specify that the 
requester is entitled to the statutory entitlements of 100 pages of 
duplication at no charge and, if the requester is charged search fees, 
2 hours of search time at no charge, and shall advise the requester 
whether those entitlements have been provided.
    (b) If GSA notifies the requester that the actual or estimated fees 
are in excess of $49.00, the request shall not be considered received 
and further work shall not be completed until the requester commits in 
writing to pay the actual or estimated total fee, or designates some 
amount of fees the requester is willing to pay. Or in the case of a 
noncommercial use requester who has not yet been provided with the 
requester's statutory entitlements, designates that the requester seeks 
only that which can be provided by the statutory entitlements. The 
requester shall provide the commitment/or designate an exact dollar 
amount in writing the requester is willing to pay.

[[Page 5146]]

GSA is not required to accept payments in installments.
    (c) If the requester has indicated a willingness to pay some 
designated amount of fees, but the agency estimates that the total fee 
shall exceed that amount, GSA shall toll the processing of the request 
when it notifies the requester of the estimated fees in excess of the 
amount the requester has indicated a willingness to pay. GSA shall 
inquire whether the requester wishes to revise the amount of fees the 
requester is willing to pay or modify the request. Once the requester 
submits the new estimated fee, the time to respond shall resume from 
where it was at the date of the notification.
    (d) GSA's FOIA Public Liaison and other FOIA professionals shall be 
available to assist any requester in reformulating a request to meet 
the requester's needs at a lower cost.
    (e) Although not required to provide special services, if GSA 
chooses to do so as a matter of administrative discretion, the direct 
costs of providing the service shall be charged. Examples of such 
services include certifying that records are true copies, providing 
multiple copies of the same document, or sending records by means other 
than first class mail.
    (f) GSA may charge interest on any unpaid bill starting on the 31st 
day following the date the requester is first billed. Interest charges 
shall be assessed at the rate provided in 31 U.S.C. 3717 and shall 
accrue from the billing date until payment is received by the agency. 
GSA shall follow the provisions of the Debt Collection Act of 1982 
(Public Law 97-365, 96 Stat. 1749), as amended, and its administrative 
procedures, including the use of consumer reporting agencies, 
collection agencies, and offset.
    (g) When GSA reasonably believes that a requester or a group of 
requesters acting in concert are attempting to divide a single request 
into a series of requests for the purpose of avoiding fees, GSA may 
aggregate those requests and charge accordingly. GSA may presume that 
multiple requests of this type made within a 30-day period have been 
made in order to avoid fees. For requests separated by a longer period, 
GSA shall aggregate them only where there is a reasonable basis for 
determining that aggregation is warranted in view of all the 
circumstances involved. Multiple requests involving unrelated matters 
cannot be aggregated.


Sec.  105-60.806  Advanced payments.

    (a) For requests other than those described in this subpart, GSA 
cannot require the requester to make an advance payment before work is 
commenced or continued on a request. Payment owed for work already 
completed (i.e., payment before copies are sent to a requester) is not 
an advance payment.
    (b) When GSA determines or estimates that a total fee to be charged 
under this section shall exceed $250.00, it may require that the 
requester make an advance payment up to the amount of the entire 
anticipated fee before beginning to process the request. GSA may elect 
to process the request prior to collecting fees when it receives a 
satisfactory assurance of full payment from a requester with a history 
of prompt payment.
    (c) Where a requester has previously failed to pay a properly 
charged FOIA fee to GSA within 30 calendar days of the billing date, 
GSA may require that the delinquent requester pay the full amount due, 
plus any applicable interest on that prior request, and require that 
the requester make an advance payment of the full amount of any 
anticipated fee before the agency begins to process a new request or 
continues to process a pending request or any pending appeal. If GSA 
has a reasonable basis to believe that a requester has misrepresented 
the requester's identity in order to avoid paying outstanding fees, it 
may require that the requester provide proof of identity.
    (d) In cases in which GSA requires advance payment, the request 
shall not be considered received and further work shall not be 
completed until the required payment is received. If the requester does 
not pay the advance payment within 10 business days after the date of 
GSA's fee determination, the request shall be closed.


Sec.  105-60.807  Fee waivers and fee reductions.

    (a) Requests for a fee waiver shall be made when the FOIA request 
is first submitted to the agency and should address the criteria 
referenced above. A requester may submit a fee waiver request at a 
later time so long as the underlying record request is pending or being 
reviewed per an appeal. When a requester who has committed to pay fees 
subsequently asks for a waiver of those fees and that waiver is denied, 
the requester shall pay any costs incurred up to the date the fee 
waiver request was received.
    (b) Requirements for waiver or reduction of fees:
    (1) Requesters may seek a waiver of fees by submitting a written 
rationale as to how disclosure of the requested information is in the 
public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to 
public understanding of the operations or activities of the Government 
and is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester; and
    (2) GSA shall furnish records responsive to a request without 
charge or at a reduced rate when it determines, based on all available 
information, that the factors described in paragraphs (b)(2)(i) through 
(iii) of this section are satisfied:
    (i) Disclosure of the requested information would shed light on the 
operations or activities of the Government. The subject of the request 
shall concern identifiable operations or activities of the Federal 
Government with a connection that is direct and clear, not remote or 
attenuated; and
    (ii) Disclosure of the requested information is likely to 
contribute significantly to public understanding of those operations or 
activities. This factor is satisfied when the following criteria are 
met; and
    (A) Disclosure of the requested records shall be meaningfully 
informative about Government operations or activities. The disclosure 
of information that already is in the public domain, in either the same 
or a substantially identical form, would not be meaningfully 
informative if nothing new would be added to the public's 
understanding.
    (B) The disclosure shall contribute to the understanding of a 
reasonably broad audience of persons interested in the subject, as 
opposed to the individual understanding of the requester. A requester's 
expertise in the subject area as well as the requester's ability and 
intention to effectively convey information to the public shall be 
considered. GSA shall presume that a representative of the news media 
shall satisfy this consideration;
    (iii) The disclosure shall not be primarily in the commercial 
interest of the requester. To determine whether disclosure of the 
requested information is primarily in the commercial interest of the 
requester, GSA shall consider the following criteria:
    (A) GSA shall identify whether the requester has any commercial 
interest that would be furthered by the requested disclosure. A 
commercial interest includes any commercial, trade, or profit interest. 
Requesters shall be given an opportunity to provide explanatory 
information regarding this consideration.
    (B) If there is an identified commercial interest, GSA shall 
determine whether that is the primary interest furthered by the 
request. A

[[Page 5147]]

waiver or reduction of fees is justified when the requirements of 
paragraphs (b)(2)(i) and (ii) of this section are satisfied and any 
commercial interest is not the primary interest furthered by the 
request. GSA ordinarily shall presume that, when a news media requester 
has satisfied factors in paragraph (b)(1) of this section and this 
paragraph (b)(2), the request is not primarily in the commercial 
interest of the requester. Disclosure to data brokers or others who 
merely compile and market Government information for direct economic 
return shall not be presumed to primarily serve the public interest.
    (c) Where only some of the records to be released satisfy the 
requirements for a fee waiver, a waiver shall be granted for those 
records.

Subpart K--Other Rights and Services


Sec.  105-60.900  Coda.

    Nothing in this subpart shall be construed to entitle any person, 
as of right, to any service or to the disclosure of any record to which 
such person is not entitled under the FOIA.

[FR Doc. 2020-00057 Filed 1-28-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-FM-P