Arlington, VA (Vocus) February 9, 2010
Privasoft (http://www.Privasoft.com ) announced today that the company has been awarded a contract from the US Department of Justice (DoJ) Office of Information Policy (OIP) to provide Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) processing software.
The contract was awarded following the most comprehensive competitive evaluation of FOIA software ever undertaken by a US Federal Department, covering over 250 technical and functional requirements. The contract was issued under a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) that will be open to all Department of Justice components seeking a FOIA solution.
Under the contract, OIP will use Privasoft’s AccessPro Suite to facilitate the expedient processing of FOIA requests. The contract specifies an initial 40 users to be placed on a centralized automated FOIA response system.
OIP sets the standards for FOIA compliance, maintaining the Department of Justice Freedom of Information Act Guide and the FOIA Post. These guides instruct government agencies regarding FOIA procedures and address FOIA issues. OIP also conducts FOIA training programs for many government agencies. Successful deployment of the OIP program could signify a shift toward FOIA automation across all federal government agencies.
OIPs relationship with Privasoft will benefit current and future federal FOIA clients and Privasoft will continue to enhance the AccessPro Suite to meet the evolving requirements of OIP as reflected in updated guidance.
Currently, many federal government agencies prepare FOIA-requested documents manually and use special tape to conceal classified information in the produced documents. This predictably leads to longer fulfillment periods and, in some cases, unmanageable request backlogs.
Privasoft’s AccessPro Suite is a purpose-built software solution designed to capture, analyze, track, process and report on case work related to managing requests for information under such laws as FOIA, the Canadian Access to Information Act, and other public records legislation.
FOIA requests frequently seek information for lawsuits, journalistic research and government contracts. Government agencies are seeing an increase in the number and complexity of FOIA requests, which increases the need for a FOIA automation solution. Privasoft’s AccessPro Suite allows agencies to process their FOIA requests electronically, resulting in greater accuracy, quicker turnaround, and improved document access.
President Obama Demands Government Agencies Provide Timely Information:
In response to President Obama’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) memorandum, issued on January 21, 2009, government agencies feel the urgency of transitioning to an automated FOIA response system. The memo demands “accountability through transparency” and encourages government agencies to make more use of “modern technologies” and make information available to citizens in a timely manner. This new level of accountability, as well as the increased workload, demands a change in the way FOIA requests are typically handled by government agencies.
About Privasoft – http://www.Privasoft.com/:
For nearly 20 years, Privasoft has been delivering software and services to automate case management in public sector and regulated industries. Privasoft customers must comply with legislative, regulatory and internal requirements and are represented in health care, law enforcement and all levels of government. They rely on Privasoft to capture, analyze, track, process and report on case work related to information disclosure processes. Privasoft is a Microsoft Certified Partner with offices in Ottawa, ON, Arlington, VA, and Brentford, Middlesex.
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