FOIA Specialist

Duties and Responsibilities: The scope of this effort includes services necessary to provide a full range of FOIA support. Primarily, but not exclusively, services provided will focus on fulfilling FOIA requests by locating, scanning, reviewing, and sending responsive documents, as well as other related tasks. All services provided and products delivered must comply with the Government security, records management, and Section 508 requirements as required.

More specifically, the scope of services required includes:

• Interpreting FOIA requests.

• Working with requestor to clarify, narrow, or re-submit FOIA requests.

• Locating and retrieving responsive documents.

• Standardizing paper documents in preparation for digital scanning.

• Digitally scanning documents.

• Performing optical character recognition (OCR) and digital image enhancement via software as needed.

• Tagging documents with metadata, if needed.

• Reviewing documents for redactions and withholdings.

• Collaborating with solicitors and other DOI staff for compliance and quality assurance.

• Preparing documents for delivery to requestor.

• Encrypting documents on electric media, if required.

• Assisting with the writing and review of outgoing correspondence with requestor.

• Re-shelving paper documents.

• Storing digital files.

• Maintaining FOIA work log and inventory.

The employee is expected to provide:

• Efficient and professional fulfilment assistance in fulfilling FOIA requests that comply with applicable FOIA specifications and timelines.

• Records management practices in compliance with this PWS and applicable Federal laws and regulations.

• Clear communication with other team members regarding issues of concern, effective solutions to issues of concern, resulting in high confidence in the products delivered.

• High quality of individual deliverables, products, and services that comply with this PWS and applicable Federal laws and regulations.

• Objectivity and confidentiality in handling the records.

• Low project risks.

• Cost-effective solutions.

The employee will be required to attend general training on ethics, Federal information security, and other training modules for new employees working in the Federal workplace. Training will generally be provided either on-line or on-site.

The employee shall prepare and submit draft and final Monthly Status and Progress Summary Reports. Draft reports shall be forwarded to the COR by the 10th calendar day of the month following the reporting period. In addition, this Report shall be presented to the enterprise system project managers for discussion, if requested by the COR. A final report shall be submitted five days after receipt of government comments. This Report shall be a compilation of monthly management issues during the month reported and in sufficient detail to ensure understanding of performance progress and issues.

The format and content of the Report shall include the following:

• Activities planned for the reporting period.

• Work and deliverables completed during reporting period.

• Status of ongoing activities including percentage of completion.

• Activities planned for the following reporting period.

• Planned travel during the following reporting period.

• Problems or issues projected or identified.

• Alternatives and/or recommended solution(s) for identified or projected problems or issues.

• Known or projected resources (staff and funding) and schedule impacts; and

• Summary of tasks performed.

Requirements include, but not limited to:

FOIA and Records Management Assistants must have demonstrated corporate or government experience and meet the following requirements:

• A candidate must have at least three years general work experience and at least two years of specialized or field-related experience in processing FOIA requests and in managing large volumes from records from corporations or from Federal or State governments.

• A candidate must be experienced in administering effective controls over records (preferably Federal records), including but not limited to: decision-related documents, administrative correspondence, attorney-client documents, documents with personally-identifiable information (PII), and other sensitive documents.

• A candidate must have knowledge and experience in applying record retention schedules and developing file plans for large document collections.

• A candidate must have the ability and knowledge to provide the OFA with technical support in assembling administrative records for discovery and litigation.

• A candidate must have experience processing FOIA requests within the required time, ensure that the requests do not fall within one of the exemptions or the Privacy Act of 1974.

• A candidate must have experience in evaluating FOIA requests and accurately identifying documents responsive to specific FOIA requests.

• A candidate must have experience in standardizing documents for scanning. This includes copying, photographing, lightening, darkening, reducing, enlarging, or otherwise enhancing images for easy scanning. This also includes de-stapling, unclipping, unfolding, or other media manipulation as might be required for easy scanning.

• A candidate must have experience with digital document management, including, but not limited to, scanning documents, performing optical character recognition (OCR), removing sensitive metadata, applying digital redactions, and creating multi-level subdirectories designed for efficient and organized file storage. At least three years’ experience with the Microsoft Windows operating system is required, and at least one year’s experience with Adobe Acrobat Professional is required.

• A candidate must be able to transport themselves consistently and reliably to the two physical worksites listed.