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FOIA Guidance

Below are links to the FOIA statute, implementing regulations, executive orders, policies, and other guidance materials.  In addition, we offer links to resources developed by other Federal agencies which address supplementary topics to the FOIA.

Submitting a FOIA/PA Request to NASA
How to File a FOIA Request with NASA (December 2022) – Guidance for submitting a FOIA request for NASA agency records.
Information to Include in a FOIA Request – A list of information that should be included in a FOIA request to NASA. This is also a fillable form that can be downloaded and completed in order to manually submit a FOIA request to NASA. To submit a FOIA request electronically, please visit https://pal.hq.nasa.gov/.
Laws and Executive Orders
The Freedom of Information Act – Text of the FOIA statute, showing changes made by the FOIA Improvement Act of 2016 (5 U.S.C. § 552).
Executive Order 12600 – The Executive Order requiring agencies to establish procedures to notify submitters when their confidential commercial information is subject to release under the FOIA.
FOIA Improvement Act of 2016 – A summary of the Act by the Department of Justice, Office of Information Policy.
NASA Regulations and FOIA Fees
NASA FOIA Regulations – The rules published in the Code of Federal Regulations that detail NASA’s procedures for implementing the FOIA.
NASA Privacy Act Regulations – The rules published in the Code of Federal Regulations that detail NASA’s procedures for implementing the Privacy Act.
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidelines for FOIA Fees – OMB’s guidelines containing a uniform schedule of FOIA fees applicable to all agencies that are subject to the FOIA.
Schedule of FOIA Fees (as of January 2024) – The fees NASA charges to process FOIA requests.
FOIA Fees, Fee Waivers and Expedited Review (February 2020) – Guidance specific to NASA regarding the charging of fees, and requests for fee waivers and expedited review.
NASA Records Information and Records Retention
Records Management Program – The website for NASA’s Records Management Program.
Privacy Act System of Records Notices (SORNs) – a list and links to NASA’s published and rescinded SORNs.
NASA Major Information Systems – This website contains links to NASA Privacy Impact Assessments.
General Records Schedule 4.2 – The National Archives and Records Administration general records schedule for Information Access and Protection Records.
Other Sources of Public Information
NASA Procurement – Explores and executes innovative, effective, and efficient acquisition business solutions to optimize capabilities and operations that enable NASA’s missions.
NASA Acquisition Internet Service (NAIS) – A service providing information about NASA procurements.
Federal Acquisition Jumpstation – Provides “hotlinks” to all federal procurement information on the Internet. Allows you to link to departments and agencies throughout the government to retrieve acquisition forecasts, announcements, solicitations, how-to guides, small business assistance information, plus federal acquisition regulations.
NASA Grants (Grants.gov) – Funding opportunities from NASA.
NASA Technical Report Server (NTRS) – Provides access to NASA metadata records, full-text online documents, images, and videos. The types of information included are conference papers, journal articles, meeting papers, patents, research reports, images, movies, and technical videos – scientific and technical information (STI) created or funded by NASA.
NASA Online Directive Information System (NODIS) – Current directives issued by NASA.
Data from NASA’s Missions, Research, and Activities – NASA archives all science mission data products to ensure long-term usability and to promote wide-spread usage by scientists, educators, decision-makers, and the general public. Our vision is to facilitate the on-going scientific discovery process and inspire the public through the body of knowledge captured in these public archives.
NASA Open Data Portal (data.nasa.gov) – NASA’s clearinghouse site for open-data provided to the public.
NASA Launch Schedule – View NASA’s schedule of planned launches and landings.
NASA History Office – Established in 1959 (a year after NASA itself was formed) the NASA History Office has continuously documented and preserved the Agency’s remarkable history for nearly 65 years.
NASA Records at the National Archives – Information available at the National Archives about the United States’ space flight programs, including NASA missions and the astronauts who participate in the efforts to explore Earth’s galaxy.
System for Award Management (SAM.gov) – An official website of the U.S. Government, available at no cost to users, which allows users to search for contract opportunities, access publicly available award data, and more.
US Government Printing Office/Digital System – Provides free public access to official publications from all three branches of the Federal Government.
Other FOIA Related References
Department of Justice (DOJ):
– Office of Information Policy – Encourages and oversees agency compliance with the FOIA. 
– DOJ Guide to FOIA – A comprehensive legal treatise on the FOIA that is regularly updated. 
– DOJ Executive Briefing on FOIA (video)
– FOIA.gov – The government’s website for all information on the FOIA.
– DOJ Infographic on FOIA
– Statutes DOJ Found to Qualify Under Exemption 3 of the FOIA (last updated October 2023)
– DOJ Guidance on Implementing FOIA’s Statutory Exclusion Provisions (September 19, 2012)
– DOJ FOIA Post
National Archives and Records Administration:
– Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) – Offers mediation services to resolve disputes between FOIA requesters and federal agencies. Using OGIS’ services does not affect your right to pursue litigation. Contact information for OGIS is available at https://www.archives.gov/ogis/about-ogis/contact.

– OGIS Flyer “How to Request FOIA Mediation Services”

– NCND/Glomar: When Agencies Neither Confirm Nor Deny the Existence of Records – An article providing detailed information about Glomar responses an agency, including NASA, may issue.