OMB Policy 5: Search Public Websites

Policy

Per OMB M-05-04, "Policies for Federal Agency Public Websites" (PDF, 48 KB, 5 pages, December 2004):

• You are required under OMB Circular A–130 to assist the public in locating government information.
• Your agency's principal public website and any major entry points must include a search function. In very limited circumstances (e.g., for very small websites) agencies may substitute a site map or subject index.
• This search function should permit searching of all files intended for public use on the website, display search results in order of relevancy to search criteria, and provide response times appropriately equivalent to industry best practices.
• Agency public websites should provide all data in an open, industry standard format, permitting users to aggregate, disaggregate, or otherwise manipulate and analyze the data to meet their needs.

Implementation Guidance

• Have a search engine and search standards
• Use standard metadata
• Provide appropriate access to data
• Inform audiences of website changes

Supporting Documents

• OMB A–130 (section 8)
• OMB Memorandum: Improving Public Access to and Dissemination of Government Information and Using the Federal Enterprise Architecture Data Reference Model
  (PDF, 66 KB, 6 pages, December 2005)