Records Disposition

In addition to storing your records and making them accessible when needed, Federal Records Centers (FRC) actively manage their disposition. This section gives an overview of the processes for disposing of records at the end of their retention schedule, accessioning records into the National Archives, and updating disposal authorities.

Disposition Notifications

When the disposition date of your agency's records is approaching, the FRC will send you the appropriate notice as described below.

Disposition of Temporary Records
FRCs will send the Notice of Eligibility for Disposal, NA Form 13001, to you 90 days before scheduled destruction of your agency's records. Please contact the Transfer and Disposition staff from the FRC that sent you the notice if you have any questions.

When you return the signed disposal notice (NA Form 13001), the FRC will destroy the records as scheduled. Since your agency still owns the records stored at the FRC, the center will not destroy any of your records without your agency's written approval.

Adherence to retention schedules is good records management, saves your agency money in storage costs, and conforms with Federal regulations. Therefore, the FRC strongly recommends that you review each disposal notice carefully and in a timely manner. If your agency does not concur with the disposal, you must provide a justification for non-concurrence, sign and date the form, and return it to the appropriate FRC.

Disposition of Contingent Records
Each October, FRCs mail the Agency Review for Contingent Disposal,
NA Form 13000, to agency customers. At this time you should review the status of your agency's contingent records to determine if a particular action or event (upon which the destruction of the records is contingent) has occurred. If this is the case, sign and return the form to your local FRC, indicating approval of disposal and disposal date. If the contingent records should not be destroyed, sign,

Accessioning of Permanent Records (see Definition)
When permanent records stored at the records center are scheduled for accessioning into the National Archives, you will receive an Agreement to Transfer Records to the National Archives of the United States, Standard Form 258. The SF 258 is used to document the change in legal custody of the records from your agency to the National Archives and to state terms of the accession. The Transfer and Disposition staff at your local FRC can provide more information on the process for accessioning records into the National Archives.

Updating Disposal Authorities

Over time, records schedules are subject to change, and this can affect how long your records should be kept. When this happens, FRC archives specialists review and promptly update the holdings database so your records remain correctly scheduled. The most current disposal authority is reflected for each transfer.

Did you know?

The FRCs recycle over 18,000 tons of paper per year. That is the equivalent of 300,000 trees!

Contingent records

are records scheduled for final disposition at some unspecified future time after the occurrence of a specific event. Examples of such events include the decommissioning of a vessel, the sale of property, or the destruction of a building.

Disposition of Contingent Records

The FRC staff is expert on disposal and can work with you to ensure that your agency's most sensitive records are disposed of properly. Records are maintained in secure environments until properly destroyed. Certificates of destruction are sent to the FRC following disposal.