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Information Quality Guidelines

OPM's Information Quality Guidelines: Section II

Section II. Requests for Correction of Information Publicly Disseminated by the Office of Personnel Management

A. OPM works continuously to be responsive to users of its information and to ensure quality. When OPM receives any information from the public that raises questions about the quality of the information it has disseminated, OPM duly considers corrective action.

Persons seeking to correct information affecting them that was publicly disseminated by OPM may submit such requests to the Chief Information Officer, 1900 E Street, NW., Washington, DC 20415-7900. Persons should clearly indicate that the communication is a "Request for Correction" under Section 515 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriation Act for Fiscal Year 2001. Persons seeking correction should provide all supporting documentation necessary for OPM to resolve the complaint. At a minimum, persons seeking correction should provide the following information with the initial request:

  1. The requester's current home or business address, telephone number or email address in order to ensure timely communication;
  2. Identification and description of the information that is being contested;
  3. Description of the aspect of the information that needs to be corrected;
  4. An explanation of how they are affected by the information;
  5. An explanation of how the information identified does not comply with OPM or OMB guidelines; and
  6. Description of the requested corrective action.

B. If the information disseminated by OPM and contested by an affected person was previously disseminated by another Federal agency in virtually identical form, then the complaint should be directed to the originating agency.

C. Requests will be received by the Chief Information Officer, and typically, requests raising substantive issues will be forwarded to the program office within OPM responsible for the subject area.

D. These guidelines apply only to requests submitted as outlined in Section II.A above. These guidelines will not be applied to any other form of request and also may not be applied to a request submitted consistent with the procedures outlined above, if OPM determines:

  • That the request is not submitted by an affected person for the correction of publicly disseminated information of OPM, as those terms are defined in these guidelines, or
  • The information required in Section II.A above has not been provided in full.

All requests submitted as outlined in Section II.A above that are not excluded under the criteria identified in D.1 or D.2 of this section, will be considered "covered requests" and will be processed under these guidelines.

E. If OPM determines that a request is not covered by these guidelines, it will so advise the requester in writing within 60 calendar days, unless there is a reasoned basis for an extension, in which case OPM will inform the requester that more time is required and indicate the reason why and an estimated decision date. If a request is deemed frivolous, no response will be made.

F. For covered requests, the program office reviewing the request will give the request due consideration, including a review of the disseminated information at issue and other materials, as appropriate. Where the reviewing program office determines that the information publicly disseminated by OPM warrants correction, it will consider appropriate corrective measures recognizing the potential implications for OPM.

G. When considering covered requests to determine whether a corrective action is appropriate, the reviewing program office may consider the factors in Section II.D in addition to the following factors:

  1. The significance of the information involved, and
  2. The nature and extent of the request and the public benefit of making the requested correction.

H. If OPM determines that a request is covered by these guidelines, but that corrective action is unnecessary or is otherwise inappropriate, OPM will notify the requestor in writing of its determination within 60 days, unless there is a reasoned basis for an extension, in which case OPM will inform the requester that more time is required and indicate the reason why and an estimated decision date.

I. If OPM determines that a request is covered by these guidelines and that corrective action is appropriate, it will notify the requester in writing within 60 calendar days of its determination and what action has been or will be taken, unless there is a reasoned basis for an extension, in which case OPM will inform the requester that more time is required and indicate the reason why and an estimated decision date. Subject to applicable law, rules and regulations, corrective measures may be taken through a number of forms, including, but not limited to: personal contacts via letter or telephone, form letters, press releases or postings on the OPM website to correct a widely disseminated error or address a frequently raised request. Corrective measures, where appropriate, should be designed to provide reasonable notice to affected persons of such correction.

This page can be found on the web at the following url: http://www.opm.gov/policy/webpolicy/sec2.asp