BACKGROUND: OPM's data quality guidelines were prepared in accordance with the "Guidelines for Ensuring and Maximizing the Quality, Objectivity, Utility and Integrity of Information Disseminated by Federal Agencies" (hereafter, Governmentwide Guidelines) published by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). OMB's Governmentwide Guidelines were published pursuant to Section 515 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act for FY 2001 (Public Law 106-554).