Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA)
The Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. § 552) provides that any person has a right to obtain access to federal agency records, except to the extent that such records (or portion of them) are protected from public disclosure by one of the nine exemptions or by one of three special law enforcement record exclusions.
Preparing A FOIA Request
FOIA requests made to the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) should relate only to those matters or issues which directly involve the organization and its mission, which includes:
· Medical Department Professional/Technical Personnel Development
· Health Care Accounts and Insurance Information
· Quality Assurance/Risk Management
· Blood Donor Files
FOIA requests should be made in writing. Additionally, requests should include:
· The description of the specific record(s) you are seeking with enough detail so that a knowledgeable agency official may locate the record(s) with a reasonable amount of effort. Such detail should include descriptive information, timeframe to be searched, full names, and any other pertinent information that may assist in identifying the subject of the request.
· An indication of your willingness to pay all fees or those up to a specified amount or provide a justification to support a fee waiver.
· Your name, address (including zip code) and telephone number.
Where To Send Your Request
FOIA requests may be mailed, e-mailed to the following:
Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
Medical-Legal Affairs Office
7700 Arlington Blvd Ste 5124
Falls Church, VA 22042-5124
E-mail
FOIA requesters who have any questions concerning the processing of their requests with the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery should contact Ms. Della Garcia, BUMED FOIA Coordinator, at (703) 681-8970. If you are not satisfied with the response from the center, you may contact the DON FOIA Public Liaison, Robin Patterson, at (202) 685-0412 and DONFOIA-PA@navy.mil.