The Navy to implement a new, electronic Freedom of Information Act tool

The Department of the Navy (DON) will implement a new, electronic Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) tool across the DON on Oct. 1, 2013.

Called FOIAonline, the website will provide the DON with the ability to: accept requests online and track requests in a case file; manage deadlines; calculate fees; research and upload records; publish electronic records; accept appeals online; prepare the annual report; and search and retrieve FOIA requests and responsive documents.

The DON Chief Information Office website reports that some DON organizations are currently using the Naval Sea Systems Command electronic FOIA tool. These organizations will continue to use the NAVSEA tool through the end of September 2013 and switch to the new tool when it is launched on Oct 1.

“FOIAonline is a multi-agency, shared service tool that meets all core FOIA requirements,” states the DON CIO website. “It provides the public with a simplified web-enabled portal to request information from multiple agencies, track responses and access previously submitted requests and released records. The Environmental Protection Agency, Department of the Treasury, and National Archives and Records Administration launched FOIAonline earlier this year.

The website can be accessed at: https://foiaonline.regulations.gov/foia/action/public/home.