72-2190

Good Morning Ms. Best,

We're contacting you about the FOIA request you made for records concerning file number 72-HQ-2190. The FBI located approximately 1,374 pages potentially responsive to your request. Requests are processed in the order in which they are received through our multi-track processing system, and the FBI receives a voluminous amount of requests on a daily, weekly, monthly, and annual basis. Requests are divided into two primary tracks--simple (under 50 pages of potentially responsive documents) and complex (over 50 pages of potentially responsive documents). Complex requests are further divided into medium (51-950 pages), large (951-8000 pages), and extra-large (over 8000 pages) sub-tracks based upon request size.

Simple track requests typically require the least amount of time to process. The more potentially responsive pages a request has, the more complex it becomes, greatly increasing the time required for processing. Generally, the larger the file, the longer it takes to process. A review of your request determined that it is currently in the complex request large processing track. Given our current workload and staffing levels, it may yet be a long time before you begin to receive material from this request.

Reducing the scope of your request may accelerate the processing and allow for a more timely receipt of the information you seek, as it could potentially place your request into a smaller, faster processing track. Would you be willing to consider reducing the scope of your request? The current average time to complete a large track request is approximately 57 months.

Given the current COVID-19 pandemic and federal guidelines to mitigate the spread of the virus, the FBI's Record/Information Dissemination Section (RIDS) is operating with limited staff on a staggered schedule to protect the safety of its employees, families and communities. As a result, estimated dates of completion for Freedom of Information Act requests were impacted and you can expect lengthened response timelines. Please note that these are estimates, and these timelines may change as this national emergency evolves. The FBI remains committed to fulfilling your FOIPA request in the timeliest manner possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Below is a list of all tracks and the average time approximately to complete each. Hopefully this breakdown will be helpful to you in reducing the scope of this request.
Simple track request (0- 50 pages) current average time is approximately 4 months to complete.
Medium track request (51-950 pages) current average time is approximately 27 months to complete.
Large track request (951-8000 pages) current average time is approximately 57 months to complete.
X-Large track request (over 8000 pages) current average time is approximately 70 months to complete.

Please let us know if you would like to potentially reduce the scope of your request. If you reduce the size, you can request the additional records with a new FOIA request upon completion of this one.

We can be reached via email at fbi.foipa.negotiation@fbi.gov<mailto:fbi.foipa.negotiation@fbi.gov>. We appreciate your patience and hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

Negotiation Team
FBI Information Management Division
Fbi.foipa.negotiation@fbi.gov<mailto:Fbi.foipa.negotiation@fbi.gov>
Status Checks: foipaquestions@fbi.gov<mailto:foipaquestions@fbi.gov>

Good Morning Ms. Best,

Thank you for your email confirmation concerning the scope reduction of this request. We will move forward with processing without reducing the scope of this request. Within in your request letter you asked that we inform you of charges in advance. There will be a charge of $40 for all releases of potentially responsive pages for this request.

Any future status inquires please go to foipaquestions@fbi.gov<mailto:foipaquestions@fbi.gov>

We appreciate your patience.

Sincerely,

Negotiation Team
FBI Information Management Division
Fbi.foipa.negotiation@fbi.gov<mailto:Fbi.foipa.negotiation@fbi.gov>
Status Checks: foipaquestions@fbi.gov<mailto:foipaquestions@fbi.gov>

_____________________________________________
From: FBI.FOIPA.NEGOTIATION
Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2020 5:48 AM
To: requests@muckrock.com
Subject: FW: FOIPA # 1463943-000

Good Morning Ms. Best,

We're following up with the email sent out August 3, 2020 to you with regards to your FOIA request 1463943-000. The original email goes into more detail for our contact with you.

We can be reached via email at fbi.foipa.negotiation@fbi.gov<mailto:fbi.foipa.negotiation@fbi.gov>. We appreciate your patience and hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

Negotiation Team
FBI Information Management Division
Fbi.foipa.negotiation@fbi.gov<mailto:Fbi.foipa.negotiation@fbi.gov>
Status Checks: foipaquestions@fbi.gov<mailto:foipaquestions@fbi.gov>

_____________________________________________
From: FBI.FOIPA.NEGOTIATION
Sent: Monday, August 3, 2020 10:58 AM
To: requests@muckrock.com<mailto:requests@muckrock.com>
Subject: FOIPA # 1463943-000

Good Morning Ms. Best,

We're contacting you about the FOIA request you made for records concerning file number 74-WF-293. The FBI located approximately 1,100 pages potentially responsive to your request. Requests are processed in the order in which they are received through our multi-track processing system, and the FBI receives a voluminous amount of requests on a daily, weekly, monthly, and annual basis. Requests are divided into two primary tracks--simple (under 50 pages of potentially responsive documents) and complex (over 50 pages of potentially responsive documents). Complex requests are further divided into medium (51-950 pages), large (951-8000 pages), and extra-large (over 8000 pages) sub-tracks based upon request size.

Simple track requests typically require the least amount of time to process. The more potentially responsive pages a request has, the more complex it becomes, greatly increasing the time required for processing. Generally, the larger the file, the longer it takes to process. A review of your request determined that it is currently in the complex request large processing track. Given our current workload and staffing levels, it may yet be a long time before you begin to receive material from this request.

Reducing the scope of your request may accelerate the processing and allow for a more timely receipt of the information you seek, as it could potentially place your request into a smaller, faster processing track. Would you be willing to consider reducing the scope of your request? The current average time to complete a large track request is approximately 56 months.

Given the current COVID-19 pandemic and federal guidelines to mitigate the spread of the virus, the FBI's Record/Information Dissemination Section (RIDS) is operating with limited staff on a staggered schedule to protect the safety of its employees, families and communities. As a result, estimated dates of completion for Freedom of Information Act requests were impacted and you can expect lengthened response timelines. Please note that these are estimates, and these timelines may change as this national emergency evolves. The FBI remains committed to fulfilling your FOIPA request in the timeliest manner possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Below is a list of all tracks and the average time approximately to complete each. Hopefully this breakdown will be helpful to you in reducing the scope of this request.
Simple track request (0- 50 pages) current average time is approximately 8 months to complete.
Medium track request (51-950 pages) current average time is approximately 29 months to complete.
Large track request (951-8000 pages) current average time is approximately 56 months to complete.
X-Large track request (over 8000 pages) current average time is approximately 70 months to complete.

Please let us know if you would like to potentially reduce the scope of your request. If you reduce the size, you can request the additional records with a new FOIA request upon completion of this one.

We can be reached via email at fbi.foipa.negotiation@fbi.gov<mailto:fbi.foipa.negotiation@fbi.gov>. We appreciate your patience and hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

Negotiation Team
FBI Information Management Division
Fbi.foipa.negotiation@fbi.gov<mailto:Fbi.foipa.negotiation@fbi.gov>
Status Checks: foipaquestions@fbi.gov<mailto:foipaquestions@fbi.gov>

Thank you for contacting foipaquestions@fbi.gov. Please check the status of your FOIPA Request at http://vault.fbi.gov by clicking on "Check Status of Your FOI/PA Request" on the right side of the page, and follow the instructions below.

Check the Status of Your FOIPA Request
If your FOIPA Number is [1234567-0] please enter [1234567-000] into the system. If your FOIPA Number is [1234567-1] please enter [1234567-001] into the system. If you have any questions about the status of your FOIPA request, please e-mail foipaquestions@fbi.gov.

FIND STATUS OF FOIPA- Request statuses are updated weekly

Please enter the whole FOIPA number-Example: [1234567-000]

FOIPA:
Results will show the Request Number, Case Type and Process Description shown below:
FOIPA:
1234567-000

Case Type:
FOIPA

Process Description (Will display the current progress of the request)
The FBI's FOIPA Program is searching the FBI's indices for potentially responsive documents.
You may be contacted via formal letter for all fees and/or negotiation issues that may apply.

NOTE: Recent requests are entered into the FOIPA database in the order that they are received. Before you can check the status, you must have received correspondence assigning a FOIPA request number and the information transferred to the online database. Status information is updated weekly. If a request has been closed within the last six months the online database will display the following: The FOIPA number entered has been closed, and appropriate correspondence has been sent to the address on file.

Estimated Dates of Completion
Requests are processed in the order in which they are received through our multi-track processing system. Requests are divided into two primary tracks--simple (under 50 pages of potentially responsive documents) and complex (over 50 pages of potentially responsive documents). Complex requests are further divided into medium, large, and extra-large sub-tracks based upon request size. Simple track requests typically require the least amount of time to process. Currently, simple track cases average approximately 106 days from the date of receipt for processing. Our complex requests in the medium processing track are currently averaging 785 days, large processing track are currently averaging approximately 1,695 days, and extra-large processing track are currently averaging 2,088 days for processing.

Respectfully,

Public Information Officer
FBI - Information Management Division
170 Marcel Drive
Winchester, VA 22602
O: (540) 868-4593
F: (540) 868-4391
E: foipaquestions@fbi.gov<mailto:foipaquestions@fbi.gov>

Do you have further questions about the FOI/PA process? Visit us at http://www.fbi.gov/foia

Please check the status of your request online at https://vault.fbi.gov/fdps-1/@@search-fdps Status updates are performed on a weekly basis.

Note: This is a non-emergency email address. If this is an emergency, please call 911 directly. If you need to report a tip for immediate action, please contact FBI Tips at http://tips.fbi.gov/ or reach out to your local field office.

A copy of documents responsive to the request. Postmark: October 23, 2023

A copy of documents responsive to the request. Postmark: October 23, 2023