Agreements with Amazon.com and amazon.com drone communication (Department of Homeland Security, Under Secretary Office of Intelligence & Analysis )
| Tracking # |
2014-OIA-0029 ; 2014-HQAP-00023 |
| Submitted | Dec. 2, 2013 |
| Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Jason Smathers
To Whom It May Concern:
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:
1) All MOU/MOA, contracts or other agreements with Amazon.com for any purpose including the obtaining of data from Amazon.com on individuals.
2) All records including communications with Amazon concerning the "Amazon Prime Air" service. A drone or unmanned air delivery machine built to deliver packages. This has also been called the "octocopter" or "delivery drone" "drone delivery system" etc.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Jason Smathers
From: I&AFOIA
I am responding on behalf of the Office of Intelligence and Analysis Freedom of Information Act Officer to your FOIA request, below. As we have previously advised you, in order to search for contracts, we need either a solicitation number or a contract number. Our policy can be found at http://www.dhs.gov/top-foia-requests-topic#2. Accordingly, we cannot undertake a search at this time with regard to your first request.
With regard to the second part of your request, as you may know, the notion that Amazon will use drones for delivery purposes is currently conceptual. It was apparently described in a television program last weekend by the head of Amazon. Because of the conceptual nature of this matter, it is highly unlikely that the Office of Intelligence and Analysis would have any records reflecting this theoretical initiative.
If you construe this action on your request to be a denial of access, you may submit an administrative appeal in accordance with the provisions of 6 C.F.R. 5.9. If you have questions about this response, please refer to 2014-OIA-0029 in future correspondence.
Elizabeth Withnell for Priscilla Waters
I&A FOIA Office
From: MuckRock
Hello,
A copy of the below administrative appeal has been sent to the following address:
Associate General Counsel (General Law)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Mailstop 0655
Washington, D.C. 20528
Please confirm receipt of both copies.
==============
FOIA APPEAL
Re: 2014-OIA-0029
This is an appeal under the Freedom of Information Act.
This request was in two parts. I am appealing the refusal to conduct a search for records under the first part which read: "All MOU/MOA, contracts or other agreements with Amazon.com for any purpose including the obtaining of data from Amazon.com on individuals."
You stated that a contract number or solicitation number is required to make a FOIA request for such material. However, the FOIA does not permit such a condition. Further, it is unreasonable to think that every agreement made between your agency and third parties is assigned a contract or solicitation number.
For these reasons and all others deemed appropriate by the appeals authority, I appeal.
Regards,
Jason Smathers
From: Lasko, Linda
Mr. Smathers,
Attached, please find an acknowledgment of your appeal of the Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) response to FOIA #2014-OIA-0029.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
202-343-1743 (Main FOIA Number)
202-343-4011 (Fax)
Visit our FOIA website
This communication, along with any attachments, is covered by federal and state law governing electronic communications and may contain confidential and legally privileged information. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, use or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this in error, please reply immediately to the sender and delete this message. Thank you.
From: I&AFOIA
We are in receipt of a copy of your appeal, which has been submitted to Associate General Counsel (General Law).
From: Meus, Lauren M CIV
Mr. Smathers:
Please find attached the FOIA Appeal decision in the above matter.
Thank you,
Lauren Meus
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Dec. 2, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #2014-OIA-0029 ; 2014-HQAP-00023.
Thank you for your help.
From: Lasko, Linda
Mr. Smathers,
As per the February 24, 2014, letter from the U.S. Coast Guard Office of the Administrative Law Judge, your case was forwarded to the DHS Intelligence and Analysis FOIA office for further review. You may contact that office for a status update at I&AFOIA@hq.dhs.gov
Sincerely,
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
202-343-1743 (Main FOIA Number)
202-343-4011 (Fax)
Visit our FOIA website
This communication, along with any attachments, is covered by federal and state law governing electronic communications and may contain confidential and legally privileged information. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, use or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this in error, please reply immediately to the sender and delete this message. Thank you.
From: I&AFOIA
Good afternoon Mr. Smathers,
I&A is in receipt of the U.S. Coast Guard Administrative Law Judge decision, dated February 24, 204, remanding your appeal for further processing. We queried the appropriate office for the information you are seeking, and are awaiting their response.
I apologize for any inconvenience caused by I&A's delayed response.
V/r,
Priscilla Waters
Office of Intelligence and Analysis
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Officer
Unclass: (202) 447-4883
Unclass: Priscilla.Waters@hq.dhs.gov
From: I&AFOIA
Good morning Mr. Smathers,
Please find attached the I&A FOIA final post-appeal response to your FOIA request of December 4, 2013.
V/r,
Priscilla Waters
Office of Intelligence and Analysis
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Officer
Unclass: (202) 447-4883
Unclass: Priscilla.Waters@hq.dhs.gov
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