OUSD(I&S) 2 5.19.23

Dear FOIA officer:

You are receiving this correspondence as a request under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. subsection 552. I am requesting the following:

Copies of records for a definitive contract (award ID: HQ003422C0064) awarded to Sancorp Consulting, LLC (UEI: GRYKNJ8BGFC8). This contract has an action date of June 10, 2022, and is funded by the Department of Defense through the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense For Intelligence and Security for support services in the Influence and Perception Management Office (IPMO). This request includes, but is not limited to:

- Correspondence (internal emails, physical mail, etc.)

- Requests for Proposals

- Requests for Information

- Statements of Work

- Memorandum(s) of Understanding

- Letters of Interest

- Award Letters

- Task Letters

- Privacy Impact Assessments

- Invoices

- Purchase and/or Change Orders

- Project Budgets and/or Budget Proposals

- Evaluation Reports

- Presentations by Sancorp Consulting, LLC

I am asking you waive any fees associated with this request. I am a member of the news media and request classification as such. My bylines, which include Creem Magazine, Covert Action Magazine, and the Geopolitical Economy Report, can be found in both print and electronic publications. Please take note of the Office of Management and Budget guidelines published March 27, 1987 (52 FR 10012) that include electronic publications and other nontraditional publishers as representatives of the news media.

A fee waiver is appropriate in situations where "disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations and activities of the government, and is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester,” 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(4)(iii). This request would contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations and activities of government with regard to work being done by the IPMO and its contractors. On May 17, 2023, Ken Klippenstein of The Intercept reported on the creation of a new perception management office, identified as the IPMO: https://theintercept.com/2023/05/17/pentagon-perception-management-office/

A subsequent review of public contracting sites revealed that Sancorp was awarded a contract with this office in June of last year. Sancorp's contract would provide the public with a clearer understanding of the role and functions of the IPMO. According a document produced by the office, and covered in The Intercept article, "the IPMO is tasked with the development of broad thematic messaging guidance and specific strategies for the execution of [Department of Defense] activities designed to influence foreign defense-related decision-makers to behave in a manner beneficial to U.S. interests." Work of this nature, while sensitive, is of immense public interest due to both the nature of the work itself and the non-governmental parties like Sancorp being recruited to assist in such work.

There is no risk of interfering with ongoing operations or disclosure of sensitive materials. Sancorp already lists the contract on their publicly-accessible website: https://www.sancorpconsulting.com/_files/ugd/7aeb19_0c37a59d213b4d68a043ef83b56edc9a.pdf

In the event that there are fees, I am willing to pay up to $100. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

This request is not being made for commercial purposes. All documents will be provided to the general public without charge.

I look forward to your response within 20 working days, as the statute requires. If access to the records I am requesting will take longer, please contact me with information about when I might expect copies or the ability to inspect the requested records.

If you deny any or all of this request, please cite each specific exemption you feel justifies the refusal to release the information and notify me of the appeal procedures available to me under the law.

Sincerely,

Robert Skvarla, Jr.