Website closures related to government shutdown (Small Business Administration )

Zack Sampson filed this request with the Small Business Administration of the United States of America.
Tracking #

1219-1
Submitted Oct. 1, 2013
Est. Completion None
Status
Withdrawn

Communications

From: Zack Sampson

Subject: None

None

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:

Documents related to the operations of federal websites during the government shutdown. Specifically:

1) Memos and shutdown plans addressing the operation of this agency's websites during a government shutdown
2) Any cost-benefit analyses related to the operation of this agency's website during a government shutdown
3) Any security analyses related to the operation of this agency's website during a government shutdown
4) Annual budget documents showing the costs of operating of this agency's website

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,

Zack Sampson

From: FOIA

Subject: None

None

Mr. Zack Sampson
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 6933
PO Box 55819

Re: FOIA 1017-2

Dear Mr. Sampson:

Due to the resumption of Federal appropriations, today this office is in receipt of your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request submitted on October 1, 2103 and seeking information on the operations of agency websites.

As this office operates in the appellate capacity, we refer initial requests to the program or field office that maintains the information. Therefore, you request is referred to the Office of the Chief Information Officer for initial FOIA processing. That office will respond directly to you with their initial FOIA review, fee assessment and disclosure determinations. Any questions should be directed to (202) 205-7079.

Please feel free to contact me on (202) 401-8203 or at foia@sba.gov if you have any questions.

From: MuckRock.com

Subject: None

None

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 1, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

From: Babcock, Lisa J.

Subject: None

None

Dear Chase and Nick:

Mr. Sampson is requesting a status report on his FOIA request.

Thank you,

Lisa Babcock
Chief, FOI/PA Office

From: MuckRock.com

Subject: None

None

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 1, 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 #1017-2.

Thank you for your help.

From: Babcock, Lisa J.

Subject: None

None

Dear Mr. Sampson:

I will defer to Mr. Nicholson or Mr. Garwood to provide you with the status of their processing of your FOIA request.

Sincerely,

Lisa Babcock
Chief, FOI/PA Office

From: Babcock, Lisa J.

Subject: None

None

Mr. Sampson:

The Office of the Chief Information Officer has informed us that their office does not maintain the information you seek. They have also advised us that the Office of Communication and Public Liaison may maintain those records. Therefore we are re-directing your request to OCPL for initial FOIA processing. You may contact that office on (202) 401-3059 or 6919 if you have any questions regarding this matter. We have assigned a new case number to this request, 1219-1.

Sincerely,

Lisa J. Babcock
Chief, Freedom of Information/
Privacy Acts Office

From: MuckRock

Subject: None

None

Is there an email address for that office or point person to confirm receipt?

Thank you.

From: Babcock, Lisa J.

Subject: None

None

Kirk McElwain, 202-205-6175.

From: MuckRock

Subject: None

None

Hello,

Please provide an update on this request.

Thank you.

From: McElwain, Kirk J.

Subject: None

None

Mr. Sampson --

This matter has just be referred to my attention this morning. I would like to discuss the issues with you and would like to know a good time to call. I will be available this afternoon as well as tomorrow. Please let me know if you have a preferred time and as well as your contact information.

Regards --

From: Zack Sampson

Subject: None

None

Hi Kirk,

Unfortunately I'm out and not free by phone in the next couple of days. Is there any chance we can discuss it through email?

Thanks,
Zack

From: McElwain, Kirk J.

Subject: None

None

Mr. Sampson,

Thanks for responding. Because of the holiday schedule, I'd like to plan a brief conversation on January 3. Let me know if you have a preferred time.

Thanks--

From: McElwain, Kirk J.

Subject: None

None

Mr. Sampson,

I have not heard back from you. Please confirm if you have a few minutes to discuss on Friday, January 3rd.

Thanks--

From: McElwain, Kirk J.

Subject: None

None

Mr. Sampson,

We have been attempting to reach out to you to determine the scope and breadth of your request and have not received a response. In order to respond appropriately, I will need clarification on some of your points. As previously mentioned, please let me know a convenient time so that we can have a brief discussion by phone. Given travel schedules, we have availability the afternoon of January 31. If that day is not convenient, please let me know so that we can schedule a mutually convenient time.

So that I am being as responsive as possible, I am including a link to the IT Dashboard website that pertains to the SBA.gov budget. This is public information and is in response to item #4 listed within your request. You can find the information on the following page: https://itdashboard.gov/investment?buscid=465

Regards--

From: McElwain, Kirk J.

Subject: None

None

Mr. Sampson,

In my previous correspondence, SBA provided our response to item #4 (Annual budget documents showing the costs of operating of this agency's website). Additionally, we have no documents responsive to items number 2 and 3 conducted analysis for item #2 (Any cost-benefit analyses related to the operation of this agency's website during a government shutdown) and #3 (Any security analyses related to the operation of this agency's website during a government shutdown), since we did not conduct any such analysis.

Finally, in order to understand the scope of item #1, we have requested, on numerous occasions, that you provide a convenient time to discuss the scope of your initial request. Please let me know when you are available for such a discussion. If we do not hear from you by EOB February 7, then we will consider this issue resolved.

Regards--

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