Proposed revision to OMB Circular A-110

["Sally Flanzer" <sflanzer@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

OMB is proposing changes to the "Uniform Administrative Requirements for 
Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and 
Other Non-Profit Organizations." (OMB Circular A-110).  
The amendments will require Federal awarding agencies "to ensure that all 
data produced under an award will be made available to the public through 
the procedures established under the Freedom of Information Act."  While 
FOIA procedures have always applied to data from contracts, this is an 
expansion of publicly accessible data collected under GRANT activities.  

It provides for public access to federally funded research data that is 
used by the Federal government in developing policy and rules.  In other 
words, if your data is cited in a Federal Register announcement or 
background or briefing paper, the public may request the data in order to 
draw their own conclusions.  FOIA exemptions would apply to some or all 
data, allowing the agency to withhold some records (e.g., "personnel and 
medical files and similar files the disclosure of which would constitute a 
clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy."  Fees may be charged, as 
in all FOIA requests.  Comments to OMB  must be received by April 5, 1999.
The text of the Federal Register notice and address for comments is 
available at the following website:
<http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=1999_register&doc
id=fr04fe99-99.pdf>