One of the state agencies who recently funded one of our projects informed us that they had received a FOIA request for all of the projects funded under a particular program. It sounds like an unusual request to me, but there could, of course, be many reasons for such a request. We have asked to know the identity of the requesting party, but even if that information is shared with us, it may not necessarily shed any light on the reasons for the request. I'm naturally curious about the motivations of the requestor.

-------------------------------
Molly Daniel
Grants Specialist
Planning Department
Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center
1000 Health Center Drive
Mattoon, IL  61938
xxxxxx@sblhs.org
tel. 217-258-2195
fax 217-258-4135

-----Original Message-----
From: Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@hrinet.org]On Behalf Of J. Syd Conner
Sent: Friday, March 30, 2007 11:14 AM
To: xxxxxx@hrinet.org
Subject: Re: [RESADM-L] FOIA requests

I make requests for our faculty, usually via email, and I once received an email, following my request, from the PI of the funded proposal.  The PI also figured out which of our faculty wanted the info, by using our web site.
J. Syd Conner, Information Specialist   
Sponsored Programs Administration 
The University of Southern Mississippi  
601.266.4119    Bond Hall, Room 316  
xxxxxx@usm.edu 
http://www.usm.edu/spa
 
 

From: Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@hrinet.org] On Behalf Of Nancy Schlesiger
Sent: Friday, March 30, 2007 9:40 AM
To: xxxxxx@hrinet.org
Subject: Re: [RESADM-L] FOIA requests


Based on my previous experiences at a health sciences center several years ago, we always knew who requested the information, and exactly what they were requesting.  In some cases, we received a copy of the written request as it was submitted to the federal agency.  

Knowing who made the request was a helpful piece of information in our thought process as we considered the purpose of their request.  Regardless, it didn't get us off the hook for responding and complying with the request.  In many cases, of course, we indicated those parts of the research plan that were confidential or proprietary and requested that they not be released.

Nancy

Nancy A. Schlesiger, CRA, Asst. Director
Office of Sponsored Programs & Research
COS Liaison
University of Nebraska at Omaha
6001 Dodge Street, EAB 203
Omaha, NE  68182-0210

402-554-2286 phone
402-554-3698 fax
http://www.unomaha.edu/spr



Molly Daniel <xxxxxx@SBLHS.ORG>
Sent by: Research Administration List <xxxxxx@hrinet.org>

03/30/2007 09:30 AM
Please respond to
Research Administration Discussion List <xxxxxx@hrinet.org>
To
xxxxxx@hrinet.org
cc
Subject
[RESADM-L] FOIA requests





Does the Freedom of Information Act prohibit us from knowing the identity of the party who submits a request for a copy of our funded proposal to the grant agency?

-------------------------------
Molly Daniel
Grants Specialist
Planning Department
Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center
1000 Health Center Drive
Mattoon, IL  61938
xxxxxx@sblhs.org
tel. 217-258-2195
fax 217-258-4135

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====================================================================== Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists") ======================================================================

====================================================================== Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists") ======================================================================