[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 5, Volume 1] [Revised as of January 1, 2002] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 5CFR293.104] [Page 86-87] TITLE 5--ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL CHAPTER I--OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT PART 293--PERSONNEL RECORDS--Table of Contents Subpart A--Basic Policies on Maintenance of Personnel Records Sec. 293.104 Collection of information. (a) Any information in personnel records whether or not those records are in a system of records, used in whole or in part in making a determination about an individual's rights, benefits, or privileges under Federal personnel programs should, to the [[Page 87]] greatest extent practicable, be collected directly from the individual concerned. Factors to be considered in determining whether to collect the data from the individual concerned or a third party are when: (1) The nature of the information is such that it can only be obtained from another party; (2) The cost of collecting the information directly from the individual is unreasonable when compared with the cost of collecting it from another party; (3) There is virtually no risk that information collected from other parties, if inaccurate, could result in a determination adverse to the individual concerned; (4) The information supplied by an individual must be verified by another party; or (5) There are provisions made, to the greatest extent practicable, to vertify information collected from another party with the individual concerned.