[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 41, Volume 1]
[Revised as of July 1, 2005]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 41CFR51-8.12]

[Page 70-71]
 
           TITLE 41--PUBLIC CONTRACTS AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
 
CHAPTER 51--COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR SEVERELY 
                                DISABLED
 
PART 51-8_PUBLIC AVAILABILITY OF AGENCY MATERIALS--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 51-8.12  Fee schedule.

    (a) This schedule sets forth fees to be charged for processing 
requests for records under the FOIA. No higher fees or charges in 
addition to those provided for in this schedule may be charged a party 
requesting records under FOIA.
    (b) Subject to the criteria set forth in Sec. 51-8.13, fees may be 
assessed under FOIA on all requests involving document search, 
duplication, and review. Fees may also be charged in situations 
involving special service to requests, such as certifying that records 
requested are true copies, or sending records by special methods such as 
express mail, etc.
    (c) Instances in which fees may not be charged are as follows:
    (1) No charge shall be made for the first 100 pages of duplicated 
information (8\1/2\x14 or smaller-size paper), or 
the first two hours of manual search time, or the first two minutes of 
computer search time, except on requests seeking documents for a 
commercial use, as specified in Sec. 51-8.13;
    (2) Also, no charge shall be made--even to commercial use 
requesters--if the cost of collecting a fee would be equal to or greater 
than the fee itself;
    (3) In addition, fees shall not be charged for time spent by an 
agency employee in resolving legal or policy issues, or in monitoring a 
requester's inspection of agency records;
    (4) Documents shall also be furnished without charge when members of 
the

[[Page 71]]

public provide their own copying equipment, in which case no copying fee 
will be charged (although search and review fees may still be assessed).
    (d) Fees for records and related services are as follows:
    (1) The fee for photocopies of pages 8\1/2\x14 
or smaller shall be $0.20 for each page;
    (2) The fee for photocopies larger than 8\1/
2\x14 shall be $0.50 per linear foot of the 
longest side of the copy;
    (3) The fee for other forms of duplicated information, such as 
microfilm, audio-visual materials, or machine-readable documentation 
(i.e., magnetic tape or disk) shall be the actual direct cost of 
producing the document(s);
    (4) Manual searches shall be charged at the salary rate of the 
employee conducting the search, plus 16 percent of the employee's basic 
pay.
    (e) Computer searches and services shall be charged at the rate of 
$22.00 per minute. The $22.00-per-minute rate includes the cost of 
operating the central processing unit (CPU), and the computer operator's 
salary. When the services of a computer programmer or a computer program 
analyst are required in connection with an FOIA request, the fee for 
those services shall be $16.00 and $20.00 per hour, respectively.
    (f) Charges for unsuccessful searches, or searches which fail to 
locate records or which locate records which are exempt from disclosure, 
shall be assessed at the same fee rate as searches which result in 
disclosure of records.
    (g) The fee for providing review services shall be the hourly salary 
rate (i.e., basic pay plus 16 percent) of the employee conducting the 
review to determine whether any information is exempt from mandatory 
disclosure.