[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 14, Volume 5]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 14CFR1206.700]

[Page 63-65]
 
                     TITLE 14--AERONAUTICS AND SPACE
 
                   CHAPTER V--NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND
                          SPACE ADMINISTRATION
 
PART 1206_AVAILABILITY OF AGENCY RECORDS TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC--Table of 
 
             Subpart 7_Search, Review, and Duplication Fees
 
Sec.  1206.700  Schedule of fees.


    The fees specified in this section shall be charged for searching 
for, reviewing, and/or duplicating Agency records made available in 
response to a request under this part.
    (a) Copies. For copies of documents such as letters, memoranda, 
statements, reports, contracts, etc., $0.10 per copy of each page. For 
copies of oversize documents, such as maps, charts, etc., $0.15 for each 
reproduced

[[Page 64]]

copy per square foot. These charges for copies include the time spent in 
duplicating the documents. For copies of computer disks, still 
photographs, blueprints, videotapes, engineering drawings, hard copies 
of aperture cards, etc., the fee charged will reflect the full direct 
cost to NASA of reproducing or copying the record.
    (b) Clerical searches. For each one-quarter hour spent by clerical 
personnel in searching for an Agency record in response to a request 
under this part, $3.75.
    (c) Nonroutine, nonclerical searches. When a search cannot be 
performed by clerical personnel; for example, when the task of 
determining which records fall within a request and collecting them 
requires the time of professional or managerial personnel, and when the 
amount of time that must be expended in the search and collection of the 
requested records by such higher level personnel is substantial, charges 
for the search may be made at a rate in excess of the clerical rate, 
namely for each one-quarter hour spent by such higher level personnel in 
searching for a requested record, $7.50.
    (d) Review of records. For commercial use requests only, when time 
is spent reviewing to determine whether they are exempt from mandatory 
disclosure, a charge may be made at the rate for each one-quarter hour 
spent by an attorney, $11.25. No charge shall be made for the time spent 
in resolving general legal or policy issues regarding the application of 
exemptions. This charge will only be assessed the first time NASA 
reviews a record and not at the administrative appeal level.
    (e) Computerized records. Because of the diversity in the types and 
configurations of computers which may be required in responding to 
requests for Agency records maintained in whole or in part in 
computerized form, it is not feasible to establish a uniform schedule of 
fees for search and printout of such records. In most instances, records 
maintained in computer data banks are available also in printed form and 
the standard fees specified in paragraph (a) of this section shall 
apply. If the request for an Agency record required to be made available 
under this part requires a computerized search or printout, the charge 
for the time of personnel involved shall be at the rates specified in 
paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section. The charge for the computer time 
involved and for any special supplies or materials used shall not exceed 
the direct cost to NASA. This charge may be as high as $125.00 per 
quarter hour. Before any computer search or printout is undertaken in 
response to a request for an Agency record, the requester shall be 
notified of the applicable unit costs involved and the total estimated 
cost of the search and/or printout.
    (f) Other search and duplication costs. Reasonable standard fees, 
other than as specified in paragraphs (a) through (e) of this section, 
may be charged for additional direct costs incurred in searching for or 
duplicating an Agency record in response to a request under this part. 
Charges which may be made under this paragraph include, but are not 
limited to, the transportation of NASA personnel to places of record 
storage for search purposes or freight charges for transporting records 
to the personnel searching for or duplicating a requested record.
    (g) Charges for special services. Complying with requests for 
special services such as those listed in (g)(1), (2), and (3) of this 
section is entirely at the discretion of NASA. Neither the FOIA nor its 
fee structure cover these kinds of services. To the extent that NASA 
elects to provide the following services, it will levy a charge 
equivalent to the full cost of the service provided:
    (1) Certifying that records are true copies.
    (2) Sending records by special methods such as express mail.
    (3) Packaging and mailing bulky records that will not fit into the 
largest envelope carried in the supply inventory.
    (h) Unsuccessful or unproductive searches. Search charges, as set 
forth in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, may be made even when 
an Agency record which has been requested cannot be identified or 
located after a diligent search and consultation with a professional 
NASA employee familiar with the subject area of the request, or if 
located, cannot be made available

[[Page 65]]

under Subpart 3 of this part. Ordinarily, however, fees will not be 
charged in such instances unless they are substantial (over $50.00) and 
the requester has consented to the search after having been advised that 
it cannot be determined in advance whether any records exist which can 
be made available (see Sec.  1201206.704) and that search fees will be 
charged even if no record can be located and made available.
    (i) Fees not chargeable.
    (1) NASA will not charge for the first 100 pages of duplication and 
the first 2 hours of search time either manual or electronic except to 
requesters seeking documents for commercial use.
    (2) If the cost to be billed to the requester is equal to or less 
than $15.00, no charges will be billed.
    (j) Records will be provided in a form or format specified by the 
requester if they are readily reproducible in such format with 
reasonable efforts. If the records are not readily reproducible in the 
requested form or format, the Agency will so inform the requester. The 
requester may specify an alternative form or format that is available. 
If the requester refuses to specify an alternative form or format, the 
Agency will not process the request further.