Feb 10, 2003

MEMORANDUM FOR

SECRETARIES OF THE MILITARY DEPARTMENTS CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF UNDER SECRETARIES OF DEFENSE DIRECTOR, DEFENSE RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING ASSISTANT SECRETARIES OF DEFENSE GENERAL COUNSEL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DIRECTOR, OPERATIONAL TEST AND EVALUATION DIRECTOR, ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR, NET ASSESSMENT DIRECTORS OF THE DEFENSE AGENCIES DIRECTORS OF THE DOD FIELD ACTIVITIES

   This memorandum and its attachments (MS Word doc) comply with Section 515, Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (Public Law 106-554).  The law directed the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue government-wide guidelines that "provide policy and procedural guidance to Federal Agencies for ensuring and maximizing the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of information (including statistical information) disseminated by Federal Agencies."  The OMB guidance was provided by Federal Register: February 22, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 36, page 8452). 

   According to the OMB guidelines, a basic standard of quality (objectivity, utility, and integrity) must be maintained and appropriate steps taken to incorporate information quality criteria into DoD public information dissemination practices.  DoD Components shall adopt standards of quality that are appropriate to the nature and timeliness of the information they disseminate.

   The OMB guidelines and this memorandum apply to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Military Departments, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Combatant Commands, Inspector General of the DoD, Defense Agencies, DoD Field Activities, and all other organizational entities in DoD (hereafter referred to collectively as “DoD Components”).

   Attachment 1 prescribes policy, guidelines and procedural guidance for DoD Components.  It assigns responsibilities, establishes administrative mechanisms for affected persons to seek and obtain correction of information maintained and disseminated by DoD Components, and delineates public complaint reporting requirements.  Attachment 2 defines terms and provides context and attributes of each term.  Attachment 3 is the form for annual reporting of complaints to OMB.

   DoD Components will implement the guidance in Attachment 1, effective upon the signature of this memorandum, as integral to their information resource management procedures.  These guidelines apply to information disseminated by DoD on or after the date of this memorandum, regardless of when the information was first disseminated.  I ask that the DoD CIO in consultation with the Director, Administration and Management, review existing DoD issuances, take appropriate action to incorporate quality standards for information disseminated to the public by the Department into such issuances as may be appropriate, and incorporate this guidance into the DoD Directive System.  The DoD CIO is delegated authority to issue such DoD Instructions, Publications, and one-time directive-type memoranda, consistent with DD 5025.1-M, as may be necessary to carry out the responsibilities assigned by this memorandum.

//signed//

Deputy Secretary of Defense