FOIA Support Specialist

CONTRACT INFORMATION

Agency: NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of the Assistant Administrator (OAA)

Place of Performance: Silver Spring, MD (1315 East-West Highway, 20910); telework as authorized

Period of Performance: 07/22/2026 – 07/21/2027 (Base); up to 4 years with options

POSITION OVERVIEW

The FOIA Support Specialist provides administrative, analytical, and records-processing support for NMFS OAA Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) activities. Work is performed using Government-approved procedures, templates, and systems. The Specialist does not make final FOIA release determinations or invoke exemptions as a final agency action - all determinations remain with the Government.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

FOIA Intake, Tracking, and Case Management:

• Review incoming FOIA requests for completeness; identify missing information, scope issues, deadlines, tolling events, and routing considerations for Government review


• Create and update FOIA case records in Government-approved systems (e.g., FOIA Online, Clearwell, or successor eDiscovery platforms)


• Maintain a FOIA tracking dashboard with case number, requestor, date received, due date, owner, status, risks, next actions, and target completion dates


• Monitor case progress and alert the COR before cases approach statutory or internal due dates, backlog risk, or resource bottlenecks

Records Collection, Processing, and Review:

• Collect responsive records from SMEs and coordinators and place them in the approved staging area or system of record


• Import, export, sort, organize, format, de-duplicate, and tag records using Government-approved categories and instructions


• Perform first-pass review of records for responsiveness, duplicate status, consultation needs, sensitivity indicators, and potential redaction areas for Government review


• Prepare draft redaction recommendations and draft release packages for Government and OGC review


• Perform quality control checks on records packages (file format, pagination, search completeness, tagging consistency, redaction integrity, packaging completeness)

Coordination and Communication Support:

• Prepare weekly taskers for SMEs including records requested, due dates, instructions, reminders, and status summaries


• Prepare draft correspondence, status updates, reports, briefings, and response materials for Government review and approval


• Coordinate administrative package routing with OGC and track OGC comments

FOIA Reporting and Improvement:

• Prepare monthly and annual FOIA status reports including caseload, aging, backlog risks, completed actions, and process improvement recommendations


• Identify recurring bottlenecks and workflow improvement opportunities; propose practical corrective actions for Government consideration


• Develop or update desk guides, checklists, templates, and written instructions for FOIA record review processes

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated experience supporting FOIA processes including intake, records collection, organization, tagging, de-duplication, first-pass responsiveness review, and redaction support


• Experience with FOIA Online or comparable FOIA case management systems


• Proficiency with Adobe Acrobat and Clearwell/eDiscovery tools or comparable platforms


• Ability to prepare draft redaction recommendations, release packages, and clear written/verbal instructions for record reviewers


• Experience preparing FOIA status reports and identifying workflow improvement opportunities


• Strong written and oral communication skills


• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), Google Workspace (Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet), Adobe Acrobat, and SmartSheet


• Ability to learn NOAA/DOC systems and procedures quickly


• Must be capable of obtaining and maintaining a suitability/public trust determination (Tier 1 or successor) and all required system access approvals


• Must identify as a contractor in all written, electronic, and verbal communications per contract requirements