Government-Operated Archival Facilities: Federal Records Centers (FRC)
In a bid to modernize federal records management, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has issued a new memo, M-23-07. This memo, effective from June 30, 2024, marks a significant change as the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) will no longer accept new transfers of permanent or temporary analog records, unless an agency has been granted a limited exception.
The memo requires agencies to digitize analog records (paper, microfilm, microfiche) that are scheduled for permanent transfer to NARA after June 30, 2024. However, an exception process is in place for agencies that must transfer analog records in physical form.
If an agency cannot digitize analog records prior to transfer, they must request an exception. The exception request must justify why digitization is not feasible and obtain approval from NARA. NARA will consider exceptions for analog transfers generally limited to records where digitization is not technologically possible, would create unacceptable risks to records integrity, or is cost-prohibitive given mission-critical needs.
Agencies must provide documentation with their exception request explaining the nature of the records, attempts to digitize, and plans for long-term preservation and access if analog transfer is approved. For approved exceptions, analog records transferred must meet established physical transfer standards to ensure preservation and access.
Our easy-to-use map provides information about Federal Records Centers, serving agencies in all regions of the U.S. Agencies can transfer records to a Federal Records Center, and records can be requested electronically using ARCIS. For more information about OMB M-23-07 or to clarify its requirements, visit https://www.ourwebsite.gov/records-mgmt/policy/digitization.
The FRC Toolkit can be viewed, and FRC forms are available. ARCIS Training is available for those who need it. However, it's important to note that the Federal Records Centers Program will sunset the office by September 30, 2025.
Schedule changes can occur in the management of records. Refiles and Interfiles are reference services offered. Unfortunately, the Federal Records Centers Program is no longer accepting new RMCS agreements. To get questions answered about the sunsetting of the Federal Records Centers Program, contact your account representative.
Permanent records will undergo an annual move, and temporary records will undergo disposition. For those seeking more information about records management policies or needing clarification about OMB/NARA M-19-21 or the exception process, visit https://www.ourwebsite.gov/records-mgmt/policy/digitization for more information.
- The new policy-and-legislation outlined in OMB M-23-07 involves a shift in federal records management, with a focus on digitizing analog records for permanent transfer to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
- Effective from June 30, 2024, the politics of policy-and-legislation has led to a significant change in general-news, as agencies are now required to digitize analog records before transferring them to NARA, with exceptions only granted under specific circumstances.
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