Guidelines for Ensuring and Maximizing the Quality, Objectivity, Utility, and Integrity of Information Disseminated by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation BackgroundThe Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued government-wide guidelines (the OMB Guidelines) as required by Section 515 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (Public Law 106-554; H.R. 5658) (Section 515) to ensure and maximize the quality of information disseminated by Federal agencies. The OMB Guidelines were published on September 28, 2001 (66 FR 49718) and on January 3, 2002 (67 FR 369) (and reprinted in their entirety on February 22, 2002, 67 FR 8452), "Guidelines for Ensuring and Maximizing the Quality, Objectivity, Utility, and Integrity of Information Disseminated by Federal Agencies." Each Federal agency is required to issue its own guidelines to comply with the Section 515 requirements. OverviewThe OPIC Guidelines are designed to maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of the information disseminated by the Corporation. In developing its guidelines, OPIC has attempted to follow the OMB Guidelines. OPIC has always attempted to achieve a high standard of quality in the information it disseminates. The Corporation makes every effort to ensure the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of information it disseminates. The OPIC Guidelines include a mechanism for members of the public to seek and obtain appropriate correction of information covered by these Guidelines maintained and disseminated by OPIC after October 1, 2002 that does not comply with the OMB or OPIC guidelines. OPIC’s pre-dissemination review under these Guidelines applies to information first disseminated by it on or after October 1, 2002. As required by the OMB Guidelines, OPIC will report annually to the Director, OMB on the number and disposition of such requests received by the Corporation. Nothing in these Guidelines is intended to confer any legal right on any individual. Quality StandardsThe OPIC Guidelines outline quality standards appropriate for covered information disseminated by the Corporation and agency processes for reviewing quality before information is disseminated.In general terms, the essential elements of quality are:
Reproducibility refers to transparency in research design and methods and, where possible, the Corporation attempts to make clear its methods. In some cases, information disseminated by the Corporation is not collected by it but rather is compiled from a variety of sources that are constantly updated and, in many cases, contain confidential information. In such cases the Corporation discloses its methods and keeps users informed about corrections and revisions. The Corporation also achieves transparency through wide dissemination of its information. Most information products are made available through the OPIC website and can be accessed and downloaded directly. OPIC Commitment to Quality of InformationThe Corporation attempts to ensure that disseminated information covered by these guidelines meets the information quality criteria as defined in the OMB guidelines and in these guidelines. OPIC has always treated information quality as integral in its development of information, including its creation, collection, maintenance, and dissemination.The Corporation is committed to disseminating information that meets its standards for objectivity, integrity, and utility. Before the Corporation disseminates any information to the public, all aspects are thoroughly reviewed by expert staff and appropriate levels of management. The Corporation’s current internal review and approval policies and procedures ensure, to the best of the Corporation’s ability, that the Corporation’s disseminated information and data are accurate and timely, appropriate for external consumption, and useful to the public. In many cases, the Corporation’s process for reviewing information for its adherence to quality standards is inherent in and included in the Corporation’s internal review process. This review process allows the Corporation to substantiate the quality of covered information disseminated. Disseminated material is reviewed by knowledgeable staff within the originating office and across divisions before final review by the Corporation. All disseminated information covered by these Guidelines is reviewed for editorial consistency, clarity, and accuracy. The agency strives to ensure that such information is unbiased, objective and relevant, and accurate. All information covered by these Guidelines is edited and proofread before release to ensure clarity and coherence of the final product. Text is edited to ensure that the information is easy to read and grammatically correct, that thoughts and arguments flow logically, and information is worded clearly and concisely. Tables and charts are edited to ensure that they clearly and accurately illustrate and support points made in the text, and include concise but descriptive titles. In submissions under the Paperwork Reduction Act of proposed collections of information, the Corporation will attempt to demonstrate that such collections will result in information collected, maintained, and used in a manner consistent with the OMB and OPIC Guidelines. Information not covered by the OMB or the OPIC Guidelines includes:
Request for CorrectionTo request correction of information covered by these OPIC Guidelines that does not comply with the OMB or OPIC Guideline:
All such requests for correction will be acknowledged within ten days of receipt and referred to appropriate staff for review. After review, OPIC will determine whether a correction is warranted and, if so, what corrective action it will take. Any corrective action will be determined by the nature and timeliness of the information involved and such factors as the significance of the error on the use of the information, the magnitude of the error, and the cost of undertaking a correction. The Corporation is not required to change, or in any way alter, the content or status of information simply based on the receipt of a request for correction. The Corporation need not respond substantively to frivolous or repetitive requests for correction; nor need it respond substantively to requests that concern information not covered by the guidelines or from a person whom the information does not affect. OPIC will make a decision on whether and how to correct the information within 60 days and the requestor will be notified of that decision by telephone, email, FAX, or in writing. The requestor may request reconsideration of OPIC’s decision within 60 days of the date of the OPIC decision. Such requests must be made online, by email or in writing (OPIC Information Quality, Office of the CFO, 1100 New York Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20527). OPIC will reconsider its decision; a decision will be made by the Chief Information Officer or delegatee after consultation with the staff of the division or office that received the original request and with other officials, as appropriate. The requestor will be notified of the decision by mail within six weeks. Privacy Act StatementThe Corporation is authorized to collect the information provided by the requestor
under Section 515. The information is necessary to process the request and to allow
the Corporation to respond. The requestor is not required to furnish the information
but failure to do so may prevent the request from being processed. The principal use
is to process and respond to the request. |
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For OPIC’s website privacy policy, click here. |
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Insurance, Lending & Funds |
Information Gateway |