1.554a—Predisclosure notification procedures for confidential commercial information.
(a) General.
During the conduct of its business the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may acquire records which contain confidential commercial information, as defined in paragraph (b) of this section. Such records will not be released in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, except under the provisions of this section. This section establishes uniform VA procedures for giving submitters predisclosure notice of requests for their records which contain confidential commercial information that may be exempt from disclosure under 38 CFR 1.554(a)(4). These procedures are required by Executive Order 12600, Predisclosure Notification Procedures for Confidential Commercial Information, dated June 23, 1987.
(b) Definitions—
(1)
Confidential commercial information means records provided to the government by a submitter that arguably contain material exempt from release under Exemption 4 of the FOIA, 5 U.S.C. 552 (b)(4), as implemented by § 1.554 of this part, because disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause substantial competitive harm.
(2)
Submitter means any person or entity who provides confidential commercial information to the government. The term “submitter” includes, but is not limited to corporations, State governments, and foreign governments.
(c) Notification to submitters of confidential commercial information.
When a request is received, for a submitter's record(s), or information which contains confidential commercial information, and the request is being processed under the FOIA, 5 U.S.C. 552, the submitter will be promptly notified in writing of the request when required by paragraph (d) of this section. The notification will advise the submitter that a request for its record(s) has been received and is being processed under the FOIA. The notice will describe the exact nature of the record(s) requested or will provide to the submitter copies of the record(s) or portions thereof containing the requested confidential commercial information. It will also inform the submitter of the opportunity to object to the disclosure in writing within 10 working days, and of the requirements for such a written objection, as described in paragraph (f) of this section. The notification will be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested.
(d) When notification is required.
(1)
For confidential commercial information submitted to VA prior to January 1, 1988, notification to submitters is required whenever:
(i)
The records are less than 10 years old and the requested information has been designated by the submitter as confidential commercial information; or
(ii)
VA facility, administration, or staff office which has custody of the requested records has reason to believe that disclosure of the requested information could reasonably be expected to cause substantial competitive harm.
(2)
For confidential commercial information submitted to VA on or after January, 1, 1988, notification is required whenever:
(i)
The submitter has in good faith designated the requested records as confidential information in accordance with paragraph (e) of this section; or
(ii)
VA facility, administration, or staff office which has custody of the requested records has reason to believe that disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause substantial competitive harm.
(e) Designation by submitters of information as confidential commercial information.
(1)
When business records are provided to VA, the submitter may appropriately designate any records or portions thereof which contain confidential commercial information, the disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to cause substantial competitive harm. This designation may be made at the time the information or record is given to VA or within a reasonable period of time thereafter, but not later than 60 days after receipt of the information by VA. Information so designated will be clearly identified by marking it with the words “confidential commercial information” or by an accompanying detailed written description of the specific kinds of information that is designated. If a complete document or record is designated, the cover page of the document or record will be clearly marked “This entire (document, record, etc.) consists of confidential commercial information.” If only portions of documents are designated, only those specific designated portions will be conspicuously annotated as “confidential commercial information.”
(2)
A designation described in paragraph (e)(1) of this section will remain in effect for a period of not more than 10 years after submission to VA, unless the submitter provides acceptable justification for a longer specific period. If a shorter designation period is adequate, the submitter's designation should include the earlier expiration date. Whenever possible, the submitter's designation should be supported by a statement or certification by an officer or authorized representative of the submitter that the records are in fact confidential commercial information and have not been published or made available to the public.
(f) Opportunity to object to disclosure.
(1)
When notification to a submitter is made pursuant to paragraph (c) of this section, the submitter or designee may object to the disclosure of any specified portion of the record(s). Such objection will be in writing, will be addressed to the VA official who provided notice, will identify the specific record(s) or portion(s) of records that should not be disclosed, will specify all grounds upon which disclosure is opposed, and will explain in detail why the information is considered to be a trade secret or confidential commercial information, i.e., why disclosure of the specified records could reasonably be expected to cause substantial competitive harm. Information provided by a submitter pursuant to this paragraph may itself be subject to disclosure under the FOIA.
(2)
Any objection to disclosure must be submitted within 10 working days after receipt by the submitter of notification as provided for in paragraph (c) of this section.
(3)
If an objection to disclosure is received within the 10 working day time period, careful consideration will be given to all specified grounds for nondisclosure prior to making an administrative determination whether to disclose the record. When it is determined to disclose the requested record(s) or portions of records which are the subject of an objection, the submitter will be provided a written statement of the VA decision, the reason(s) that the submitter's objections to disclosure were overruled, a description or copy of the exact information or record(s) to be disclosed which were the subject of an objection, and the specified date of disclosure. The date of disclosure will not be less than 10 working days from the date this notice is placed into mail delivery channels.
(g) Notices to requester.
(1)
When a request is received for records that may contain confidential commercial information protected by FOIA exemption (b)(4), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(4), the requester will be notified that the request is being processed under the provisions of this regulation and, as a consequence, there may be a delay in receiving a response.
(2)
Whenever a submitter is notified, pursuant to paragraph (c) of this section, that VA has received a request for records which had been provided by such submitter, and that such request was being processed under the FOIA, the requester will be notified that the submitter is being provided an opportunity to comment on the request. The notice to the requester should not include any of the specific information contained in the records being requested.
(3)
Whenever VA notifies a submitter of a final decision, the requester will also be notified by separate correspondence. This notification to the requester may be contained in VA's FOIA decision.
(h) Notices of lawsuit.
Whenever a FOIA requester brings suit seeking to compel disclosure of confidential commercial information, the submitter of the information will be promptly notified.
(i) Exceptions to the notification requirements.
The predisclosure notification requirements in paragraph (c) of this section need not be followed if:
(2)
The record(s) requested have been published or have been officially made available to the public;
(3)
Disclosure of the record(s) or information is required by law (other than the FOIA, 5 U.S.C. 552 );
(ii)
Specifies narrow classes of records submitted to VA that are to be released under the FOIA; and
(iii)
Provides in exceptional circumstances for notice when the submitter provides written justification, at the time the information is submitted or a reasonable time thereafter, that disclosure of the information could reasonably be expected to cause substantial competitive harm;
(5)
The record(s) requested are not designated by the submitter as exempt from disclosure in accordance with paragraph (e) of this section, and the submitter had an opportunity to do so at the time of submission of the record(s) or a reasonable time thereafter, and VA does not have substantial reason to believe that disclosure of the information would result in competitive harm; or
(6)
The designation made by the submitter in accordance with paragraph (e) of this section appears obviously frivolous, except that, in such case, VA must still provide the submitter with advance written notice of any final administrative disclosure determination not less than 10 working days prior to the specified disclosure date.
(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 2900-0393)