Acquisition Regulation: Access to and Ownership of Records

The Department of Energy (DOE) is publishing a final rule amending the Department of Energy Acquisition Regulation (DEAR) to ensure the access to and ownership of records generated during contract performance for its contractors and subcontractors performing potentially hazardous work and clarifies management, retention and disposal of records after contract termination. This final rule: Ensures that records generated on individuals that meet the requirements of the Privacy Act are operated and maintained as Privacy Act SORs; clarifies that Privacy Act SORs are Government-owned records, not contractor-owned, even though they are created by the contractor; ensures the inclusion of this clause in contracts where work activities could involve exposure to potentially hazardous substances; and, ensures that DOE has consistent records maintenance, retention, and disposal requirements in accordance with Federal laws, regulations and DOE Directives and updates thereto.