Use of Vendors

6.	Does your office use a vendor to assist in maintaining or disseminating electronic records, including web site maintenance?
	(Check only one answer.)
	1.		Yes
	2.		No (Click here to go to Question 9.)
	3.		No response (Click here to go to Question 9.)

7.	Does your office use a vendor to perform or assist with any of the following activities?
	(Check one for each activity.)

		Yes	No	No response
7a.	Reproducing and disseminating records in bulk in response to requests
7b.	Scanning, entering, or imaging records into digital format
7c.	Indexing or verification of records
7d.	Operating a document access and retrieval system for use by the public
7e.	Providing technical support for an electronic records system
7f.	Maintaining a web site that permits access to individual public records
7g.	Archiving or storing bulk records on media

	7h. What other activities, if any, do vendors specifically perform to assist in making public records available in bulk or through a subscription service or web site? (Describe below. If you reach the end of the text box and need to type more, please continue; the box will scroll forward as needed.)

8.	In which of the following ways are vendors that are assisting your office with maintaining or disseminating records allowed to use the public records they have access to?
	(Check one for each row.)

		Yes	No	No response
8a.	May use records for their own purposes, without limitations
8b.	May use records for their own purposes when authorized by your office
8c.	May share or resell records to others without limitations
8d.	May share or resell records to others only if approved by your office
8e.	May subcontract work to entities based outside the U.S. or its territories
8f.	May share data with entities based outside the U.S. or its territories
8g.	Must safeguard sensitive information in records, including full or partial social security numbers

	8h. In what other ways are vendors that are assisting your office with maintaining or disseminating records specifically allowed or not allowed to use the public records they have access to? (Describe below. If you reach the end of the text box and need to type more, please continue; the box will scroll forward as needed.)

9.	To the best of your knowledge, have any vendors used the public records they have access to without permission or in a way that violates their agreement with your office since January 1, 2007?
	(Check only one answer.)
	1.		Yes
	2.		No
	3.		Don't know; not aware of any
	4.		No response

	9a. If yes, how have vendors misused public records?

---

Full Report: GAO-08-1009

Table of Contents | Previous | Next