5 CFR §1830.3
Verified against eCFR.gov as of June 20, 2026View official text on eCFR.gov ↗
- (a)Submission of requests. A request for OSC records under the Privacy Act must be made in writing. The request must be sent:
- (1)By email to: foiarequest@osc.gov; or
- (2)By mail to: U.S. Office of Special Counsel, Chief Privacy Officer, 1730 M Street NW, Suite 218, Washington, DC 20036-4505.
- (3)Both the request letter and envelope or email should clearly be marked “Privacy Act Request.” A Privacy Act request is deemed received by OSC when it reaches the Chief Privacy Officer.
- (b)Description of records sought. Requestors must describe the records sought in enough detail for OSC to locate them with a reasonable amount of effort, including, where known, data such as the date, title or name, author, recipient, and subject matter of the requested record.
- (c)Proof of identity. OSC requires proof of identity from requestors seeking their own files, preferably a government-issued document bearing the subject individual's photograph. OSC requires a signed consent from the subject individual to release records to an individual's representative.
- (d)Freedom of Information Act processing. OSC also processes all Privacy Act requests for access to records under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552, by following the rules contained in part 1820 of this chapter.