Position Overview

The contractor will independently provide specialized FOIA and Privacy Act support services, including processing information requests, conducting legal and policy research, drafting responses and memoranda, supporting administrative appeals, and assisting with related communications and case management activities. The role also supports OCPL's broader communications mission by researching, writing, fact-checking, and revising science-based materials for NIH's diverse audiences. Candidates should hold a Bachelor's degree in Public Health, Governmental Affairs, Public Policy, or a related field, with a minimum of five (5) years of specialized experience (seven years preferred).

Field of Study

• Bachelor's degree in Public Health, Governmental Affairs, or Public Policy

Software

• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)

• Adobe Acrobat

• Internet research tools

Skills

• Minimum of five (5) years of specialized experience (seven years preferred)

• Strong oral and written communication skills

• Excellent analytical, organizational, and time management skills

• Ability to exercise initiative and work independently

Deliverables

• Work products and documents related to preparing science-based materials; conducting research; developing and completing written assignments; identifying subject matter experts to interview — Ad-Hoc

• Work products and documents related to attending scientific seminars and presentations related to the topics being addressed; conducting interviews with subject matter experts; drafting materials for submission to editors for clearance, publication and final dissemination; applying editorial standards and applicable style guidelines to each work — Ad-Hoc

• Work products and documents related to addressing feedback obtained in the NIH clearance process; reworking, rewriting and revising sections to incorporate feedback; attending staff and/or team meetings, either in person or remotely as agreed upon — Ad-Hoc

• Work products and documents related to maintaining records of source material, interviews, drafts, and final products and materials for archiving; reading, reviewing, and interpreting scientific literature; organizing and expressing complex scientific concepts; completing and submitting drafts and final products within specified deadlines — Ad-Hoc

• Work products and documents related to presenting information and ideas in such a way as to advance the agency's biomedical research mission and communication goals; preparing written products for use by audiences with differing levels of comprehension — Ad-Hoc

Statement of Work Details

• Research, write, fact-check, edit and revise a wide range of science-based materials designed to meet the communications needs of NIH, OCPL, and the agency's diverse audiences.

• Conduct research using background literature and source material sufficient to accomplish the development of high-quality, well-written, and accurate products.

• Develop and complete written assignments, including articles, summaries of research findings, brief newsletter contributions, factsheets, brochures, website content and routine or special reports.

• Work with NIH editors and subject matter experts to identify interviewees.

• Identify and pitch recently published NIH-funded research studies for coverage consideration.

• Attend scientific seminars and presentations related to the topics being addressed.

• Conduct interviews with subject matter experts and supply notes or transcripts of interviews to the editors if requested.

• Draft materials for submission to editors for clearance, publication and final dissemination.

• Apply editorial standards and applicable style guidelines to each work.

• Work with editors to address feedback obtained in the NIH clearance process; rework, rewrite and revise sections to incorporate feedback.

• Attend 1-2 staff and/or team meetings per week if requested, either in person or remotely.

• Participate in strategy meetings for end-of-year summary publications and future calendar planning.

• Maintain careful and strict records of source material, interviews, drafts, and final products and materials for archiving and compliance with applicable records statutes, regulations, and guidelines.

• Read, review and interpret appropriate scientific literature related to the topics being addressed.

• Organize and express complex scientific concepts.

• Complete and submit drafts and final products within specified deadlines.

• Present information in a tone and style commensurate with each publication and its target audience.

• Present information and ideas in such a way as to advance the agency's biomedical research mission and communication goals while helping to promote increased understanding of the value of publicly funded research.

• Prepare written products for use by a wide range of audiences with differing levels of comprehension: the general public, Congress, the media, industry, healthcare professionals and others.

• Independently process FOIA requests, including correspondence, memoranda, and redacting documents.

• Research, analyze and evaluate data for information request responses; write final response letters with no redactions or with routine applicable exemptions.

• Write email information request responses as received from other organizations and the public.

• Manage OER FOIA email box.

• Forward information request responses as received from other organizations and the public to the appropriate person for response.

• Conduct research on relevant disclosure laws, regulations, policies, and precedents in order to reach conclusions regarding the release of requested information, and document results.

• Apply knowledge of the FOIA, the Privacy Act, DHHS FOIA Regulations, NIH policy and court decisions to review requests for information, determine the appropriateness of the release, and make recommendations regarding appeals.

• Review documents and responses to ensure compliance with the Acts and the regulations and policies issued pursuant to them.

• Coordinate information requests with other offices; maintain a record of information in case file as appropriate.

• Consult with members of the public, attorneys, IC management, and NIH intramural or extramural staff to resolve requests for sensitive documents which may involve proprietary commercial and financial information, invasions of personal privacy, ongoing investigations, or pre-decisional and deliberative material.

• Analyze regulations, case decisions, policies and procedures to determine whether private or confidential information can be released.

• Participate in meetings and discussions with attorneys on how best to respond to lawsuits over information requests via phone and electronic correspondence.

• Use automated tracking systems to monitor requests for confidential information to ensure timely resolution; extract information from multiple sources for use in writing reports.

• Draft a weekly progress report regarding the status of assigned FOIA cases and other activities to be submitted to the FOIA Officer.

• Respond to inquiries about the formal release of documents.

• Communicate with consumers, the public, or special interest groups on behalf of NIH.

• Negotiate informal agreements and support formal agreements to resolve conflicts between the requesters and providers of information; determine what is needed by a requester and assist the requester in formulating a request that will satisfy the requester's information needs.