FOIAXpress has the flexibility to enable agencies to configure when the 20-day clock will begin.

FOIAXpress automatically tracks the days a request is being processed so that the FOIA component processing the request has real-time accountability of the days remaining to complete the request.

FOIAXpress employs a sophisticated inbox capability to control the assignment of cases and management of caseloads. The application can direct or redirect the case(s) to the appropriate agency component inbox. Using the “assign” function, the administrator can assign case(s) to one or multiple users or components. The cases can be re-assigned to one or multiple users, or one or multiple components. When assigning or re-assigning a case, the system routes the case to a user’s inbox, and generates (optional) email notifying the user of the assignment.

FOIAXpress is designed to provide alerts that remind the FOIA analyst about the pending tasks on a case before its due date expires. As FOIAXpress processes the requests, it checks the status of the requests and if there are any alerts on any requests with the target dates for requests and due dates for scheduled tasks respectively, i.e., pending tasks on pending cases are displayed. Users can check the “Pending Tasks under FOIAXpress Today” to see if there are any tasks which are pending on a case.

The system allows users to set specific due dates. Also, the system will automatically generate dates associated with processing a case(s) (e.g. received date, target date and date on the request letter). The user can easily modify the generated dates via a calendar function. Using the calendar, the user can set the day, month and year, for past, present or future processing actions. The system allows the system administrator to set the target date from three different times. The target date can be set to automatically calculate based on the screened date, received date, or assigned date.

In addition, a tickler box/folder allows the user to enter action items. When creating “required items” or items that require attention, the user can select dates, set up alerts, and set up distribution lists for the alerts. The system automatically sends alerts to those identified on the distribution list.

Designed to meet the Executive Order requirements and openness in government, FOIAXpress/PAL allows the public to submit and track the status of Freedom of Information (FOIA) and Privacy Act (PA) requests over the Internet. Requesters submit their request electronically through a link on your agency Service Center or other website. Using PAL, the requester creates a user account that provides a login ID and password which allows the requester to submit, check status, and can also choose to have their response posted for download.

FOIAXpress can be integrated with our Public Access Link (PAL) which is aiding a number of government agencies comply the Freedom of Information Act of 1996, and Executive Order 13,392.

AINS, Inc. is the premier provider of COTS eFOIA request processing solutions. FOIAXpress has been designed to specifically automate FOIA/PA case processing including case management, document management, redactions, fee management & invoicing, custom & annual reporting, and is compliant with Executive Order 13,392 of December 14, 2005. FOIAXpress w/Public Access Link (PAL) cuts FOIA processing time, delays, and backlog; automates compliance and statistical reporting and provides citizen-centered online FOIA access for initiating and tracking requests as well as public reading room management.

In addition to FOIAXpress w/PAL AINS product suite includes; RedactXpress, which is a redaction tool that communicates with FOIAXpress or as a standalone solution. And SCANXpress, which is a batch scanning solution for high volume or centralized scanning, can be integrated with FOIAXpress or can be used as a standalone solution.

FOIAXpress is a fully integrated, comprehensive system for receiving and processing FOIA/PA, appeals and other type of requests. FOIAXpress manages workflow from initial scanning of a request letter to completion of case processing, tracking and reporting workflow statistics, integrated email and other correspondence, and fee calculation and invoice generation and tracking. FOIAXpress Public Access Link (PAL) allows requesters to submit requests, track case status, receive fee/waiver information, receive email and other correspondence pertaining to the request, and download documents from the Internet.

On August 3, 2007 the U.S. Senate passed the Open Government Act under bil S849. As the first major reform to FOIA in more than a decade, the OPEN Government Act will help to reverse the troubling trends of excessive delays and lax FOIA compliance in our government and help to restore the public’s trust in their government. The following table provides information on how FOIAXpress will mitigate the new guidelines that the bill introduced.

The following are benefits that an organization can derive from FOIAXpress:

• Provides a Web-based solution that can quickly and easily be deployed to both the principal and remote offices.
• Accelerates deployment
• Automates the annual reporting process.
• Provides an excellent redaction tool for processing TIFF images within the system, and output as read-only image documents (.pdf).
• Will enhance the quality of FOIA/PA research and responses to FOIA requests received by each FOIA office.
• Will facilitate effective process management, tracking, and reporting of the FOIA/PA requests received by each FOIA office through effective business process automation and support for pertinent standards.
• Decreases the backlog of FOIA/PA requests through automation of the research and decision making processes—FOIAXpress will enable each FOIA office to streamline and advance FOIA/PA business processes while driving business performance at the employee, departmental and division levels.
• Provides a business solution that is robust, high performing, scalable, and secure with an easy-to-use Microsoft Windows-based interface.
• Integrates document imaging and storage capabilities.
• Provides a modular design that allows easy expansion/adoption to include new technologies.
• Will move an organization closer to a paperless environment.

FOIAXpress provides a process that leverages the current IT infrastructure to achieve organizations business objectives, while also providing improved business process management and reporting tools. FOIAXpress offers FOIA offices with a rapidly deployable solution that creates an ideal, collaborative synergy between people and systems. Implementing our FOIAXpress solution will yield tangible, significant, and rapid returns, including the following:

• Enhanced productivity—via customizable profiles, improved interoperability, and ease of access to data that will securely and effectively deliver vital information to anyone, anytime, anywhere, and on any device.
• Streamlined business processes—via improved stability, information sharing, best practices replication, and other FOIA/PA information management, tracking, and reporting features of FOIAXpress.
• Accelerated time to access information— provided by an integrated model for accessing, tracking, sharing, managing, and organizing information. FOIAXpress provides a point-and-click environment for inputting, tracking, and reporting FOIA/PA-related information and records.
• Cost savings—lower total costs of ownership provided by an integrated Web-based solution, rapid deployment time, streamline application integration, and decreased administration. Additionally, the ability to automatically generate (point-and-click) the Annual Compliance Report will not only provide substantial cost savings across all FOIA offices, it will also improve accuracy of information.
• Improved efficiencies— FOIAXpress will eliminate redundancy of information-based work, is scalable and flexible with regard to growing department needs, additional users, and technological enhancements.

The fact that FOIAXpress is able to satisfy 100% of the requirements of most agencies through application configuration without requiring any application programming provides multiple benefits and economies. This means that as future releases of the product become available, the customer is able to install the update without requiring any additional programming, which means that upgrades are accommodated quickly, and without additional expense to modify the custom code to upgrade the custom portion of the application.

FOIAXpress is a COTS solution designed to automate the processing of FOIA requests with a robust list of standard out-of-the-box features and functions.