SYSTEM NAME:

Foreign Service Officer Evaluations.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION:

None.

SYSTEM LOCATIONS:

Foreign Commerce Service, ITA, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20230.

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:

Members of the Foreign Commercial Service of the United States and Foreign Service Officers of the United States (State Department) serving abroad in commercial and/or economic positions or serving domestically in the United States Government.

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:

(1) Memorandums, cables, letters and other documents used in the preparation of Foreign Service Commercial Officer Evaluation Reports; and

(2) other documents relating to officer performance.

AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:

Foreign Service Act of 1980 (Pub.L. 96-465) .

ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES OF USERS AND PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:

A record in this system may be disclosed as a routine use to the Department of State in connection with the evaluation of the performance of a Foreign Service Officer.

A record may be dislosed pursuant to the following general routine uses of the Department of Commerce's Prefatory Statement:

1. In the event that a system or records maintained by the Department to carry out its functions indicates a violation or potential violation of law or contract, whether civil, criminal or regulatory in nature, and whether arising by general statute or particular program statute or contract, or rule, regulation, or order issued pursuant thereto, or the necessity to protect an interest of the Department, the relevant records in the system of records may be referred, as a routine use, to the appropriate agency, whether Federal, state, local or foreign, charged with the responsibility of investigating or prosecuting such violation or charged with enforcing or implementing the statute or contract, or rule, regulation or order issued pursuant thereto, or protecting the interest of the Department.

2. A record from this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to a Federal, state or local agency maintaining civil, criminal or other relevant enforcement information or other pertinent information, such as current licenses, if necessary to obtain information relevant to a Department decision concerning the assignment, hiring or retention of an individual, the issuance of a security clearance, the letting of a contract, or the issuance of a license, grant or other benefit.

3. A record from this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to a Federal, state, local, or international agency, in response to its request, in connection with the assignment, hiring or retention of an individual, the issuance of a security clearance, the reporting of an investigation of an individual, the letting of a contract, or the issuance of a license, grant, or other benefit by the requesting agency, to the extent that the information is relevant and necessary to the requesting agency's decision on the matter.

4. A record from this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, in the course of presenting evidence to a court, magistrate or administrative tribunal, including disclosures to opposing counsel in the course of settlement negotiations.

5. A record in this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to a Member of Congress submitting a request involving an individual when the individual has requested assistance from the Member with respect to the subject matter of the record.

A record in this system of records may be disclosed to appropriate agencies, entities and persons when: (1) it is suspected or determined that the security or confidentiality of information in the system of records has been compromised; (2) the Department has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed compromise there is a risk of harm to economic or property interests, identity theft or fraud, or harm to the security or integrity of this system or whether systems or programs (whether maintained by the Department or another agency or entity) that rely upon the compromised information; and (3) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Department's efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed compromise and to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm. 72 FR 45009

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORING, RETRIEVING, ACCESSING, RETAINING, AND DISPOSING OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:

STORAGE:

Paper records in file folders.

RETRIEVABILITY:

Filed alphabetically by individual FSO's name.

SAFEGUARDS:

Records are located in lockable metal file cabinets in premises with access limited to those whose official duties require access.

RETENTION AND DISPOSAL:

Documents relating to officer performance are retained until retirement, resignation, or death of the individual and then retired or destroyed, as appropriate.

SYSTEM MANAGER(S) AND ADDRESS:

Director General of the Foreign Commercial Service, ITA, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230.

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE:

Information may be obtained from: Privacy Act Officer, Office of Management and Systems, ITA, Room 3102, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230. Requester should provide his name pursuant to the inquiry provisions of the Department's rules which appear in 15 CFR part 4b.

RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:

Requests from individuals should be addressed to: same address as stated in the notification section above.

CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:

The Department's rules for access, for contesting contents, and appealing initial determinations by the individual concerned appear in 15 CFR part 4b. Use above address.

RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:

Subject individual, and supervisors of those individuals.

SYSTEM EXEMPTIONS FROM CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE ACT:

None.