NARA issues draft guidance for improving e-records management

The National Archives and Records Administration is seeking comment on a draft guidance for improving electronic records management for all agencies.In a released today, NARA outlined timelines requiring all agencies to implement processes and procedures for managing electronic records. Comments are due Dec. 29.In the draft guidance, NARA calls for all agencies to build records management capabilities into all new developed systems that generate federal records by Oct. 1, 2007.The draft also mandates that agencies continue establishing policies for electronic records management and transfer to NARA permanent electronic records from legacy systems to newly approved records schedules. By Sept. 30, 2009, agencies must have NARA-approved schedules for all e-record systems.The notice further states that all records management policies, tools and requirements NARA develops will support its massive Electronic Records Archives , a project that will maintain, store, collect and make available electronically all records from government agencies.NARA in September awarded Lockheed Martin Corp. a $308 million contract to develop the ERA, with the program reaching full operating capability in 2011.