Missoula PD / Othram - Request from Vice News

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Montana Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

1. Copies of contracts into which the department has entered with Othram Inc. between Jan. 1 2018 and the time this request is processed.
2. Copies of any proposals or presentations anyone representing Othram Inc. has presented to the department between Jan. 2018 and the time this request is processed; these may be identifiable by searching for records attached to anyone whose email address ends in @othram.com.
3. Copies of any correspondence between any official in the department with the authority to review contract proposals or enter into contracts and anyone with an email address ending in @othram.com dated between Jan. 1 2018 and the time this request is processed. I also request that any documents attached to any discovered correspondence be provided in .pdf format.

Electronic records should be produced in their unlocked native format with all original metadata and original filenames. Paper documents should be scanned and produced as Adobe PDF files. Emails produced should be grouped together with any attachments. When searching emails, please search all folders, including inbox, subject matter folders, sent items, archived items, and deleted items. Please produce all metadata fields for emails, including BCC and all others. Please email all records produced to kassidy.dillon@vice.com.

The above request is a matter of public interest. The requested documents will be used in the course of reporting for VICE News. As such, we request a fee waiver. The disclosure of the information sought is not for commercial purposes; instead, it will contribute to the public’s understanding of government operations.

If this request is denied in whole or in part, I ask that you justify all deletions by reference to specific exemptions of the Montana Freedom of Information Act. Please inform us of the reason(s) for such denial in writing, and provide the name, mailing address, and email address of the person or body to whom an appeal should be directed. I expect the release of all segregable portions of otherwise exempt material. Please do not redact any non-responsive information from any records; we request the complete copies of any records with any responsive information.

In the interest of time, I request that you provide documents as they become available rather than waiting for the complete set.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days.

Sincerely,

Kassidy Dillon