Cochrane USA

Good afternoon,

This email is being sent to request clarification to your amended Texas Public Information Act (TPIA) request for:

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Any emails, media, and contracts mentioning "Cochrane" and/or "Cochrane USA" between January 1st, 2023, and the date on which this request is processed from the following divisions and individuals:
(1) Texas Adjutant General and Deputy Adjutant General
(2) Joint Staff leadership within Operations, Logistics, Intelligence, Plans and Policy, and Communications
(3) Chief of Staff including General Counsel, Inspector General, Special Staff, Strategic Initiatives Group, Public Affairs, Government Affairs, and Command Staff
(4) Domestic Operations leadership
(5) Texas State Guard leadership
(6) Attorney General Ken Paxton
(7) Governor Gregg Abbott
(8) Senator Ted Cruz
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Please clarify the following terms/items in your request:
- please define the term “Communications” as Public Affairs and Government Affairs are listed in item 3
- please define the term “Special Staff” as special staff offices are already listed
- please define the term “Command Staff”
- please define the term “Domestic Operations leadership” as Operations are already listed and the organization does not have a Domestic Operations command
- please define the term “Texas State Guard leadership”; does this refer to the commander of the Texas State Guard?
- for items 6-8, is the request for communications between the individuals included in items 1-5 and the individuals in items 6-8?

Your narrowing or clarification of this request does not preclude you from making future requests for additional information. After we receive your response, we can begin a search of our records for the information you are seeking. If we do not receive a response from you by the 61st day after the date this email is sent, your request will be considered withdrawn. See Govt Code § 552.222(d), (g). The withdrawal of your request does not preclude you from requesting the same or other information in the future.

All communications concerning this request should be identified with the above reference number and addressed to this mailbox or the address listed below. If you have any questions regarding your records request, please feel free to contact our office at this email address or (512) 782-5443.

Sincerely,
Open Records
Texas Military Department
Office: 512.782.5443
Fax: 512.782.6988
P.O. Box 5218 (ATTN: FOIA)
Austin, TX 78763

Good afternoon,

This email is being sent to request clarification to your amended Texas Public Information Act (TPIA) request for:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Any emails, media (photos/videos/presentations), and contracts mentioning "Cochrane" (aka "Cochrane, USA") between January 1st, 2023, and the date on which this request is processed from the following individuals and offices:
(1) Texas Adjutant General and Deputy Adjutant General
(2) Joint Staff leadership within Operations, Logistics, Intelligence, Plans and Policy
(3) Chief of Staff including General Counsel, Inspector General, Strategic Initiatives Group, Public Affairs, Government Affairs
(4) Office of the Executive Director of the Texas Military Department, including leadership from Finance and Procurement divisions
(5) Current and former Commanders of the Texas State Guard
(6) Attorney General Ken Paxton
(7) Governor Gregg Abbott
(8) Senator Ted Cruz
(9) Current and former Commanders of the State Guard 3rd Brigade
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Please clarify the following terms/items in your request:
- for item 3, does this request mean to include the Joint Chief of Staff in addition to the General Counsel, Inspector General, etc.?

- does item 4 mean to reference only the Executive Director (Ms. Shelia Taylor) and the head of Finance/Procurement?

- for items 6-8, any responsive records would be included by searches conducted by the individuals referenced in items 1-5 and 9; our agency would not have the ability to have these individuals conduct an independent search

Your narrowing or clarification of this request does not preclude you from making future requests for additional information. After we receive your response, we can begin a search of our records for the information you are seeking. If we do not receive a response from you by the 61st day after the date this email is sent, your request will be considered withdrawn. See Govt Code § 552.222(d), (g). The withdrawal of your request does not preclude you from requesting the same or other information in the future.

All communications concerning this request should be identified with the above reference number and addressed to this mailbox or the address listed below. If you have any questions regarding your records request, please feel free to contact our office at this email address or (512) 782-5443.
Sincerely,
Open Records
Texas Military Department
Office: 512.782.5443
Fax: 512.782.6988
P.O. Box 5218 (ATTN: FOIA)
Austin, TX 78763

Good afternoon,

This email is being sent to request clarification to your amended Texas Public Information Act (TPIA) request for:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Any emails, media (photos/videos/presentations), and contracts mentioning "Cochrane" (aka "Cochrane, USA") between January 1, 2023, and the date on which this request is processed from the following individuals and offices:
(1) Texas Adjutant General and Deputy Adjutant General
(2) Joint Staff leadership within Operations, Logistics, Intelligence, Plans and Policy
(3) Joint Chief of Staff, the General Counsel, Inspector General, and the heads of the following offices: Strategic Initiatives Group, Public Affairs, Government Affairs
(4) Executive Director (Ms. Shelia Taylor) and the head of Finance/Procurement as well as any direct assistant employees to these positions that may also be responsible for handling the subject matter
(5) Current and former Commanders of the Texas State Guard
(6) Current and former Commanders of the State Guard 3rd Brigade
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Please clarify the following terms/items in your request:

- the term “any direct assistant employees” in item 4 mean to reference any “Deputy” positions that may exist?

Your narrowing or clarification of this request does not preclude you from making future requests for additional information. After we receive your response, we can begin a search of our records for the information you are seeking. If we do not receive a response from you by the 61st day after the date this email is sent, your request will be considered withdrawn. See Govt Code § 552.222(d), (g). The withdrawal of your request does not preclude you from requesting the same or other information in the future.
All communications concerning this request should be identified with the above reference number and addressed to this mailbox or the address listed below. If you have any questions regarding your records request, please feel free to contact our office at this email address or (512) 782-5443.

Sincerely,

Open Records
Texas Military Department
Office: 512.782.5443
Fax: 512.782.6988
P.O. Box 5218 (ATTN: FOIA)
Austin, TX 78763

Public Information Cost Estimate Letter

Ms. Sherrie Hart
Via email: requests@muckrock.com<mailto:requests@muckrock.com>

Dear Ms. Hart:

We have received your request for information clarified on 9/7/2023 and have determined that complying with your request will result in the imposition of a charge that exceeds $40. Therefore, we are providing you with this cost estimate as required by section 552.2615 of the Texas Government Code.

Itemized List of Charges:
Description Qty x Price Total
Labor minutes ($15/hour) 1800 x $0.25 $450.00
Overhead charges 20% of $450.00 $90.00
Total cost $540.00

There is a less expensive way for you to obtain this information. You may view the information in person at our offices. If you choose to view the information in person, please provide me with three dates and times when it will be convenient for you to come.

The estimated charges exceed $100.00; therefore, as allowed by section 552.263(a) of the Government Code, we require a deposit of 100% ($540.00) before starting work on your request. Complying with this request require labor to locate, compile, and manipulate the requested information (as the requested information would require redactions to be made to remove the presence of confidential military personnel information not subject to disclosure under the Act).

Your request will be considered automatically withdrawn if you do not notify us in writing within ten business days from the date of this letter that you either:
(a) accept the charges;
(b) wish to modify your request; OR
(c) have sent to the Open Records Division of the Office of the Attorney General a complaint alleging that you are being overcharged for the information you have requested.

All communications concerning this request should be identified with the above reference number and addressed to this mailbox or the address listed below. If you have any questions regarding your records request, please feel free to contact our office at this email address or (512) 782-5443.

Sincerely,

Open Records
Texas Military Department
Office: 512.782.5443
Fax: 512.782.6988
P.O. Box 5218 (ATTN: FOIA)
Austin, TX 78763

Good afternoon,

This is a follow-up to your request T23-86. As discussed below, we will continue processing your request once we have received payment for the deposit referenced below.

If you have any questions regarding your records request, please feel free to contact our office at this email address or (512) 782-5443.

Sincerely,

Open Records
Texas Military Department
Office: 512.782.5443
Fax: 512.782.6988
P.O. Box 5218 (ATTN: FOIA)
Austin, TX 78763

Good morning,

Please find attached correspondence that was filed with the Office of the Attorney General for your records. Once we receive a response regarding this request, we will provide a final response to you.

If you have any questions regarding your records request, please feel free to contact our office at this email address or (512) 782-5443.

Sincerely,

Open Records
Texas Military Department
Office: 512.782.5443
Fax: 512.782.6988
P.O. Box 5218 (ATTN: FOIA)
Austin, TX 78763

UNCLASSIFIED
Good afternoon,

Please find attached correspondence that was filed with the Office of the Attorney General for your records. Once we receive a response regarding this request, we will provide a final response to you.

If you have any questions regarding your records request, please feel free to contact our office at this email address or (512) 782-5443.

Sincerely,

Open Records
Texas Military Department
Office: 512.782.5443
Fax: 512.782.6988
P.O. Box 5218 (ATTN: FOIA)
Austin, TX 78763

A letter stating that the request appeal has been received and is being processed.