DoD: PAL Source Code
| Tracking # |
15-F-0519 |
| Submitted | Dec. 29, 2014 |
| Due | Jan. 28, 2015 |
| Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Ryan Carboni
To Whom It May Concern:
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:
I request the source code to OSD/JS Public Access Link (PAL) system.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
In the event that fees cannot be waived, 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 20 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Ryan Carboni
From: Santos, Adrienne M CIV WHS ESD (US)
Mr. Ryan Carboni
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 15170
P.O. Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205-5819
Sent via electronic mail to: requests@muckrock.com
Dear Mr. Carboni:
This is the final response to your enclosed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for "the source code to OSD/JS Public Access Link (PAL) system." Your request was received in this office on December 29, 2014 and assigned FOIA case number 15-F-0519.
Ms. Karol V. Stackhouse, Enterprise IT Services Directorate Customer Engagement Manager for Washington Headquarters Services, Executive Services Division, determined that the requested information is exempt in its entirety pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(4), which pertains to trade secrets and commercial or financial information that is privileged or confidential. Please be advised that the Public Access Link (PAL) software is a proprietary product with protected intellectual property and trade secrets. Any release of this protected information would cause the contractor financial harm and place them at a competitive disadvantage in the marketplace for commercial FOIA technology.
If you are not satisfied with this action, you may petition the Appellate Authority, the Director of Administration, Office of the Secretary of Defense, by writing directly to the OSD/Joint Staff Freedom of Information, ATTN: Appeals Office, 1155 Defense Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 20301-1155; you may also submit your appeal electronically at the following link: http://pal.whs.mil/palMain.aspx. Your appeal should be postmarked within 60 calendar days of the date of this mail, should cite case number 15-F-0519, and should be clearly marked "Freedom of Information Act Appeal." There are no assessable fees associated with this response.
v/r
Adrienne M. Santos, FOIA Analyst
for Suzanne Council on behalf of
M.L. Wahling, Acting Chief,
Freedom of Information Act Division
OSD/JS FOIA Office
From: Ryan Carboni
I appeal this response to 15-F-0519. The source code of the Public Access Link is still segregable. The back end could be redacted. (See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Front_and_back_ends)
Items such as user registration, login, and FOIA request submission are unlikely to cause commercial harm as those are forms, code for which could easily be obtained over the internet
From: Department of Defense, Freedom of Information Policy Office
An interim response, stating the request is being processed.
From: Department of Defense, Freedom of Information Policy Office
The request has been rejected, with the agency stating that the information or document(s) requested are exempt from disclosure.
From: Ryan Carboni
Please check licensing information for the source code to determine if any of it is open-source.