Government records research, document acquisition, and managed records requests.
Infosourceful helps individuals, organizations, researchers, and professional teams locate, request, and obtain publicly accessible government records.
Whether you need one defined records request managed or a coordinated research project involving multiple sources and agencies, we provide a clearly scoped service with documented results.
Choose the Service That Fits Your Assignment
Managed Public Records Request — $125 per request
Know what records you need but would prefer someone else to manage the request?
Infosourceful prepares, submits, and tracks a defined public records request to one government agency.
Included services:
- Preparation and submission of one defined request to one agency.
- Tracking and routine correspondence for up to 120 days.
- Follow-up on agency acknowledgments, status updates, and responses.
- Collection and delivery of released records received during the engagement.
- A final record of actions performed, results, and any outstanding items.
The fee covers management of the request, regardless of whether the agency releases records. Government processing and copying fees, when applicable, are separate.
Request a Managed Records Request
Public Records Research & Acquisition — Projects Starting at $1,750
Need to determine which records exist, where to find them, and how to obtain them?
Infosourceful conducts structured public records research and manages the acquisition of records relevant to a defined research question or assignment.
Depending on the agreed scope, work may include:
- Identifying relevant agencies, jurisdictions, record custodians, and source systems.
- Searching publicly accessible government records and databases.
- Developing and coordinating requests across multiple sources or agencies.
- Locating historical records and supporting documentation.
- Tracking records requests and documenting agency responses.
- Organizing acquired records, assessing their relevance, and identifying remaining information gaps.
- Preparing a research report with source references, findings, and limitations.
Projects are quoted at a fixed fee based on scope, complexity, and required deliverables.
Discuss a Public Records Research Project
FOIA and Government Records Requests
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) provides a process for requesting records from U.S. federal agencies. State and local government records are governed by their respective public records and information-access laws.
Infosourceful works with the applicable process for each assignment, including identifying the appropriate receiving agency, preparing requests, documenting submissions, following agency responses, and coordinating released records.
Not every government record requires a formal FOIA request. When records are already publicly accessible through an official system, direct research and retrieval may be more appropriate.
How the Process Works
1. Describe the assignment. Tell us what records you need or what research question you want answered. Existing record lists and assignment instructions are welcome.
2. Confirm the scope and price. We establish the sources, agencies, services, deliverables, and expected limitations before beginning.
3. Research or submit the requests. Infosourceful performs the agreed research, record retrieval, and request-management activities.
4. Receive documented results. We deliver acquired records and a clear account of work completed, sources consulted, responses received, and items that remain unresolved.
Research Support for Organizations and Professional Teams
Infosourceful also accepts defined research assignments and subcontracted work from research firms, consultancies, media organizations, and other professional service providers.
Clients may submit individual records requests, lists of identified records, or broader multi-source assignments. Each engagement is priced according to the applicable service and agreed scope.
Important Service Information
Agency processing times, record availability, access restrictions, and disclosure decisions remain under the control of the relevant government agency. Infosourceful cannot guarantee the release of requested records or an agency response within a particular period.
Government fees and other additional expenses require approval. Additional agencies, expanded research, appeals, disputes, and work extending beyond the agreed service are subject to separate review and quotation.
Infosourceful provides independent factual research and records acquisition. We do not provide legal advice, private investigation, background screening, title abstracting, or legal certification.
Ready to get started?
Tell us what records you need or describe your research question. Initial consultations and scope discussions are complimentary.
Have a question that needs a closer look?
If you’re trying to verify a claim, sort through conflicting information, or understand a complicated situation more clearly, start with the question.
We’ll take a look, let you know what can reasonably be researched, and suggest a scope that fits what you’re trying to learn.
