Release of 2012 Records Management Self-Assessment

Today we released the 2012 Records Management Self-Assessment (.pdf) which presents the results of the annual records management self-assessment (RMSA) taken by Federal agencies. The goal of RMSA is to determine whether Federal agencies are compliant with statutory and regulatory records management requirements.  Each responding agency receives a numerical score between 0-100 and is placed into Low, Moderate, and High Risk Categories. These categories measure how effectively government records are managed based on the records management statutes and regulations.

The purpose of the RMSA is to provide NARA and Federal Agencies with an objective measure of the current state of records management programs, the impact of changes made since the previous assessment, and data that can be used to make future changes. While there is still much work to be done, the 2012 report highlights several positive trends  by Federal agencies.

  • The number of agencies that scored in the Low Risk category continues to rise.
  • While the majority of agencies still score in the Moderate to High Risk Categories there is movement upward in scores within these categories.
  • Many agency records management staff now participate in the design and development of electronic systems and work collaboratively with other units on issues related to electronic records.
  • Agencies have increased their permanent electronic records transfer activity using the Electronic Records Archives, NARA’s strategic initiative to preserve and provide long-term access to the electronic records of the Federal Government.
  • RMSA findings and recommendations are in keeping with the goals and requirements of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and NARA Managing Government Records Directive (M-12-18).  We believe as the requirements of the Directive are implemented along with our other records management oversight activities we will continue to see improvements.

The 2012 report and the reports from the 2009-2011 RMSAs, can be downloaded as .pdfs from our website

More details will be coming in mid-August and September. If you have any further questions regarding the RMSA please feel free to leave a comment here on the blog or send an email to the lead of the team producing the RMSA, cindy.smolovik@nara.gov.