(a) Whenever a demand for production is made upon an employee, the employee shall immediately notify NACIC Counsel, who will follow the procedures set forth in this section.

(b) NACIC Counsel and the Office Chiefs with responsibility for the information sought in the demand shall determine whether any information or materials may properly be produced in response to the demand, except that NACIC Counsel may assert any and all legal defenses and objections to the demand available to NACIC prior to the start of any search for information responsive to the demand. NACIC may, in its sole discretion, decline to begin any search for information responsive to the demand until a final and non-appealable disposition of any such defenses and objections raised by NACIC has been made by the entity or person that issued the demand.

(c) NACIC officials shall consider the following factors, among others, in reaching a decision:

(1) Whether production is appropriate in light of any relevant privilege;

(2) Whether production is appropriate under the applicable rules of discovery or the procedures governing the case or matter in which the demand arose; and

(3) Whether any of the following circumstances apply:

(i) Disclosure would violate a statute, including but not limited to the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 552a;

(ii) Disclosure would reveal classified information;

(iii) Disclosure would improperly reveal trade secrets or proprietary confidential information without the owner's consent; or

(iv) Disclosure would interfere with the orderly conduct of NACIC's functions.

(d) If oral or written testimony is sought by a demand in a case or matter in which the NACIC is not a party, a reasonably detailed description of the testimony sought, in the form of an affidavit or, if that is not feasible, a written statement, by the party seeking the testimony or by the party's attorney must be furnished to the NACIC Counsel.

(e) The NACIC Counsel shall be responsible for notifying the appropriate employees and other persons of all decisions regarding responses to demands and providing advice and counsel as to the implementation of such decisions.

(f) If response to a demand is required before a decision is made whether to provide the documents or information sought by the demand, NACIC Counsel, after consultation with the Department of Justice, shall appear before and furnish the court or other competent authority with a copy of this part and state that the demand has been or is being, as the case may be, referred for the prompt consideration of the appropriate NACIC officials, and shall respectfully request the court or other authority to stay the demand pending receipt of the required instructions.

(g) If the court or any other authority declines to stay the demand pending receipt of instructions in response to a request made in accordance with § 1805.4(g) or rules that the demand must be complied with regardless of instructions rendered in accordance with this part not to produce the material or disclose the information sought, the employee upon whom the demand has been made shall, if so directed by NACIC Counsel, respectfully decline to comply with the demand under the authority of United States ex. rel. Touhy v. Ragen, 340 U.S. 462 (1951), and this part.

(h) With respect to any function granted to NACIC officials in this part, such officials are authorized to delegate in writing their authority in any case or matter or category thereof to subordinate officials.

(i) Any non-employee who receives a demand for the production or disclosure of NACIC information acquired because of that person's association or contacts with NACIC should notify NACIC Counsel, (703) 874-4121, for guidance and assistance. In such cases, the provisions of this part shall be applicable.