The statutory authority for this part is 44 U.S.C. 2904.

See § 1220.18 of this subchapter for definitions of terms used in part 1228.

Loans of temporary records between Federal agencies or to non-Federal recipients do not require approval from NARA. The lending agency is responsible for documenting the loan and return of the records.

Loans of permanent or unscheduled records between Federal agencies or to non-Federal recipients require prior written approval from NARA. The loan of permanent or unscheduled records increases the likelihood of the records becoming lost, misplaced, or incorporated into other files. Agencies should consider reproducing or scanning the records in response to a loan request.

(a) An agency proposing to loan permanent or unscheduled records must prepare a written loan agreement with the proposed recipient. The agreement must include:

(1) The name of the department or agency and subdivisions having custody of the records;

(2) The name and address of the proposed recipient of the records;

(3) A list containing:

(i) Identification of the records to be loaned, by series or system;

(ii) The inclusive dates for each series or system;

(iii) The volume and media of the records to be loaned; and

(iv) The NARA disposition job (SF 115) and item numbers covering the records, if any.

(4) A statement of the purpose and duration of the loan;

(5) A statement specifying any restrictions on the use of the records and how these restrictions will be imposed by the recipient;

(6) A certification that the records will be stored in areas with security and environmental controls equal to those specified in part 1234 of this subchapter; and

(7) A signature block for the Archivist of the United States. The loan must not take place until the Archivist has signed the agreement.

(b) On request, NARA may allow an agency to prepare an annual loan agreement covering multiple transfers from the same series of records to another single Federal agency.

(c) The agency must send a written request to NARA, by mail at National Archives and Records Administration; Office of the Chief Records Officer (AC); 8601 Adelphi Road; College Park, MD 20740-6001, or by email at [email protected], transmitting the proposed loan agreement, citing the rationale for not providing copies in place of the original records, and specifying the name, title, and phone number of an agency contact. The request must be submitted or approved by the individual authorized to sign records schedules as described in § 1220.34(b) of this subchapter.

(a) NARA will review the request and, if it is approved, return the signed agreement to the agency within 30 days.

(b) NARA will deny the request within 30 days if the records are due or past due to be transferred to the National Archives of the United States in accordance with part 1235 of this subchapter, if the loan would endanger the records, or if the loan would otherwise violate the regulations in 36 CFR chapter XII, subchapter B. NARA will notify the agency in writing if it disapproves the loan and the reasons for the disapproval of the loan.

An agency must contact the recipient of loaned permanent or unscheduled records 30 days prior to the expiration of the loan period (as stated in the loan agreement) to arrange for the return of the records. If the agency extends the duration of the loan, it must notify NARA (see § 1228.12(b)) in writing, specifying the reason for the extension and providing the new expiration date of the loan.