#### Introduction

The work of the Categorizing of Government Information Working Group
(CGIWG) will directly affect the ERPWG, because Federal agencies will
need to implement CGIWG recommended standard(s) for identifying,
categorizing, and searching information as part of their information
(i.e., records) management program. The CGIWG is actively researching
innovative techniques to identify, categorize, and search government
information on the Internet. They may view these techniques as IT
solutions and not as records management solutions.

The ERPWG, through the ERPWG Liaison, will work with the CGIWG to ensure
that records management principles are considered in CGIWG
recommendations, and to collaborate to ensure consistency between the
efforts of both groups.

**CGIWG Overview**

The CGIWG will provide recommendations to the Director of OMB on:

A. the adoption of standards, which are open to the maximum extent
feasible, to enable the organization and categorization of government
information.

-   In a way that is searchable electronically, including by searchable
    identifiers; and

-   In ways that are interoperable across agencies;

B. the definition of categories of Government information which should
be classified under the standards; and

C. determining priorities and developing schedules for the initial
implementation of standards by agencies.[^1]

To meet these objectives, the CGIWG has identified four CGIWG
Recommendation Products, and has assigned leads to develop each. Two
documents will be developed for each identified CGIWG Recommendation
Product:

1.  Statement of Requirements

2.  CGIWG Recommendation to OMB

The following table lists the identified CGIWG Recommendation Products
and indicates their current progress.

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  **CGIWG Recommendation Product**  **Lead**           **Status**
  --------------------------------- ------------------ ------------------
  1\. Open, interoperable standards Federal Libraries  Statement of
  for categorizing Government                          Requirements
  Information                                          available for
                                                       review

  2\. Open, interoperable standards FEA/FGDC           Statement of
  for electronic searching                             requirements in
                                                       process

  3\. Open, interoperable standards CENDI              Statement of
  for searchable identifiers                           Requirements in
                                                       Process

  4\. Definitions of which          GPO                Statement of
  Government information to be                         Requirements
  categorized                                          available for
                                                       review
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

When all CGIWG Recommendation Products are complete, the CGIWG will
determine the priorities and implementation schedules for each.

#### ERPWG/CGIWG Coordination Areas

Based on work plans and meetings held thus far, specific examples of
requirements for ERPWG/CGIWG coordination include:

-   Defining the scope of government information that the ERPWG and
    CGIWG is addressing in their work.

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-   The CGIWG is defining which Government information needs to be
    categorized

-   ERPWG is working with focus groups to define Government information
    on the Internet and other electronic records.

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-   Identifying ways to improve access to government information

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-   The CGIWG recommended standards for identifying, categorizing, and
    searching information should be consistent with/part of the ERPWG
    toolbox framework to address effective ERM in legacy and future
    systems.

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-   Analyzing common characteristics of government information

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-   The ERPWG is determining common characteristics of records produced
    by the FEA BRM. This information could be useful to the CGIWG in
    defining government information to be categorized.

#### Coordination Strategy

The ERPWG appropriately can coordinate with the CGIWG by:

-   Providing ERPWG review and comment of CGIWG Recommendation Products
    including Statements of Requirements and Draft OMB Recommendations.

-   Obtaining CGIWG review and comment on ERPWG work products such as:

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```
-   Barriers Report

-   Toolbox framework

-   ERPWG Recommendations

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-   Coordinating development of ERPWG and CGIWG prioritization and
    implementation schedules, where applicable.

### Initial Approach

### 

### Because both groups are relatively new, there are still many unknowns. The initial approach is to recognize the potential opportunities for coordination and cross-review products being generated from each working group. 

The ERPWG will review each CGIWG Recommendation Product as documents
become available for review and comment (i.e., Statements of
Requirements, Draft OMB Recommendations). The liaison to CGIWG will work
though the ERPWG to coordinate the ERPWG review, and provide comments to
the CGIWG.

Conversely, when released by the ERPWG chair, the liaison to CGIWG will
provide ERPWG work products to the CGIWG for review and comments.

### Immediate Need

If approved, the proposed approach will need to be implemented
immediately as two CGIWG Statements of Requirements are currently
available for public comment:

1.  The Statement of Requirements for Search Interoperability

2\. The Statement of Requirements Defining What Government Information
is to be Categorized

### Evolutionary Process 

As the work of the ERPWG and CGIWG evolves, the coordination process can
be adapted as required.

[^1]: E-Government Act of 2002