13 CFR § 102.26 - Responses to requests for access to records.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t13/s102.26"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "13 CFR § 102.26 - Responses to requests for access to records."
title_number: 13
title_name: "Business Credit and Assistance"
section_number: "102.26"
section_name: "Responses to requests for access to records."
chapter_name: "SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION"
part_number: "102"
part_name: "RECORD DISCLOSURE AND PRIVACY"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "5 U.S.C. 301, 552, 552a; 31 U.S.C. 3717, 9701; 44 U.S.C. 3501."
regulatory_source: "61 FR 2673, Jan. 29, 1996, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "102"
---


# 102.26 Responses to requests for access to records.

(a) *Acknowledgements of requests.* On receipt of a request, an office shall send an acknowledgement letter to the requester.

(b) *Grants of requests for access.* Once an office makes a determination to grant a request for access in whole or in part, it shall notify the requester in writing. The Program/Support Office Head or designee shall inform the requester in the notice of any fee charged under § 102.31 and shall disclose records to the requester promptly on payment of any applicable fee. If a request is made in person, the office may disclose records to the requester directly, in a manner not unreasonably disruptive of its operations, on payment of any applicable fee and with a written record made of the grant of the request. If a requester is accompanied by another person, he or she shall be required to authorize in writing any discussion of the records in the presence of the other person.

(c) *Adverse determinations of requests for access.* A Program/Support Office Head or designee making an adverse determination denying a request for access in any respect shall notify the requester of that determination in writing. Adverse determinations, or denials of requests, consist of: a determination to withhold any requested record in whole or in part; a determination that a requested record does not exist or cannot be located; a determination that the requested information is not a record subject to the Privacy Act; a determination on any disputed fee matter; and a denial of a request for expedited treatment. The notification letter shall be signed by the Program/Support Office Head or designee, and shall include:

(1) The name and title or position of the person responsible for the denial;

(2) A brief statement of the reason(s) for the denial, including any FOIA or Privacy Act exemption(s) applied in denying the request; and

(3) A statement that the denial may be appealed under § 102.27(a) and a description of the requirements of § 102.27(a).