45 CFR 615.3 – Definitions
(a) Demand—A subpoena, order, or other demand of a court or other competent authority for the production of records or for the appearance and testimony of an NSF employee, issued in a legal proceeding between private litigants.
Terms Used In 45 CFR 615.3
- Freedom of Information Act: A federal law that mandates that all the records created and kept by federal agencies in the executive branch of government must be open for public inspection and copying. The only exceptions are those records that fall into one of nine exempted categories listed in the statute. Source: OCC
- Interrogatories: Written questions asked by one party of an opposing party, who must answer them in writing under oath; a discovery device in a lawsuit.
- Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
- Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
(b) Foundation or NSF means the National Science Foundation.
(c) General Counsel means the General Counsel of the Foundation, or any person to whom the General Counsel has delegated authority under this part.
(d) Legal proceeding means any proceeding before a court of law, administrative board or commission, hearing officer, or other body conducting a legal or administrative proceeding.
(e) Official records and information means all documents and material which are records of the Foundation under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552; all other records contained in NSF’s files; and all other information or material acquired by an NSF employee in the performance of his or her official duties or because of his or her official status.
(f) NSF employee or employee means any present or former officer or employee of NSF; any other individual hired through contractual agreement by or on behalf of NSF, or who has performed or is performing services under such an agreement for NSF; and any individual who served or is serving on any advisory committee or in any advisory capacity, whether formal or informal.
(g) Request means any informal request, by whatever method, for the production of official records and information or for testimony which has not been ordered by a court or other competent authority.
(h) Testimony means any written or oral statement by a witness, including depositions, answers to interrogatories, affidavits, declarations, and statements at a hearing or trial.