Guidelines for Preparing Documentation (GPPD)
The Office of the Federal Register (OFR) has updated its guidance on the Revise and Republish process in the 2018 Edition, Revision 2.2 of the Document Drafting Handbook (DDH). This updated guidance provides instructions for agencies on how to prepare documents that require a comprehensive update rather than simple corrections, ensuring that readers rely on the most current and complete regulatory text in the Federal Register.
Key Points from the Updated Guidance
- Revise and Republish guidance instructs agencies to use this approach when a document needs a thorough revision and complete republishing to ensure accuracy and clarity in the Federal Register.
- It must be adopted when the changes to a rule or document are extensive enough that a new Federal Register publication is necessary to fully incorporate the changes and provide clarity.
Adoption and Availability
The updated guidance is available as a pdf on the OFR's website and may be used online or downloaded. Agencies must begin using this version by June 9, 2025.
Other Updates in the 2018 Edition, Revision 2.2 of the DDH
- Revision 2.2 corrects links and adds a reminder to make 508-compliant forms available when publishing the form in the Federal Register.
- The DDH includes sections on amendatory language, specifically Revise and republish, for both Proposed Rules and Rules and Regulations categories.
- The DDH also provides updated instructions for digital transmissions, changes to the process for rules with information collections requirements that haven't been approved by OMB, and an appendix to highlight some stylistic, formatting, and structural conventions that are no longer allowed.
- Targeted content in web format is also available throughout the website.
Where to Find More Information
For questions about the DDH, drafting or transmitting documents, or scheduling a Liaison training workshop, you can contact the OFR Scheduling Unit at [email protected]. For questions about the Federal Register Act (FRA) or our regulations, contact the Legal Affairs and Policy Division at [email protected].
If you encounter problems with your webportal account or problems sending documents through the webportal, contact OFR technical support at [email protected].
Before contacting the Scheduling unit, agencies are encouraged to visit Agency FAQs for OFR, review the DDH, and check out Writing Resources and For Federal Agencies.
For all other questions and requests from contractors, these should be directed to the contracting agency's Federal Register Liaison Officer. If other agency staff require preliminary consultation on large projects, technical assistance in drafting complex documents, or requests for special formatting, they should also contact their agency's Federal Register Liaison Officer.
In summary, the updated guidance on Revise and Republish in the 2018 Edition, Revision 2.2 of the DDH provides agencies with clear instructions on how to prepare documents for thorough revision and complete republishing in the Federal Register when necessary.
- Striving for continuous education and self-development, an agency can benefit from the updated guidelines on Revise and Republish in the 2018 Edition, Revision 2.2 of the Document Drafting Handbook (DDH), which offers insights on effective online education in document preparation and publication.
- Agencies may enhance their learning process by utilizing the online-education resources available on the OFR's website, such as the DDH updates and other provided materials, presented in an easily accessible web format.
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