In the Public Records Request (OPRA/FOIA) module, marking a request as Request Received starts the official response timeline. This action automatically sets the received date, calculates the deadline to respond, and sends an email notification to the requester.
✅ Pro Tip: Wait to mark the request as received until you’re ready to start the clock—avoid triggering deadlines over weekends, holidays, or after hours.
Before you mark a request as received
Two fields must be completed before you can change the status to Request Received. Without them, GovPilot cannot calculate the deadline date.
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Commercial Request – Select Will or Will Not based on the requester’s intended use.
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Daniel’s Law Review – Select Yes or No after reviewing the request for protected personal information.
Steps to mark a request as received
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Open the request in Form View.
- Confirm that both Commercial Request and Daniel’s Law Review fields are completed.
- In the Status dropdown (top left), select Request Received.
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Click Save.
What happens next
When you save the record after changing the status to Request Received, GovPilot will:
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Set the Date Received automatically.
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Calculate the Deadline Date:
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7 business days for standard requests.
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14 business days for commercial requests.
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Send an email to the requester confirming the received date, the calculated deadline, and the request details.
Additional Resources in GovPilot Academy
- Public Records Request (OPRA/FOIA) Module Certification
- How do I manually enter a request in the Public Records Request (OPRA/FOIA) module?
- How do I assign a request to departments in the Public Records Request (OPRA/FOIA) module?
- How do I fulfill a request in the Public Records Request (OPRA/FOIA) module?
- How do I deny a request in the Public Records Request (OPRA/FOIA) module?
Related terms: OPRA request received, set deadline date, start OPRA timeline, FOIA received date, custodian received status