The Universal ERM Requirements and FERMI

For years, U.S. federal agencies that wanted assurance their records software “did recordkeeping correctly” looked to DoD 5015.2 certification. That changed. Today the federal reference is NARA’s own Universal Electronic Records Management (ERM) Requirements, established under the Federal Electronic Records Modernization Initiative (FERMI).

What changed, and when

In NARA Bulletin 2022-01 (April 19, 2022), the National Archives revoked its endorsement of DoD 5015.02-STD — citing the standard’s pending revision and the work establishing FERMI. The shift was deliberate: away from endorsing a single DoD product/technical standard, toward a broader, technology-neutral set of requirements that vendors can meet in different ways.

What FERMI is

FERMI is NARA’s initiative to make it easier and more consistent for agencies to acquire electronic records management services and solutions that meet federal requirements. Rather than each agency separately defining what it needs, FERMI provides:

• Standardized requirements — the Universal ERM Requirements.
• A procurement path — a dedicated GSA Special Item Number (SIN 518210ERM) for ERM solutions and services.

What the Universal ERM Requirements cover

The Universal ERM Requirements describe what an electronic records management solution must do to meet federal recordkeeping needs — capturing records, classifying them, applying retention and disposition, maintaining metadata and audit trails, and supporting the eventual electronic transfer of permanent records to NARA. They are written to be technology-neutral, so they can be satisfied by different products and architectures.

How it fits with other standards

The Universal ERM Requirements don’t erase the international standards. A complete picture still draws on:

• ISO 15489 — the principles of records management.
• ISO 16175 — functional requirements for records in digital environments.
• DoD 5015.2 — which still exists and remains a recognized product credential, just no longer NARA’s endorsed federal baseline.

What it means in practice

For federal records officers and buyers, the takeaway is simple: when you need the authoritative federal reference for electronic recordkeeping, look to NARA’s Universal ERM Requirements and FERMI — not solely to 5015.2 certification. This aligns with the broader mandate to manage and transfer records electronically. See the federal records management hub for more.