What are the Universal ERM Requirements?

The Universal Electronic Records Management (ERM) Requirements are NARA’s modern statement of what electronic records management solutions must do to meet federal recordkeeping needs. They are the current federal reference — and they replaced NARA’s longstanding endorsement of the DoD 5015.2 standard.

The 2022 shift

In NARA Bulletin 2022-01 (April 19, 2022), the National Archives revoked its endorsement of DoD 5015.2, citing the standard’s pending revision and the launch of the Federal Electronic Records Modernization Initiative (FERMI). The move was deliberate: away from endorsing a single DoD product/technical standard, toward a broader, technology-neutral set of requirements vendors can meet in different ways.

What they cover and how to use them

The Universal ERM Requirements describe what an ERM solution must do — capture records, classify them, apply retention and disposition, maintain metadata and audit trails, and support electronic transfer of permanent records to NARA. Under FERMI, NARA paired them with a dedicated GSA Special Item Number (SIN 518210ERM) so agencies can procure compliant ERM services and solutions.

What it means

For federal records officers and buyers, the authoritative reference for electronic recordkeeping is now NARA’s Universal ERM Requirements and FERMI — not solely 5015.2 certification. DoD 5015.2 still exists and remains a recognized product credential, but it is no longer NARA’s endorsed federal baseline. This aligns with the broader mandate (M-23-07) to manage and transfer records electronically.