Bison File & Serve
OHA’s New eFiling System, Bison File & Serve (BFS)
BFS modernizes OHA's case management and adjudication processes by incorporating electronic filing (eFiling) capabilities.
The Departmental Cases Hearings Division, the Office of the Director, Interior Board of Indian Appeals, Interior Board of Land Appeals, and the the White Earth Land Settlement Act Hearings Division are now accepting new cases via BFS. eFiling in currently pending cases is not yet permitted for any unit other than the Interior Board of Land Appeals.
Please review the OHA Standing Order on Electronic Transmission. All BFS users must register before using the system.
Click here to register, review important user guides, access contact information for the BFS Helpdesk, and review answers to frequently asked questions. |
Important Information
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BFS is an electronic filing system that permits users to file and serve documents in cases initiated with OHA.
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The OHA Standing Order on Electronic Transmission provides important guidance on eFiling. We strongly encourage all users to review it before using the system.
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DOI employees must use BFS for all transmittals and filings made with OHA.
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Electronic filing of a document does not relieve the filer of the obligation to serve that document on interested parties to a case that have not consented to electronic service through BFS.
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Please ensure that any notices of appeal uploaded into this system are filed or served, as applicable, with the office of the official that issued the decision being appealed.
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Sending a document directly to an OHA unit via e-mail, rather than through BFS does not constitute electronic filing unless otherwise specified by that unit.
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Documents filed electronically must be transmitted by 11:59 pm Eastern Time (DIR, IBLA, IBIA), by 11:59 pm Central Time (WELSA), or by 11:59 pm Mountain Time (DCHD) on the day the document is required to be filed with the applicable OHA unit to be considered timely filed.