BFS Registration, Login, and Support

USER GUIDES

LINK TO OHA STANDING ORDERS

User Profile and Login – Frequently Asked Questions on User Profile and Login

What are the different types of users of the Bison File & Serve (BFS) system?

BFS can be used by the general public (pro se and non-attorneys), attorneys, Department of the Interior (DOI) and non-DOI government officials, and members of the Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA). 

Do I need to use BFS to file documents with OHA?

All DOI bureaus and offices that appear before OHA’s Director’s Office, the Interior Board of Land Appeals, the Interior Board of Indian Appeals, and the Departmental Cases Hearings Division, must use BFS to file documents with OHA. For all other persons and entities who appear before OHA, the use of BFS to file documents with OHA is optional. Please see the OHA Standing Order on Electronic Transmission for further guidance.

Is there a fee to register to use BFS?

No.

How do I register to use BFS?

To create an account, click on the “Registration and Login” card, which will navigate you to the Login.gov user registration site. Follow the instructions to create a new account if you do not already have a Login.gov account. For more detailed instructions, please see the BFS User Registration and Login Guide.

Which email address can I use for creating an account? 

All public users and attorneys can use any valid email to create their account. All communications from the BFS system will be directed to this email. If you are a government employee, be sure to use your government email address or PIV card to register your account with Login.gov.

What information is required to register?

Name, address, phone number, and an email address are required to register to use BFS.

Can emailed notifications be cc’d to email addresses other than the registered user’s email address?

No. Every user profile is linked to one unique email address. There is currently no option to add another email address to the user profile. If you have co-counsel, then co-counsel will need to enter a separate appearance by joining the case. 

Can I use a shared email address, for example, at info@suwa.org, when I register to use BFS?

No. A shared email address is a generic email address to which multiple people have access (i.e., ONRRAppealsMailbox@onrr.gov, resourcelawyers@gmail.com) to send and receive email from a central inbox. Click here for more information on registering for a Login.gov account.

Can multiple people share an account? 

 No. BFS accounts cannot be shared because each account is registered to a specific user’s Login.gov account.

Can I eFile without a lawyer?

Yes, you do not need to be represented by a lawyer to register to use BFS to submit documents to OHA.

How do I change my Login.gov password or username?

You must follow the instructions on Login.gov to reset your username or password. 

How do I change my contact information in BFS (e.g., firm name, address, email address etc.)?

To change your contact information, you must file a document containing updated contact information with the OHA unit where your case(s) is pending.

Can I delete my account?

To inactivate your BFS account, please contact the BFS support team by calling 1-866-367-1272, then 7  or by emailing bfshelpdesk@oha.doi.gov for assistance. To inactivate your Login.gov account, you must consult the Login.gov Help Center for assistance.

I am having trouble logging in to my account. Who do I contact?

Please consult the Login.gov Help Center for assistance.

eFiling – Frequently Asked Questions on eFiling Documents with OHA

I have one or more cases pending before OHA that pre-date the deployment of BFS. Will I be able to file documents in those existing cases using BFS?

Maybe. Please click here to access unit-specific guidance on how to file documents in cases pending with OHA before the deployment of BFS.

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How do I submit a new case to OHA using BFS?

Please consult the regulations applicable to the type of case and the Standing Order on Electronic Transmission for guidance on submitting a new case to OHA using BFS. Some types of cases must be submitted non-electronically. For technical assistance, please see the BFS User Guides.

How do I eFile documents using BFS?

Please consult the BFS  User Guide for detailed instructions on how to eFile documents using BFS.

Does the public have access to documents filed in BFS?

No. Only people who have registered to use BFS and who have been granted access to a case (or who have initiated the case with OHA) will have access to documents filed in that case.  

What if I need to file a document that contains information that is protected from public disclosure? 

If you believe that information in your filing is confidential and should be protected from public disclosure, you may file a Request to Limit Disclosure of Confidential Information pursuant to 43 C.F.R. § 4.31. Please consult the BFS User Guide for detailed instructions on how to upload your Request (which itself will not be protected from disclosure and therefore must not contain any confidential information) and your Confidential Documents.

Are there file-size limitations for documents filed using BFS?

Yes. When you are submitting a new case, documents must not exceed 30 MB per submission . When you are filing documents in an existing case, documents must not exceed 75 MB per submission.

How do I serve documents through BFS?

Documents filed in BFS may only be served on DOI offices and bureaus and other parties that have registered to use BFS and been given access to the case. When you are submitting a new case, you will have the option to select DOI bureaus and offices to receive service of your case initiating documents by a system generated email. After case initiation, notifications of new filings will be automatically sent by BFS to all  parties  that have registered to use BFS and have been given access to the case. If a party has not registered to use BFS and/or has not been given access to the case, you must serve your documents by some other approved means. See the regulations at 43 C.F.R. Part 4 for guidance.

How will I know if parties to my case are registered to use BFS?

All DOI bureaus and offices must use BFS. For cases with DIR, DCHD, IBIA, and WELSA, you may request an updated copy of the distribution list for your case that will show whether non-DOI parties have registered with BFS and been given access to the case, and thereby agreed to receive service of documents through BFS. For IBLA, parties participating via BFS will be noted on the docket card. 

How do I serve a document I eFiled through BFS when some parties have registered to use BFS and been given access to the case, and others have not?

A party must be registered in the system and given access to the case to receive automatic service of an eFiled document through BFS. Parties who are not registered to use BFS or who have not been given access to the case cannot receive service through BFS and must be served by some other approved means. See the regulations at 43 C.F.R. Part 4 for guidance.

Can I cancel a case after it has been submitted?

No. After a new case has been submitted, you may not cancel or delete the case in BFS. If you want to withdraw the case because you no longer wish to pursue it, you must file a document in the same case requesting to do so. If you inadvertently uploaded the wrong document, or need to upload additional documents in the same case, you should upload the correct document or the additional documents rather than create a new case.

Can I delete a case in draft status?

At this time an eFiler cannot delete a case that is in draft status but that has not yet been submitted to OHA. Draft cases will appear as blank lines in your My Cases Queue on the eFiler homepage. For more guidance, see the BFS User Guides.

Case Information – Frequently Asked Questions on Viewing and Accessing Case Information

What is my case number?

When the unit adds your case to the docket, the case will be assigned a docket number. The docket number is shown at the top of the screen when you view your case in BFS. It consists of the abbreviation for the OHA unit, the fiscal year, and an individual case number (e.g., IBLA-2025-0001).  Note that certain cases before the IBIA are not assigned a docket number until 40 days after the IBIA’s receipt, and in those cases the case name should be used for reference. The case name is assigned promptly after receipt of a new case.

What does the case status mean?

There are four possible case statuses that you will see when you view your case in BFS. They are: Open, Suspended, Closed, and Rejected. If your case is Open, it is currently pending before OHA and has not been decided. If your case is Suspended, OHA has stayed proceedings in your case because it is waiting for something to happen (e.g., settlement negotiations or an interlocutory appeal). If your case is Closed, OHA has decided your case. If your case is Rejected, OHA has determined that your submission is not really a case for OHA to review, and OHA will contact you separately with an explanation for the rejection.

How do I get access to a case to file or view documents?

If you want to get access to a case, you must submit a request to join the case. See the BFS User Guides for detailed guidance on how to submit a request to join a case before each OHA unit.

Do I have to request access every time I want to access a case?

No. A request to join a case is done only once for a case. Once access is granted, you will retain access unless/until you are removed from the case.

Can I see filings in cases other than ones I initiated or am given access to?

No. BFS is not open to public viewing. You must request and be granted access to a case to see the documents filed in that case.

How do I see details of cases that I have access to?

On your Home screen, locate the My Cases Queue. If you have access to a case, the case will be listed in the queue. Click on the case to see the case information page and docket card with links to all documents filed or issued in the case.

Where to Get Help

Who do I contact for help using BFS?

Please contact the Customer Support Center at -866-367-1272, then 7 or bfshelpdesk@oha.doi.gov.