1. A computer implemented method for storing and accessing collected artifacts in an electronic discovery system, comprising: providing a repository for storing collected artifacts; providing an execution agent configured to collect artifacts to be stored in the repository; and providing a controller configured to generate and propagate instructions to the execution agent; wherein the instructions specify a location in a directory of a staging area for the repository; wherein the controller is configured to provision the directory of the staging area; wherein the controller is configured to coordinate allocation and delivery of the collected artifacts to the location in the directory of the staging area; wherein the controller is configured to manage access control to the collected artifacts in the repository; and wherein the controller is configured to generate and propagate factual data with regard to delivery of the collected artifacts into the repository.