Personnel Security & Clearances Flashcards

Under the National Industrial Security Program (NISP), which agency has primary authority to grant security clearances to contractor personnel?

Answer: The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA)

DCSA (formerly DSS) serves as the Cognizant Security Agency (CSA) for the DoD and administers the NISP, including granting and revoking clearances for contractor personnel.

What is a Facility Clearance (FCL)?

Answer: An administrative determination that a contractor organization is eligible to access classified information

An FCL is an administrative determination by the CSA that a contractor entity and its key management personnel are eligible to access classified information at a specified level.

What do the '13 Adjudicative Guidelines' represent in the personnel security process?

Answer: Thirteen criteria used to evaluate potential loyalty, trustworthiness, and reliability risks when making clearance eligibility determinations

The 13 adjudicative guidelines from Security Executive Agent Directive 4 (SEAD 4) are the criteria adjudicators use to assess an applicant's eligibility for a security clearance.

What is 'Continuous Evaluation' (CE) in the context of personnel security?

Answer: Ongoing automated record checks of cleared individuals between periodic reinvestigations

Continuous Evaluation involves automated checks of financial, criminal, and other records on an ongoing basis to identify potential security concerns between formal periodic reinvestigations.

What must a cleared employee do upon being arrested or charged with a criminal offense?

Answer: Self-report to their FSO as soon as possible regardless of the severity of the charge

Cleared employees are required to self-report adverse information, including arrests or criminal charges, to their FSO promptly so eligibility can be reassessed.

In a subcontract situation under the NISP, what does a 'Visited Contractor' (VC) arrangement mean?

Answer: A cleared subcontractor performs classified work at the prime contractor's cleared facility

A Visited Contractor relationship occurs when a cleared subcontractor performs classified work at the prime contractor's facility, requiring coordination between both parties and notification to DCSA.

What is a DD Form 254 used for in the NISP?

Answer: Providing security classification guidance to a contractor on a classified contract

The DD Form 254 (Contract Security Classification Specification) conveys security requirements and classification guidance from the government to a contractor for a specific classified contract.