White Paper Security Clearance A Comprehensive Guide on Security Clearances and How to Leverage Them in Employment Contents A security clearance can be the biggest either classified information or restricted advantage a government contractor areas after completion of a thorough 1 Starting Off: What has. And, for those who want to be background check and investigation. Exactly is a Security contractors, it can also seem like the The U.S. government uses clearances Clearance? biggest hurdle. That’s because there are to counter threats that may stem from 1 Who Must Have a several of preliminary questions to ask. foreign intelligence services, organizations Security Clearance? What are clearances? Who must have or people who wish to overthrow the them? How do I get one? What are all the government. They are also put into place 4 How Clearances are different types? How do I market myself to deter individuals who are dishonest Awarded to employers after having one? These or may be susceptible to pressure or 4 Types of Security questions and more all arise before the improper influence. Clearances process even starts, which can sometimes A security clearance investigation leave current contractors and job seekers is an inquiry into an individual’s loyalty, 5 Job Seeking for alike in a quandary of misinformation. character, trustworthiness and reliability, Cleared Individuals In this white paper, GovWin from ensuring that they are eligible for access and Companies Deltek answers these questions, starting to national security information. In 6 Clearance with the most basic and continuing all the addition, the investigation can focus on Controversies way to the benefits and self-marketing an individual’s financial responsibility, opportunities that can be gained. criminal activity, emotional stability and 7 Deltek Resources Providing detailed insight into the types other similar and pertinent areas. All of clearances, and how and why they are investigations review national records and awarded, this white paper eliminates all credit checks; some investigations also uncertainty surrounding the complex include interviews with outside individuals world of security clearances—helping you who know the candidate in addition to the make better, smarter decisions about your candidate themselves. future government contracting career. Who Must Have a Security Starting Off: What Exactly is a Clearance? Security Clearance? The federal government does not A security clearance is a status granted issue clearances directly to individuals. to individuals that allow them access to 1 GovWin.com White Paper Clearances are tied to positions, so a Step 1 person who wants a clearance must apply When a person is hired or moved into for contractor or federal jobs that require a position that requires clearance, clearances. Some positions within the they give fingerprints and provide military also carry clearances. personal information in the Electronic Lucky for job seekers and contractors, Questionnaires for Investigations applying for these kinds of positions Processing (e-QIP) system (which comes with benefits beyond the clearance replaced the old SF-86) within 30 days. Cleared itself. That is because cleared positions— This process is usually coordinated by positions— positions with the federal government the agency’s or contractor’s security positions with and its contractors that require access to officer. The employer pays the cost of classified data—often come with higher the investigation. The information the the federal salaries than non-cleared positions. government wants to know can include government Yet, access to classified information an employment history, past residences, and its does not come immediately with the personal references, foreign friends granting of a security clearance. For and relatives and even details of past contractors contractors to gain this high-level access marriages or close relationships. that require they need two things: the appropriate Step 2 level of security clearance and a “need access to Investigations are usually conducted to know.” With this in mind, contractors by the Defense Security Service (DSS), classified who have already obtained their security however, the Office of Personnel data—often clearance should not be surprised if that Management (OPM), Department of alone does not grant them access to all come with Defense (DOD) and other agencies classified information. higher salaries also play a part in federal clearance than non- How Clearances are Awarded investigations. As a note, the DSS calls Taking on the process toward gaining its investigations personnel security cleared a security clearance means following investigations (PSIs). positions. a number of steps, including potential The DSS investigates the candidate’s interviews and polygraph tests. While suitability via a National Agency Check most action in these steps is taken with Local Agency Check and Credit on by government agencies, it is up to Check (NACLC), Single Scope Background the individual and their government Investigation (SSBI), polygraph and/or contracting employer to carefully follow other investigation. The information the these steps and take the appropriate candidate provides is entered into a case action when needed. management system and the case is 2 GovWin.com White Paper assigned to an investigator for verification be issued interim clearance. An interim and augmentation. clearance allows a candidate to get started in the position while the investigation is Step 3 still underway. Once the investigation The investigator may conduct a is completed, the interim clearance will personal interview with the candidate either be thrown out (if the candidate to ask about family background, past is rejected for clearance) or moved to a experiences, health, use of alcohol or regular security clearance. drugs, financial affairs, foreign travel and other matters. Most of this information Polygraphs will have been previously covered, A polygraph (or lie detector) test measures but the personal interview gives the and records several physiological candidate an opportunity to provide indices—such as blood pressure, pulse, details, explanations or circumstances, if respiration, breathing rhythms/ratios and necessary. skin conductivity—while the subject is The investigator may also interview asked and answers a series of questions. the candidate’s friends, neighbors, Polygraphs are administered in the belief coworkers and supervisor, depending on that deceptive answers will produce the clearance level. physiological responses that can be differentiated from those associated with Step 4 non-deceptive answers. An adjudicator from the agency requesting There are three types of polygraphs the investigation will weigh the information used in clearance investigations: and determine whether to grant or deny a Counterintelligence – Used to clearance. determine initial eligibility for special Step 5 assignments or access If the clearance is granted, the recipient Lifestyle – Asks about all aspects of the is given a briefing on the appropriate candidate’s present and past personal safeguarding of classified information. life and conduct Once the briefing has been completed, the Full scope – Includes both recipient signs a nondisclosure agreement counterintelligence and lifestyle that lists the liabilities and penalties of polygraphs. illegally disclosing classified information. The polygraph test is mandatory for Interim Clearances work with the National Security Agency Candidates who pass preliminary hurdles, (NSA), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) such as credit and felony checks, may 3 GovWin.com White Paper and some Sensitive Compartmented Types of Security Clearances Information (SCI) and Special Access Following is a list of the most common Program (SAP). It can also be used security clearance levels, ranked from to resolve serious concerns in other lowest to highest: clearance investigations. No adverse Controlled Unclassified action can be taken based solely on the Information – This is not a classification results of the polygraph. level, but a marker for information that All relevant questions asked during the cannot be distributed. polygraph test must be reviewed with the For Official Use Only (FOUO) – Also candidate beforehand, so there should known as Official Use Only (OUO), this is be no surprises during the test. Some not a classification level, but a marker for irrelevant questions such as “What year information that must be protected is it?” may be asked to give the machine a under the Privacy Act or other sensitive baseline measurement. Other than these data. baseline questions, all questions must be Confidential – Also known as Public relevant, meaning that a candidate cannot Trust, this clearance provides access be examined on personal thoughts, beliefs to information that could reasonably or religious practices. be expected to cause damage to Getting Denied national security if it were disclosed Unpaid bills, criminal charges, bankruptcy, to unauthorized sources. Confidential poor financial history, foreign activities clearances are often given to military and a criminal record are among the red personnel. The investigation requires flags, or “adverse information,” that could a National Agency Check with Local cause a clearance to be denied. However, Agency Check and Credit Check series these issues are judged on a case-by- (NACLC) and goes back seven years. The case basis, so it is important to be honest investigation