Section 809 Panel - Recommendation #77 - Require Role-based Planning to Prevent Unnecessary Application of Security Clearance and Investigation Requirements to Contracts

Abstract

This recommendation requires that the Department of Defense use existing role-based planning to select which level of clearance is required for contractors, rather than defaulting to blanket secret-level clearances for service contracts. This procedural change, which is consistent with the need-to-know principle of the National Industrial Security Program, would speed the clearance process for new applications and reduce the investigation backlog of nearly 700,000 without adding any new regulations.