The following guidelines are provided to make your visit to DARPA both productive and pleasant. We also want to ensure we provide a safe and secure environment for you and your information as well as for our people, property, and information. Please assist us in this effort by complying with our security requirements.

Parking

Visitor parking is not available in the DARPA building. However, the DARPA facility is right across the street from the Ballston Mall parking garage. This is the most convenient parking area for DARPA visitors.

Clearance/Visit Request 

Prior to arrival, your clearance/visit request must be on file with the Visitor Control Center (VCC) for collateral visits and the Special Security Office (SSO) for visits involving Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI).

• For collateral-level visits, please fax your clearance/visit request to DARPA at (703) 528-3655 or send it via email to: VCC@DARPA.mil. Via JPAS, the requesting FSO may send a visit request using the SMO Code: DDAAUS4.
• For SCI-level visits, please fax your clearance/visit request to the SSO at 703-812-1995 (secure) or 703-528-3655 (unclassified). You may also send your SCI visit requests as follows:
• Via JWICS, the requesting SSO may send a message with the visit information to SSO DARPA.
• Via JPAS, the requesting SSO may send a visit request using the SMO Code DDAAUS2.  

Check In

All visitors entering this facility will pass through a metal detector prior to entry. If you have a medical condition that prevents you from entering a metal detector or have metal implants that would set off an alarm, please let the officers know and alternate processing methods will be used. If necessary, inspections may be conducted using handheld metal detectors (similar to the process used at airports). All visitor hand carried items will be x-rayed prior to entry. Your cooperation with these mandatory antiterrorism measures is appreciated. Once cleared by the officer, you will be directed to the VCC for badge processing.

Check-in at the Visitors Control Center (VCC), you will be asked a series of questions related to your visit and to any equipment that may be in your possession. You will be required to show a Government-issued document with your picture. Normally, this will be a state-issued driver’s license for U.S. citizens and a passport for foreign nationals. Your equipment will be checked for wireless and recording devices, and you will be provided a pamphlet stating the DARPA rules for visitors. Various signs are posted at the building entrances advising you of security requirements. If your visit will take place over several days, you must register each day with the VCC.

Visit Verification

Upon completion of your visit registration, your DARPA point of contact (POC) will be contacted to verify your visit time and location. If you have arrived early, the POC may ask you to wait in the lobby until the scheduled visit time. A deli is available on the first floor and several coffee shops and restaurants are in the immediate area. If you have not made prior arrangements with your DARPA POC, your visit may be denied. If the visit is approved, you will be issued a DARPA visitor badge.

Escort Requirements

All approved visitors to DARPA are escorted throughout the facility by an authorized member of the DARPA staff. Authorized staff are on-site DARPA Government person with a white badge without a red stripe or a contractor with a yellow badge without a red stripe. The first floor lobby, restrooms, deli and any area outside the main building are the only areas excluded from the escort requirement. If you wish to visit multiple people within DARPA, you must register each visit with the VCC, which will verify the acceptance of the visit with each DARPA POC.

Foreign Nationals

If you are not a U.S. citizen, a completed DARPA Form 60,”U.S. Permanent Resident and Foreign National Visit Request” must be provided to: SIDInternationalSecurity@darpa.mil (or fax to 703-528-3655). Please remember to bring your passport. If you are a U.S. permanent resident, please remember to bring your alien registration card. If you represent your government in an official capacity, please contact your embassy in Washington, DC, to apply to visit DARPA as an official foreign visitor. If you have further questions about visiting DARPA please send them to your DARPA point of contact or email SIDInternationalSecurity@darpa.mil.

Weapons Prohibited

Items that can be used as weapons are strictly prohibited from being brought into DARPA facilities. Examples are:

• Guns
• Explosives or ammunition
• Knives with blades over 2½ inches
• Clubs, numchucks, or other martial arts devices

Recording Devices

 
Devices that have the ability to capture images (e.g., cameras and camera phones) or sound (e.g., tape and digital recorders) are prohibited. A lockbox will be issued to you for storing your small electronics. If a business necessity exists, such as using these devices as part of a business presentation, prior arrangements must be made with the DARPA POC, who will coordinate with DARPA Security and Intelligence Directorate.

Wireless Networking Technology

Except as noted below, DARPA’s wireless policy strictly prohibits the use of wireless technologies in the DARPA facility (e.g., Wi-Fi, BlueTooth). This prohibition includes wireless transmission devices such as two-way radios and pagers. Wireless devices found in the DARPA facility will be confiscated and scanned to ensure any risk to DARPA and proprietary contractor data has been mitigated.

Wireless Exceptions

The following devices may be brought into those parts of the DARPA facility that are not high security areas or are not being used for classified discussions (e.g., Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities (SCIFs), Special Access Program Facilities (SAPFs), and classified meetings and discussions).

• Portable telephones (cell phones) that do not have a picture-taking capability.
• Personal electronic devices (PEDs) that do not have BlueTooth capability (e.g., Blackberry-type devices).
• One-way pagers.
• Laptops may be brought in once the wireless signal has been turned off and verified by Help Desk staff. DARPA prohibits use of wireless networking above the first floor, a waiver is required if a visitor needs to use a wireless network or device as an integral part of the meeting or demonstration. All wireless devices (regardless of on/off state) are prohibited from the classified areas.
• Laptops with external wireless cards, if the wireless card is removed and left at the VCC until the completion of the visit.

Special Assistance

In order to expedite your visit, we recommend bringing your presentation on removable media. If a DARPA loaner laptop is needed to support your visit, please notify your DARPA sponsor 48 hours prior to your visit. The DARPA sponsor will arrange for a Dell 6420 Laptop.

For general information regarding networking wireless technology, contact the DARPA Help Desk at 703-527-5527 or Action@darpa.mil.

Laptops

DARPA provides a public network that may be used by visitors. Laptops may be attached to the public network (HPC.org) and may be attached to DARPA projectors in the conference rooms. To distinguish one network from the other, the DARPA system uses green cables tagged with green labels. The public network uses purple cables tagged with purple labels. Cables are not to be moved or relabeled by unauthorized personnel. The public network is directly attached to the Internet. Users of this network are responsible for their own security. For assistance with conference room equipment, please have your DARPA sponsor contact the DARPA Help Desk at 703-527-5527 Action@darpa.mil.

DARPA Wireless Cafe

Wireless services are available…to include the café and patio areas

The wireless network only provides access to the Internet.

The wireless network is being provided at no cost to the visitor.

How It Works:

• Signs informing visitors of the availability of the service are posted in the lobby.
• If a visitor desires to use the service, he/she will be asked to sign a Waiver Liability/User Agreement Form.
  • The form will be filed as part of the visit record and will remain valid for one year.
  • The form can be completed prior to the visit by coordinating with the VCC Staff.
   
• A password is required to use the wireless network. A password will be issued to the visitor, good until midnight of the same day.
• The current wireless policy remains in effect. Waivers to meet business needs will continue to be issued on a case-by-case basis. Wired Internet access (purple cable) remains available in all conference rooms.

High Security Areas and Classified Meetings and Discussions

All cell phones and PEDs are prohibited in classified meetings and in high security areas such as SCIFs and SAPFs. Advise the VCC staff if you will be discussing classified information. DARPA POCs

For DARPA technical office and security telephone numbers, contact your DARPA sponsor.