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Reciprocity of Industrial Personnel Clearances (PCL)
Implementation Instructions for Contractors

March 16, 2000

  1. INTRODUCTION
    Subsection 2-200e of the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM) states "The contractor shall not submit a request for a PCL to one agency if the applicant is cleared or is in process for a PCL by another agency." Accordingly, the Office of the Secretary of Defense has advised that current clearances or accesses issued by another U.S. Government agency are valid for access to Department of Defense (DoD) classified information without conversion to a DoD PCL. These instructions explain the supporting circumstances and administrative requirements; they neither change nor replace the contractor's responsibilities under the NISPOM.
  2. CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEES
    If a cleared contractor holds a current, valid access authority or PCL from another U.S. Government agency on its employee that is equivalent to a DoD PCL as explained in these instructions, that contractor may:
    (1) Grant the employee access to an equivalent or lower level of DoD classified information without obtaining a DoD Letter of Notification of Personnel Clearance (LOC), and
    (2) Issue visit authorization letters, accordingly.
    Even though the employee may not hold a DoD PCL, the contractor must promptly notify DoD of any compromise of classified DoD information involving these employees and must appropriately administer and record any special briefings necessary to the employee's access to DoD classified information.
  3. REQUIRED CURRENT CLEARANCE OR ACCESS AND INVESTIGATION
    The contractor employee must have:
    1. For access to DoD Top Secret (TS) information, a current PCL or access that is:
      1. Based on a Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI), and
      2. Either (a) a grant of access to sensitive compartmented information (SCI), (b) a "Q" clearance issued by Department of Energy (DOE) or Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), or (c) a TS "special access" or clearance granted by any U.S. Government agency.
    2. For access to DoD Secret information, a current PCL or access that is based on 3a., above, or that is:
      1. Based on a National Agency Check (NAC) or on a NACLC for clearances issued after January 1, 1999, and
      2. Either (a) an "L" clearance issued by DOE or NRC or (b) a Secret "special access" or clearance granted by any U.S. Government agency.
    3. For access to DoD Confidential information, a current PCL or access that is either based on 3a., above, or based on a NAC or on a NACLC for clearances issued after January 1, 1999.
  4. PROHIBITION AGAINST WAIVERS OR RESTRICTIONS
    The contractor employee's current PCL or access shall not have any known restricting waivers or exceptions, such as a compelling need determination.
  5. ACCESS LIMITATIONS
    Under this procedure, the contractor shall authorize its employee to access collaterally classified DoD information for which they have a need-to-know. This excludes DoD information that requires a Special Access Program (SAP) authorization.
  6. ISSUING VISIT CERTIFICATIONS
    The contractor shall state the level of the clearance/access granted and the granting U.S. Government agency in visit certifications it issues for these employees.
  7. VERIFICATION BY DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL SECURITY CLEARANCE OFFICE (DISCO)
    If there is a need for DISCO to verify the contractor employee's clearance for an overseas visit to a foreign government or foreign contractor, the employing contractor will provide DISCO with sufficient information for DISCO to determine the existence of the other agency granted clearance/access. DISCO will then verify the employee's clearance based on the existing clearance/access.
  8. INCOMING VISITORS
    Incoming visitors may be granted access to DoD information under these reciprocity procedures based on certification from their employing organization that:
    1. They have been granted an access/clearance at the necessary level based on the above investigative scope, without waiver/exception, and
    2. A determination has been made that they have a need-to-know for the information to be accessed.
  9. QUESTIONS
    If you have questions concerning these instructions, please contact your servicing Industrial Security Representative.