As the primary investigative service provider (ISP) for the Federal Government, DCSA conducts over two million background investigations per year on civilian and military applicants and Federal employees or employees of Government contractors and consultants to Federal programs.

Working for or on behalf of the United States Federal Government begins with a multi-step on-boarding process which includes a background investigation. DCSA completes background investigations for most individuals working for or on behalf of the Executive Branch of the United States, per Executive Order 13467, as amended. DCSA also completes some background investigations for other branches of the Government when it is the most efficient use of Government resources and in the best interest of National Security.

Background investigations are conducted in order to determine:

• Suitability for government employment
• Fitness for appointment to an excepted service position
• Fitness to perform work under a government contract
• Eligibility to serve in a national security sensitive position
• Acceptance or retention in the armed forces
• Eligibility for access to classified information, and/or
• Eligibility for logical or physical access to a federally controlled facility or information technology systems