Homeland Security Presidential Directive-12 (HSPD-12), as specified by the DoD Instruction 5200.46, is a program addressing individuals entrusted with access to federal property and information systems must not put the U.S. government at risk or provide an avenue for terrorism. The HSPD-12 program provides guidance for issuing the Common Access Card (CAC), which serves as the DoD Personal Identity Verification (PIV) credential. HSPD-12 primarily covers the un-cleared contractor population
DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 731 delegates authority to the DoD CAF to manage the employment suitability program for the DoD. Suitability adjudications are required for all covered positions (including most federal jobs) and take into consideration a person’s “suitability.” Determinations are based on a person’s character and conduct that may have an impact on the integrity or efficiency of the service.
Fitness adjudications follow much of the same program guidance as suitability but are conducted for employees of contractors supporting the federal government.
The majority of HSPD-12, Suitability, and Fitness investigations are conducted on what are known as Tier-1 Investigations.