Report Tile

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Report Tile
E Security Clearances
What Every Security Manager Needs To Know
UNITED STATES OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
Center for Federal Investigative Services
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e-Clearance A Presidential Initiative

• The problems.
• Excessive time delays
• Cumbersome paperwork
• No central record system of current security
  clearances
• Historic records not readily available
• Hardcopy files

I will expand the use of the internet to empower
citizens, allowing them to request customized
information from Washington when they need it,
not just when Washington wants to give it to
them. True reform involves not just giving
people information, but giving citizens the
freedom to act upon it. President George W. Bush
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e-Clearance OPMs Solution

• e-QIP Electronic questionnaires for
  investigations processing
• Linked systems (OPM/DOD) for information sharing
• Imaged background investigation files delivered
  to adjudicators desktops
• Clearance Verification System Investigative
  database expanded to include active clearance
  information

It would be difficult to overstate the
importance of e-Clearance. With threats to our
homeland and to our national interests overseas,
providing accurate, thorough, and timely
clearances to the workforce is crucial. Director
Kay Coles James
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The paper process
Agency identifies applicant requires
clearance Subject given SF 86 to
prepare Submitting office reviews forms Mails
request to OPM
Average 45-60 days
Average 60 days or more to return corrected
requests
OPM rejects if insufficient data provided (Up
to 30 of submissions)
OPM data enters all subject data Schedules and
conducts investigation Prepares hardcopy for
mailing to SOI Microfilms complete investigation
Average 50 270 days Depending on service level
requested, field capacity, and availability of
information
Agency Security Office adjudication
process Reports adjudication/clearance to OPM
Data not available Backlogs reported by many
agencies
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The e-Clearance Process
Agency identifies applicant requires
clearance Authorizes subject access to
e-QIP Subject provides information
on-line Submitting office reviews data on line
Transmits request to OPM
Average 10 - 14 days
Average 5- 10 days to retransmit corrected
requests
OPM rejects if insufficient data provided
(Estimate no more than 2 rejected)
Subject data imported in OPM automated
system Schedules and conducts investigation Comple
ted investigation imaged Imaged file transmitted
electronically to Security Office
Reduces investigation time at least 30 days
Agency Security Office adjudication
process Report adjudication/clearance to OPM
Reduces adjudication handling time
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e-QIP

• A secure website that is designed to house all
  personnel investigative forms, including
• SF-86, Questionnaire for National Security
  Positions
• SF-85P, Questionnaire for Public Trust
  Positions
• SF-85, Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive
  Positions

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e-QIP Features

• Stores applicant data for future use
• Re-populates each new request with historic
  static data
• Applicants enter and update their personal
  investigative data over a secure Web connection
  
• Fast and convenient. Available from home or
  office.
• System performs screen-by-screen validation
• Applicants find out right away if they have made
  a mistake, eliminating most rejections

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e-QIP Facts

• Can be used by Federal Employees, Applicants,
  Appointees, Military and Contractors
• Compliant with Section 508 of Rehabilitation Act
  of 1998 (Works with popular screen-reader
  software such as JAWS)
• e-QIP Applicant system will work with Netscape,
  Internet Explorer, and Mozilla web browsers (must
  be 128-bit encrypted)

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e-QIP In Use as of 5/29/2004

• NASA
• Transportation (HQ)
• FAA
• Office of Special Counsel
• US Naval Academy
• Commodities Futures Trading Commission
• Presidential Commission on White House Fellows
• Homeland Security

• State (Worldwide)
• OPM
• FCC

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e-QIP Support

• e-QIP gateway access through OPM.gov and
  FirstGov.gov, the Federal governments official
  portal
• e-Clearance Learning Lab available in Crystal
  City
• OPM e-Clearance Agency briefings available

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e-QIP Next steps

• Complete deployment of SF 86 to all remaining
  agencies by October 1, 2004
• Complete development of stand-alone SF 86 form
  software by early FY 2005
• Complete development and begin deployment of SF
  85P, 85P-S, and SF 85 in FY 2005

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e-Clearance Files Imaging

• Investigative agencies are required to image
  closed personnel security investigations
• OPM online with imaged files beginning FY 2005
• Benefits of imaged files
• Faster and easier retrieval
• Files move electronically desktop to desktop
• Longer life (image does not degrade over time)
• Less physical storage space required

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e-Clearance Clearance Verification System

• Includes a link between DoDs JPAS system and
  OPMs Security/Suitability Investigations Index
• Requires agencies to submit clearance data
  frequently. Updates ensure timely and accurate
  clearance data
• Allows agencies to retrieve information online or
  by phone
• Currently includes 294,976 clearance records from
  51 agencies

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Workloads and Investigations Timeliness

• National need for investigative services exceeds
  national capacity
• OPM has RFPs pending to add additional contractor
  support with contract awards anticipated for
  early summer
• DOD and OPM have entered into a cross-servicing
  agreement that enables DSS to process
  investigations on OPMs automated processing
  system
• DOD retains responsibility for workloads
• Plan eliminates redundant, costly processing
  systems
• Provides one format for completed investigations

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OPM Receipt/Closing Trends Major Events FY 97
through May 29, 2004
January 2003 Formation of Homeland Security
February 2003 OPM contracted with additional
Investigative Suppliers that had investigative
background experience.
March-June 2002 Industry clearance Military
moved back to DSS
March 2002 TSA Airport Workers
September 2003 OPM added new potential contractors
November 2001 Federal Air Marshal
Workload
October 2003 All Military Accessions moved to OPM
September 11, 2001
December 2003 Fieldwork RFQ Released
May 2001 Received DoD Industry Military TS
July 2000 Received DoD Military/S/C Accession
Work
March 2001 contractor increased staff by 1,077
personnel
July 96 OPM Investigative Services was Privatized
July 99 Received DoD Civilian Work
February 2004 DSS Cross Servicing begins with OPM
pending case management and DSS use of PIPS
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OPM Support Provided to DOD
Full Case Processing -- Investigations
Closed FY 2003
FY 2004 (to date) Total 300,312
395,149 Cross-Servicing (Began
February 2004) Trained 1,056 DSS Staff
Scheduled 66,758 investigations for
DSS processing
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OPM Points of Contact

• Kathy Dillaman
• Deputy Associate Director
• Center for Federal Investigative Services
• [phone]
• Ed McGuire
• Chief, Automated Services Group
• Center for Federal Investigative Services
• [phone]

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OPM Additional Information
The e-QIP lab is located at 2231 Crystal Drive,
Crystal Park 3, Suite 410, Arlington, VA 22202.
The point of contact is Mike Thiem (pronounced
theme) [phone]. A list of IAFIS
(Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification
System) vendors that are compatible with the FBI
can be found at the following website
http//www.fbi.gov/hq/cjisd/iafis/cert.htm Lance
McPherson is the Workload Manager for DSS (301)
677-4340.