© 2006 Federal Computer Week with AIA, AFCEA, AGC, AOC, CSA, ITAA, INSA, NDIA and PSC Survey on the Effects of the Security Clearance Moratorium on Industry

© 2006 Federal Computer Week with AIA, AFCEA, AGC, AOC, CSA, ITAA, INSA, NDIA and PSC

Survey on the Effects of the Security Clearance Moratorium on Industry

and GovernmentMay 24, 2006


Survey Partners

• FCW – Federal Computer Week hosted and publicized the survey and provided the analysis

• ITAA and a coalition of other industry partners developed the questions and provided input on the final analysis. Partners included:

– AIA - Aerospace Industries Association– AFCEA - Armed Forces Communications & Electronics

Association International– AGC - Associated General Contractors or America– AOC - Association of Old Crows– CSA - Contract Services Association– ITAA - Information Technology Association of America– INSA - Intelligence & National Security Alliance– NDIA - National Defense Industrial Association– PSC - Professional Services Council


Survey Demographics

• 665 responses analyzed

• 86% industry and 14% government– 280 representatives of large businesses

responded– 110 mid-sized businesses– 180 small businesses or other designation– 95 government officials

• Most industry respondents attributed more than 50% of their revenue to government sales– 73% of large company respondents– 82% of mid-size company respondents– 83% of all other respondents


Summary of findings - 1

• 78% of 93 government respondents, said that greater than 50% of their personnel and contractors needed clearances to do their jobs.

• Most agency respondents did not know what it costs to obtain clearances, if a premium is leveraged, or whether there is money in the budget for clearances in FY06.

• 50% of large companies, 62% of midsize companies and 67% of small and disadvantaged companies report that more than 50% of their employees need security clearances.



• One quarter of industry respondents say their company would be willing and able to pay for all or a portion of the processing fee for security investigations, but about one half don’t know whether or not this is the case.

• Most companies have the largest percentage of their cleared staff working for DOD.

• 77% of company respondents report that requests for cleared personnel have increased “greatly” (51%) or “somewhat” (26%) over the past five years.

• 52% of companies report paying a salary premium or providing additional benefits to attract, hire and/or retain persons with a security clearance.



• 73% of those reporting that they pay a salary premium for cleared personnel pay a premium between 5% and 25%. 60% report that the premium they are paying is INCREASING.

• About one third the companies report that an interim clearance takes about 30 days, but about one quarter report that it takes more 90 days.

• Up to 40% of TOP SECRET clearances take more than one year to be fully adjudicated.

• Most (58%) periodic investigations take longer than they have in the past or are not being processed at all.



• From 2005-2006, 55% of industry respondents report that the security clearance process has gotten worse (31%) or stayed the same (24%).

• 31% of companies report having problems with agencies granting security clearance reciprocity.

• To gain reciprocity, 34% of industry respondents report that personnel had to go through another full clearance process and another 50% had to take some additional steps before being cleared.

• Most additional clearances took at least 90 days, and 14% took more than 270 days.

• 46% of industry respondents report that this problem has affected 25 employees or more, but 14% did not know how many employees have been affected.



• 75% of respondents submit applications for clearance through DSS (but 16% don’t know to which agency they submit applications).

• 21% of respondents report a backlog of more than 10 up to more than 100 employees’ clearances per month.

• 97% of respondents note that it is important to have clearances processed within 120 days.

• 22% of respondents report that the cost of the lack of cleared personnel to their company/agency is more than $1 million, but 57% cannot quantify this cost.



• 34% of respondents who asked OPM for help in the clearance process reported unsatisfactory assistance, while 46% of respondents have not even asked.

• 34% of respondents who asked DSS for help reported that they were very helpful or somewhat helpful, while 35% of respondents have not asked.

• The CIA, the FBI and the Department of Energy were ranked the most difficult agencies from which to obtain security clearances.


Respondents by Type of Employer (n=663)

Woman-owned Business

2%Government

Department or Agency

14%

Large Company

42%

Other (please describe)

5%

Minority-owned (SDB, 8a) Business

3%

Mid-Sized Company

17%

Service-Disabled

Veteran-Owned Business

2%

Small Business15%


Questions answered by government agency personnel


Percentage of agency workforce requiring an active security clearance to perform a job?(n=93)

75% - 100%, 67, 72%

50% - 75%, 6, 6%

25% - 50%, 4, 4%

0 - 25%, 8, 9%Don't know, 8, 9%


Cost to Agency of a “Secret” Clearance (n=95)

More than $10008%

Don't know67%

>$100010%

$101– $500 10%

$100 or less

3%

$501–$1000 10%


Cost to Agency for a “Top Secret” clearance(n=91)

$1001 – $25002%

More than $40004% $2501 – $4000

10%

$501 - $10001%

Don't know83%


Cost to Agency for an “SAP/SCI” clearance(n=90)

Don't know84%

$2501 – $40007%

$501 - $10001%

More than $40008%


Does the agency pay a premium charge for investigations? (n=93)

Don’t know66%

No25%

Yes9%


Does the agency/department have enough funding in FY06 to meet its needs for cleared personnel? (n=93)

Don't know64%

No12%

Yes24%


Questions answered by industry respondents


Percent of revenue from sales in the government market ( n=568)

7%

8%

14%

64%

7%

0 - 25%

25% - 50%

50% - 75%

75% - 100%

Don't know


Percentage of company workforce that requires an active security clearance to perform a job? (n=565)

50% - 75%17%

25% - 50%14%

0 - 25%20%

Don't know7%

75% - 100%42%


Companies rely on employees with security clearances – larger companies have a greater proportion of employees that need clearances

Greater than 50% of personnel need clearances

Large Company 50%

Mid-Sized Company 62%

Other 67%


Companies’ willingness and ability to pay all or a portion of the processing fee forsecurity investigations(n=563)

Don't know51%

No24%

Yes25%


Summary of which agencies require companies’ cleared staff

• 51% of companies have half or MORE of their cleared staff working for DOD.

• 68% of companies have half or LESS of their cleared staff working for other intelligence organizations.

• 68% of companies have one quarter or LESS of their cleared staff working for DHS.

• 67% of companies have one quarter or LESS of their cleared staff working for other civilian agencies.


Percentage of cleared staff working on contracts with the Department of Defense (including intelligence-related activities):(n=568)

50% - 75%23%

25% - 50%18%

0 - 25%18%

Don't know12%

75% - 100%29%


Percentage of cleared staff working on contracts with the Intelligence Community (non-DoD Agencies only):(n=516)

25% - 50%22%

50% - 75%8%

75% - 100%6%

Don't know18%

0 - 25%46%


Percentage of cleared staff working on contracts with the Department of Homeland Security:(n= 221)

0 - 25%68%

25% - 50%11%

75% - 100%1%

50% - 75%2%

Don't know18%


Percentage of cleared staff working on contracts with other civilian agencies:(n=507)

75% - 100%2%

50% - 75%2%

25% - 50%8%

0 - 25%67%

Don't know21%


Companies whose contractual requirements for cleared personnel increased in the past 5 years (n=562)

Don’t know10%

Greatly51%

Not very much6%

Not at all7%

Somewhat26%


Companies paying a salary premium or providing additional benefits to attract, hire and/or retain persons with a security clearance(n=559)

Yes 52%

No 26%

Don’t know22%


Percentage of that premium:(n=298)

25% - 50%10%

Less than 5%6%

More than 50%1%

5-25%73%

Don’t know 10%


Companies that report paying a premium also note that the premium is increasing (n= 296)

Don’t know26%

No14%

Yes60%


Time from application to receiving interim clearance (n=546)

60 days13%

90 days10%

Don't know22%

30 days32%More than 90

days23%


Percentage of Clearances taking more than one year by type

• Secret – 17%

• Top Secret – 40%

• SAP/SCI – 32%


Average time to get an application for a SECRET clearance to be fully adjudicated(n=564)

180-270 days24%

90-180 days13%

Don't know27%

Less than 90 days3%

More than 1 year17%

More than 270 days16%


Average time to get a clearance for a TOP SECRET clearance to be fully adjudicated (n=561)

More than 1 year40%

Less than 90 days1%

Don't know33%

180-270 days11%

90-180 days2%



Average time to get a clearance for an SAP/SCI clearance to be fully adjudicated (n=556)

180-270 days9%

90-180 days8%

Don't know43%Less than 90

days1%

More than 1 year32%



Have applications for periodic reinvestigations been delayed in any way? (n=561)

14%

58%

28%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Don't know No, they seem to takeabout the same amount of

time

Yes, they take longer orthey are not beingprocessed at all


Comparing 2005 to 2006, has the process improved? (n=563)

Better18%

Worse31%

Same24%

Don't know27%


To what extent has it gotten worse or better?(n=277)

Great extent29%

Some extent60%

Very slight extent11%


Problems getting cleared personnel recognized by adjudicating agencies other than the one that issued their clearance? (reciprocity) (n=564)

17%

34%

12%

36%

0%5%

10%15%20%25%30%35%40%

Yes, they havebeen barredaccess, even

though they haveappropriate

clearance (pleaseidentify the agency)

No, their clearanceshave beenaccepted

Some of both(please identify the

agency)

Don't know


The problem is widespread – agencies which bar access altogether:

Barred access comments: Intel Agencies are not accepting SCI from other agencies. Personnel with clearances have to be processed again for Position of Trusts; Customs (CBP); DHS; DOJ/FBI; DOJ; SAPS & SCI; NAVSEA; DHS, ATF, CBP; Customs; Justice, DEA; DOE, CIA; DOJ; DOE, DOS, NSA; CIA-NSA; All still require and updated 86; DHS and DOD; DoD to Corporate; U.S. Coast Guard; Not issue with being barred, but rather the amount of time just to recognize or share the information.; CIA; US Customs; DEA; NSA; nsa; CIA; can not identify; NSA; DIA; FBI, CIA, DOS, DOJ; CIA,DIA,NSA; NSA does not accept CIA lifestyle poly; But it takes a very long time; DIA; OPM; DOJ, DHS; dod; Various, DOJ and DHS; DISA and NSA; DHS, DOJ; CIA Secret doesn't cross-over to DoD secret because the investigations are different; DOE, Jistice etc.; ONI; DoD; SAP programs; NSA; nsa, cia, nro; SAP programs; DoD; Intelligence Community; SAP programs; cia; most IC agencies; NSA, CIA, SAPs,; SAP programs; DOJ; SAP/SAR Programs; nsa; DHS refuses to accept other agencies; DoD; AIA; DoD; NRO -> CIA; AF to IC; CIA; DIA; AFSOC; Navy; NRO, NSA; CIA, DIA; DIA; DIA, NSA; DHS won't accept DoD clearances; DHS; FAA;


Agencies with “some of both” comments:

DOD; DHS; DIA; DoS; FBI; CIA, NSA; USAF; DoD; NRO will not communicate with others; USFK, DISA; State/DOD; Probs with IAC sponsored clearances at PACOM; CIA reluctant to accept DoD clearances; ODNI, DIA, NRO; ODNI, DIA, NRO; NSA, CIA; NSA and CIA; NRO, NSA, CIA; Various IC Agencies; Intel; DHS, FBI, State; FBI, CIA, NSA; NSA; DHS; cia; NRO; CIA, NRO, NSA, DIA, NGA; CIA; NRO, CIA; classified; PFPA; NRO and NGA; Department of State; FBI; Different Agencies have different requirements, ie., NSA vs. CIA, Navy, etc.; NRO, IC (for FBI DHS clearances); USAF; No can do; Have encountered extensive delays -- but not actually being "barred access."; DIA // NSA; AIA,; Project managers are great, but they too frustrated with system. Would actually prefer to buy more services from us than we can currently offer due to inability to get clearances, and all of us are formerly cleared. Just harder to do now as a small biz.; Disclosure not permitted; DoD to anyone or the reverse; DoS Clearance recognized by DoD; DOD didn't recognized STATE clearance; FAA; CIA, NSA; US Army / DIA; Navy; CIA, NSA


Steps companies have to take to get reciprocity for cleared personnel(n= 167)

34%

8%

50%

8%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

They had to be re-investigated to getanother clearance.

The other agency hasrefused to grant

reciprocity in any way.

They had to meet someother requirement, short

of re-investigation,before their clearancewould be accepted.

Don't know.


Length of delay to acquire an additional clearance(n=166)

80-270 days19%


Don't know8% Less than 90

days21%

90-180 days38%


How many employees has this affected? (n= 167)

Don't know14%

Less than 2540%

26-5025%

51-754%

76-1004%

More than 10013%


Questions asked to industry and government personnel


Moratorium on clearances: Percentage of agencies/companies that submit applications for clearances or periodic reinvestigations through DSS?(n=659)

Yes75%

Don’t know16%

No9%


Number of applications backlogged until the clearance process is (fully) restarted? (n = 493)

1-5 per month26%

6-10 per month15%

11-50 per month15%

50-100 per month0%

Don't know38%

More than 100 per month

6%


Importance of having clearances processed and completed within 120 days?(n=649)

Very important81%

Not at all important

1%

Not very important

2%

Somewhat important

16%


Cost in 2006 of the lack of personnel with current clearances?(n=654)

Less than $1 million

21%

$1m - $5m11%

$5m - $10m6%

$10m+5%

Don't know57%


How long it SHOULD take to complete the security clearance process(n= 650)

Less than 90 days37%

More than 270 days0%180-270 days

9%

90-180 days54%


Responsiveness of OPM in dealing with any questions or concerns about the clearance process(n=649)

46%

12%

22%

16%

4%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

Don’t know –haven’t askedOPM for help

No help Not veryhelpful

Somewhathelpful

Very helpful


Responsiveness of DSS/DISCO in dealing with questions or concerns about the clearance process(n=280)

35%

9%

21%24%

10%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

Don’t know –haven’t askedDSS/DISCO for

help

No help Not very helpful Somewhathelpful

Very helpful


Ranking the difficulty by agency for obtaining security clearances – weighted score

Agency Weighted Score

1. Central Intelligence Agency 7.75

2. Federal Bureau of Investigation 7.23

3. Energy Department 7.124. National Security Agency 7.08

5. Defense Intelligence Agency 6.95

6. Department of Homeland Security 6.81

7. National Geospatial Intelligence Agency 6.64

8. State Department (including USAID) 6.20

9. Navy Intelligence 6.13

10. Treasury Department 6.05

11. U.S. Coast Guard 5.95

12. Air Force Intelligence 5.91

13. Army Intelligence 5.75

14. Marine Corps Intelligence 5.75

15. National Reconnaissance Office 5.59


Difficulty in obtaining a security clearance for each of these Agencies (1 being the easiest, 10 being the hardest)

0 50 100 150 200 250

Air Force Intelligence

Army Intelligence

Marine Corps Intelligence

Navy Intelligence

Department of Homeland Security

Central Intelligence Agency

Defense Intelligence Agency

Energy Department

Federal Bureau of Investigation

National Geospatial Intelligence Agency

National Reconnaissance Office

National Security Agency

State Department (including USAID)

Treasury Department

US Coast Guard

Number of responses1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10


Security Clearance Coalition

Documents

© 2006 Federal Computer Week with AIA, AFCEA, AGC, AOC, CSA, ITAA, INSA, NDIA and PSC Survey on the Effects of the Security Clearance Moratorium on Industry