The possibility of conditional clearances has existed within security clearance eligibility policy for decades. But the reality of being able to pursue it and clear guidelines from the government is a relatively recent phenomenon. Among the efforts of Trusted Workforce 2.0 and new Continuous Vetting policy has also been a push for better clarity around conditional clearance eligibility and specifically the requirements for both the Facility Security Officer (FSO) and clearance holder.
The eligibility guidelines spelled out in Security Executive Agent Directive (SEAD) 4 outlines how an adjudicator can make a determination for conditional clearance eligibility. A fact sheet from the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) outlined what conditional clearances mean for both the applicant and the security officer.
Requirements for the FSO:
A FSO will receive a conditional eligibility determination packet, but does not get access to the Subject Conditional Eligibility Memorandum or Subject Acknowledgement of Receipt (Subject AOR). The FSO will receive their own Acknowledgement of Receipt after the applicant has submitted their acknowledgement. Conditional eligibility isn’t granted until both the FSO and subject acknowledgements come through.
Requirements for the Candidate:
A candidate will receive the eligibility memorandum and subject acknowledgement, and has 20 days to respond to the acknowledgement. The conditional eligibility determination includes:
- Privacy Act cover sheet
- Cover Page Receipt
- Subject Conditional Eligibility Memorandum
- Subject AOR
Conditional clearances are granted for a year, and reevaluated after a year. Candidates should take care to adhere to any conditions, whether it’s financial planning, regular drug testing, or other factors. Candidates can move into a new job with a conditional clearance. When a subject with a conditional clearance leaves one position, DCSA will re-issue the clearance to the new entity holding the individual’s eligibility. A conditional clearance should be considered a final determination, and shouldn’t preclude an individual from accessing a government side or doing there government work. This piece is critical for contractors working with a conditional clearance eligibility.
