ADM_21811_HSPD-12_PIV_and_Credentialing_and_Background_Investigations_for_Contractors_Posted_Version_3_18_2020.pdf

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

Washington, DC 20405

ADM 2181.1

March 18, 2020

GSA ORDER

SUBJECT: Homeland Security Presidential Directive-12 Personal Identity

Verification and Credentialing Policy, and Background Investigations for Contractor Employees

1. Purpose. This Order issues the U.S. General Services Administration’s (GSA)

Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD)-12 Personal Identity

Verification (PIV) and Credentialing Policy, as well as background investigation requirements for contractor employees.

2. Background. There are three main guiding authorities for Federal credentialing and background investigations: Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) Memorandum M-19-17, “Enabling Mission Delivery through Improved

Identity, Credential, and Access Management (OMB Memorandum M-19-17),”

HSPD-12, and Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 201-2.

a. Per OMB Memorandum M-19-17, all Federal agencies must issue a policy requiring the use of PIV credentials as the primary means of identification and authentication for access to the Agency’s facilities, networks, and information systems that align with Federal Identity, Credential, and Access Management

(FICAM).

b. HSPD-12 requires all executive departments and agencies to conduct background investigations, adjudicate the results, and issue identity credentials to all Federal employees and contractor employees who require routine physical access to their building facilities and information technology (IT) systems.

HSPD-12 also requires the use of identification by Federal employees and contractor employees to gain physical access to federally controlled facilities and logical access to federally controlled information systems. GSA Access Cards

(also known within GSA as PIV cards/credentials) must be:

(1) Issued based on sound criteria for verifying an individual’s identity;

(2) Strongly resistant to identity fraud, tampering, counterfeiting, and terrorist exploitation;

(3) Rapidly authenticated electronically; and

(4) Issued only by providers whose reliability has been established by an official accreditation process.

c. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) issued FIPS

201-2, which specifies the architecture and technical requirements for common identification standards for Federal employees and contractor employees, with the goal of achieving appropriate security assurance for multiple purposes by efficiently verifying the identity of individuals.

3. Scope and Applicability.

a. This policy provides details for HSPD-12 PIV credentialing for GSA employees and contractor employees, as well as requirements regarding background investigations for contractor employees.

b. The policy must be implemented in conjunction with GSA Order ADM

9732.1E, “Personnel Security and Suitability Program Handbook,” GSA Order

ADM 5400.2, “GSA Heads of Services and Staff Offices’ and Requesting

Officials’ Roles and Responsibilities to Implement HSPD-12,” and Federal

Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.204-9, Personal Identity Verification of

Contractor Personnel.

4. Cancellation. This Order cancels and supersedes GSA Order CIO P 2181.1, “Homeland Security Presidential Directive-12 Personal Identity Verification and

Credentialing,” dated October 20, 2008.

5. Revisions.

a. GSA Order CIO P 2181.1 contained many operational references which have become obsolete or outdated. The reduction in length of this Order is a result of focusing on policy elements and removing tangential process issues. A significant part of the previous document was related to operational processes, including forms, diagrams, and flow charts which are eliminated in this GSA Order. The following list specifically identifies where information from GSA Order CIO P 2181.1 has been integrated into this directive and updated in accordance with GSA’s HSPD-12 implementation policy, where information has been implemented in other GSA directives, and/or if information has been removed entirely:

(1) Chapter 1, Introduction: This section contained policy information related to the credentialing requirements for GSA employees and contractor employees, as well as background investigation requirements for contractor employees. The policies have been updated and incorporated throughout this Order; however, operational references and flow charts have been removed. Further, information pertaining to foreign visitors to

GSA facilities is addressed in GSA Order ADM P 5400.1, “Meetings with

Representatives of Foreign Governments or Foreign Industry, Foreign Travel, and

Foreign Contacts.”

(2) Chapter 2, GSA HSPD-12 Requirements: Information related to requirements for issuing a credential and types of required investigations have been integrated into this policy in Appendix A and Appendix B. This Chapter also contained information related to handling Personally Identifiable Information, which is now addressed in GSA

Order CIO P 2180.1, “GSA Rules of Behavior for Handling Personally Identifiable

Information (PII).”

(3) Chapter 3, Credentialing Procedures for Employees: Information for requesting a background investigation and credentialing for GSA employees has been integrated into this policy in Appendix A. Operational references have been removed and information regarding employee background investigations is now contained in

GSA Order ADM 9732.1E, “GSA Personnel Security and Suitability Program

Handbook.”

(4) Chapter 4, Credentialing Procedures for Contractors: Information pertaining to requesting a background investigation and credentialing for GSA contractor employees has been integrated into this policy in Appendix A and Appendix C.

Operational references have been removed.

(5) Chapter 5, PIV Card Maintenance and Renewal: Information concerning the replacement of a card that is expiring, damaged, or lost has been integrated into this policy in Appendix B for GSA employees and Appendix C for contractor employees.

(6) Chapter 6, Providing Logical Access to GSA IT Systems and Networks: This section contained operational references for obtaining access to GSA IT systems. This information has been integrated into GSA Order CIO 2100.1L CHGE 1, “GSA

Information Technology (IT) Security Policy.”

(7) Chapter 7, Providing Physical Access to GSA-Controlled Facilities: This section contained operational references for obtaining physical access to GSA controlled facilities. This information has been integrated into GSA Order ADM 5900.1, “Physical Access Control Systems in U.S. General Services Administration Controlled

Space.”

(8) Chapter 8, “GSA HSPD-12 PIV Handbook Revision Process: GSA

Procedures for Updating Guidance” is now addressed in GSA Order OAS 1832.1B, “GSA Internal Directives Management,” and consequently, has been removed from this

Order.

b. This policy also reflects organizational changes that consolidated the program into the Office of Mission Assurance (OMA) as outlined in GSA Order

ADM 5440.661, “Changes in the GSA Office of the Chief Information Officer, Office of the Chief People Officer, and the Office of Emergency Response and

Recovery.”

c. This policy further contains an updated set of governing policies and guidance listed below in paragraph 8, References.

6. Policy.

a. This policy outlines the processes for credentialing, as well as requirements regarding background investigations per Federal guidelines contained in OMB Memorandum M-19-17, HSPD-12, and FIPS 201-2, to allow designated individuals’ physical access to federally controlled facilities and/or logical access to federally controlled information systems.

b. GSA Access Cards will be issued to individuals who reside in the United

States or its territories and require routine access to GSA facilities and/or GSA IT systems:

(1) Issuance of GSA Access Cards requires an initial fitness determination and the initiation of a background investigation at the Tier 1 level or higher. If final adjudication of the background investigation result is unfavorable, the GSA Access Card will be revoked and returned to OMA.

(2) All individuals who receive a GSA Access Card:

(a) Should keep their GSA Access Card in an electromagnetically opaque sleeve that is on the FIPS 201-2 Approved Products List. The electromagnetically opaque sleeves are distributed along with the GSA Access

Card.

(b) Should wear the card above waist level so that it is clearly visible at all times while in GSA-occupied space.

7. Responsibilities. Responsibilities related to HSPD-12 PIV and credentialing, including background investigations for contractor employees, can be found in

Appendix A. Requirements for background investigations and credentialing application processes for GSA employees and detailees can be found in

Appendix B. GSA contractor employees and other special category requirements for background investigations and credentialing application processes can be found in Appendix C.

8. References.

a. Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12: Policy for a Common

Identification Standard for Federal Employees and Contractors (August 27, 2004).

b. OMB Memorandum M-05-24, “Implementation of Homeland Presidential

Directive (HSPD) 12 - Policy for a Common Identification Standard for Federal

Employees and Contractors” (August 5, 2005).

c. OMB Memorandum M-19-17, “Enabling Mission Delivery through

Improved Identity, Credential, and Access Management” (May 21, 2019).

d. FAR 52.204-9, Personal Identity Verification of Contractor Personnel

(January 2011).

e. FIPS 201-2, “Personal Identity Verification of Federal Employees and

Contractors” (August 2013).

f. GSA Order ADM 5400.2, “General Services Administration Heads of Services and Staff Offices’ and Requesting Officials’ Roles and Responsibilities to Implement Homeland Security Presidential Directive-12” (September 30, 2016).

g. GSA Handbook ADM P 9732.1E, “Personnel Security and Suitability Program

Handbook” (March 12, 2019).

9. Signature.

/S/________________________

EMILY W. MURPHY

Administrator

Appendix A. GSA Employee Responsibilities in the PIV Issuance and

Verification and Credentialing Processes

Appendix B. GSA Employee and Detailee Requirements in the PIV Issuance and

Credentialing Processes

Appendix C. GSA Contractor Employee and Other Special Category Requirements in the PIV Issuance and Credentialing Processes

Appendix D. Definitions for the purposes of this Order

Appendix A. GSA Employee Responsibilities in the PIV Issuance and

Verification and Credentialing Processes

GSA employees who have responsibilities during the GSA employee and contractor employee credentialing process are listed below:

Office of Mission Assurance (OMA).

1. Oversee, manage, maintain, assist, and implement the credentialing process for

GSA employees and contractor employees and background investigation for contractor employees;

2. Fulfill the FIPS 201-2 PIV Sponsor, PIV Adjudicator, and PIV Security Officer role for GSA employees and contractor employees;

3. Assist in processing GSA contractor employees through the background investigation process; and

4. Make the final determination as to what type of background investigation is required for contractor employees depending upon:

a. The length of time the contractor employee is working on a contract,

b. The type of work being performed under the contract, and

c. How many investigations and/or what type of investigation was requested previously.

Requesting Officials (RO).

1. Make all background investigation and credentialing requests for all contractor employees on contracts they are designated to support to the

OMA Help Desk or their Head of Service and Staff Office (HSSO) HSPD-

12 Point of Contact (POC);

2. Assist contractor employees with any questions relating to completion of the background investigation and credentialing processes;

3. Prohibit contractor employees who need a background investigation from starting work without an initial fitness background investigation determination;

4. Are responsible for requesting any additional GSA IT access rights, and/or other permissions necessary for the contractor employee to perform their duties;

5. Are responsible for revoking IT access and retrieving all GSA-issued credentials, from either the contractor employee or the contractor, and forwarding the credentials to the regional OMA office for disposal when a contractor employee leaves a contract for any reason;

6. Are responsible for making determinations regarding whether a contractor employee is a long-term contractor employee, a short-term contractor employee, or a temporary contractor employee based on each contractor employee’s contract performance length;

7. Enforce, through the contracting officer, in the event that the final adjudication results in an unfit determination, that the contractor employee is removed from the GSA contract, and that access to all GSA IT systems and facilities is revoked immediately;

8. Are responsible for requesting any required additional Tier 1 or higher background investigation(s) for non-United States citizen long-term contractor employees (resident in the United States or its territories for less than three consecutive years) before a SAC expires once the three-year residency requirement is met;

9. Notify OMA staff or their HSSO’s HSPD-12 POC when there is any change on the Contractor Information Worksheet (CIW) by submitting an updated CIW to the OMA Help Desk. Changes can include but is not limited to: a change in building location, contractor company information, POC information, option year awarded, if additional contract work is added, and/or if a new task order is added; and

10. Request that GSA contracting officers include FAR § 52.204-9, Personal

Identity Verification of Contractor Personnel, in all solicitations and contracts when contract performance requires routine access to GSA facilities or IT systems.

HSSO HSPD-12 POCs.

1. Request accurate and complete background investigations and GSA

Access Cards for their contractor employees;

2. Assist the ROs in making requests and monitoring the background investigation and credentialing for contractor employees; and

3. Communicate and work closely with the RO, including but not limited to advising and assisting them on HSPD-12 procedures, risk level, appropriate background investigation, and credentialing.

Managed Service Office (MSO), Federal Acquisition Service (FAS).

1. Provides the production and management of GSA Access Cards; and

2. Provides the infrastructure of credential management system and credentialing stations.

Appendix B. GSA Employee and Detailee Requirements in the PIV

Issuance and Credentialing Processes

GSA Employees.

1. Must appear in person at an authorized credentialing station during the background investigation and/or credentialing process to have fingerprints and a photo taken. At that time, the GSA employee must provide two identity source documents in original form. These documents must be on the list of acceptable documents included in Form I-9, OMB No. 1115-

0136, “Employment Eligibility Verification”;

2. Must appear in person to pick up and activate the GSA Access Card;

3. Must notify their supervisor if their card is expiring, damaged or lost so that a new card can be issued; and

4. Must return their PIV card to their supervisor as part of the off-boarding process when leaving GSA employment. The GSA employee’s supervising manager is responsible for revoking all IT access privileges and providing all PIV cards to the HSSO, HSPD-12 POC, or OMA POC(s).

GSA Detailees:

1. Must meet requirements detailed in GSA Order HRM 9334.2, “Detail of

Employees,” and have their parent agency’s security organization provide the background investigation results to GSA OMA. The GSA hosting supervisor will ensure that this process occurs prior to the start of the assignment; and

2. Will retain and use the credentials issued by their parent agency, including their agency-issued PIV compliant card. GSA will not produce a GSA

Access Card.

Appendix C. GSA Contractor Employee and Other Special

Category Requirements in the PIV Issuance and Credentialing

Processes

Long-term contractor employees (work duration of 6 months or longer).

1. Must have a background investigation appropriate for their job responsibilities in order to be issued a GSA Access Card (for example, if IT systems access and/or routine physical access to GSA facilities is/are required). The contractor employee must have an initial fitness determination and have a

Tier 1 or higher background investigation initiated in order to obtain a GSA

Access Card.

2. Must appear in person for fingerprints and a photo at an authorized credentialing station during the background investigation process. At that time, the long-term contractor employee must provide two identity source documents in original form. These documents must be on the list of acceptable documents included in Form I-9, OMB No. 1115-0136, “Employment Eligibility Verification.” If needed, hard copy fingerprints can be approved by the OMA Help Desk.

3. Must appear in person to pick up and activate the GSA Access Card.

4. Must receive a new background investigation if the risk level of work required under a new contract is higher than the risk level associated with prior work by the contractor employee on a GSA contract. The RO for the new contract must follow the procedures for a long-term contractor employee starting a new contract.

5. Must notify their RO if their card is expiring, damaged or lost so that a new card can be issued.

6. Can perform work under their previous final fitness determination if there is less than a two-year break in service from working on a GSA contract, and the contractor employee had a final fitness determination of a Tier 1 or higher background investigation. If the long-term contractor employee previously had an initial fitness determination but not a final fitness determination, they will have to wait for a new initial fitness determination before starting work. A new

CIW must be processed to start the background investigation process. If there is a two-year break in service or longer from working on a GSA contract, a new CIW must be processed to start the background investigation process, and the contractor employee must wait to start work.

7. May be required to undergo a reinvestigation in accordance with Defense

Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) and GSA policy.

8. May not obtain a GSA Access Card if they only require IT systems access but do not need routine physical access to a GSA-controlled facility. This systems access will be handled by GSA IT.

9. Cannot begin work on a GSA contract without at least an initial fitness determination.

10. Cannot be escorted in order to perform work on a contract prior to obtaining an initial fitness determination.

Short-term contractor employees (work duration of less than 6 months).

1. Must undergo a SAC if they need routine physical access to GSA facilities and cannot start work on a contract prior to a favorable SAC determination. A

SAC is valid for a period not to exceed 6 months. If the work extends beyond

6 months (e.g., due to a delay), the short-term contractor employee must apply for another SAC before the original SAC expires. If the SAC expires, the short-term contractor employee must be removed from the contract.

2. Must appear in person for fingerprints and a photo at an authorized credentialing station during the background investigation process. At that time, the short-term contractor employee must provide two identity source documents in original form. These documents must be on the list of acceptable documents included in Form I-9, OMB No. 1115-0136, “Employment Eligibility Verification”. If needed, hard copy fingerprints can be approved by the OMA Help Desk.

3. Will not receive a GSA Access Card, but maybe granted physical access

(e.g., escorted, temporary passes, etc.) by the Facility Security Committee

(FSC) in accordance with the Interagency Security Committee (ISC) Risk

Management Process.

4. Cannot complete a SAC more than twice for any particular contractor employee. The only exception is for non-United States citizens who have resided within the United States or its territories for less than three consecutive years and a Tier 1 or higher background investigation will not be completed until the residency requirement has been met. If a short-term contractor needs more than two SACs during the period of a contract for a particular contractor employee, the RO should consult with OMA. OMA will make the determination as to what type of additional investigation is required.

Temporary contractor employees (work duration of 15 days or less).

1. Require escort upon entry and while inside a GSA-controlled facility.

2. Can only be in temporary contractor status once for each contract.

3. Will not receive a GSA Access Card.

4. Will not undergo a background investigation.

Non-United States citizen contractor employees (resident in the United States or its territories for less than three consecutive years).

1. Must undergo a SAC if they need routine physical access to GSA facilities and cannot start work on a contract prior to a favorable SAC determination. Per OPM guidance, “Final Credentialing Standards for Issuing Personal Identity Verification

Cards Under HSPD-12,” dated July 31, 2008, GSA will not do Tier 1 or higher background investigations for non-United States citizens who have not been a resident in the United States or its territories for three consecutive years.

2. Must appear in person for fingerprints and a photo at an authorized credentialing station during the background investigation process. At that time, the non-United

States citizen contractor employee must provide two identity source documents in original form. These documents must be on the list of acceptable documents included in Form I-9, OMB No. 1115-0136, “Employment Eligibility Verification”. If needed, hard copy fingerprints can be approved by OMA help desk.

3. Must apply for a Tier 1 or higher background investigation if/when they meet the three-year residency requirement before the SAC expires. If the long-term non-

United States citizen contractor employee does not obtain an initial fitness determination before the expiration of the SAC, the contractor employee must be removed from the GSA contract.

4. May be granted physical access (e.g., escorted, temporary passes, etc.) by the FSC in accordance with the ISC Risk Management Process.

5. Will not receive a GSA Access Card (unless they subsequently meet the residency requirement and receive an initial fitness determination).

Child care workers.

1. Must undergo a criminal history background check as mandated by the Crime

Control Act of 1990, 34 U.S.C. § 20351.

2. Must have an initial fitness determination and be initiated for a Tier 1C investigation in order to be eligible for a GSA Access Card.

Special category tenants.

Individuals licensed under the Randolph-Sheppard Act and employees of Certified

Federal Credit Unions that meet the GSA joint use space requirements, and employees of entities holding a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and/or Memorandum of

Understanding (MOU) with GSA, must follow the process of long-term contractor employees, short-term contractor employees, and temporary contractor employees depending upon the length of time stipulated in the relevant governing documents.

Outlease tenants.

1. May be granted physical access (e.g., escorted, temporary passes, etc.) by the FSC in accordance with the ISC Risk Management Process.

2. Are not Federal contractors.

3. Will not receive a GSA Access Card.

Student Volunteers.

1. Must follow GSA Order ADM 9732.1E, “Personnel Security and Suitability

Program Handbook” on GSA Personnel Security requirements for background investigations.

2. Must follow GSA Order HRM 9308.1, “GSA Student Volunteer Service

Program (SERVICE).”

3. Will be issued a GSA Access Card.

Appendix D. Definitions for the Purposes of this Order

Background Investigation. Type of investigation covering specific areas of a person’s background. The background investigation consists of a record search, credit search, and a necessary DCSA investigation as needed. The levels of investigation are the following (listed lowest to highest level): SAC, Tier 1, Tier

1C, Tier 2S, Tier 3, Tier 4, and Tier 5.

Child Care Workers. Providers and their employees who operate under a GSA license agreement to provide child care services in GSA-controlled (owned and leased) facilities. They are not employed by the Government.

Contractor Information Worksheet (CIW). Form used to obtain contractor information pertaining to HSPD-12 and background investigation processes.

Federal Credit Union. A Federal Credit Union, as defined by 12 U.S.C. § 1752 , is regulated and supervised by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA).

The NCUA is a Federal Government agency with authority designated by the

Federal Credit Union Act of 1934 to oversee the national credit union system in the United States. The Federal Credit Union locations are in GSA facilities that meet the GSA joint use space requirements, which allows GSA to do a background investigation and provide GSA Access Cards as needed.

Crime Control Act of 1990. 34 U.S.C. § 20351, Requirement for Background

Checks, requires that all individuals involved with the provision of child care services to children under the age of 18 undergo a FBI criminal background check and are investigated through state criminal history repositories.

Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA). Organization that provides background investigations for GSA.

Detailees. Employees from other Federal agencies on temporary assignment to

GSA in accordance with GSA Order HRM 9334.2, Detail of Employees.

Employee. A person that encumbers a GSA position description (PD), on a full-time or part-time basis.

Escorts. GSA employees and contractor employees who have received an initial fitness determination, possess a valid GSA Access Card, and are responsible for the oversight of contractor employees they are escorting. Escorts must be with and visually watch contractor employees at all times. The number of contractor employees per escort is limited to the number with whom the escort can maintain visual contact at all times.

Facilities. For the purposes of this policy and in relationship to HSPD-12 guidance concerning routine physical access, facility is defined as the physical structure (brick and mortar) and/or interior tenant space under the jurisdiction, custody, or control of GSA.

Federal Information Processing Standard 201-2 (FIPS 201-2). Standard written in response to HSPD-12 and published by the National Institute of Standards and

Technology (NIST) in August 2013. FIPS 201-2 and its associated Special

Publications provide a detailed specification for Federal agencies and departments deploying PIV cards for their employees and contractors. FIPS 201-

2 can be accessed from the NIST web site at http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/fips/201/2/final.

GSA Access Card. The name of a PIV credential within GSA.

Heads of Services and Staff Offices (HSSOs) HSPD-12 Points of Contact

(POCs). Personnel responsible for managing employee and contractor employee GSA Access Cards and contractor employee background investigations for their HSSOs.

Form I-9, OMB No. 1115-0136, Employment Eligibility Verification. Form presented by the applicant to the PIV registrar to assist the registrar in the identity proofing process.

Initial Fitness Determination. Also known as a favorable Enter on Duty determination, this allows a long-term contractor employee to begin work on a

GSA contract prior to the completion of a full background investigation.

Long-term Contractor Employees. Contractor employees who work on a contract for 6 months or longer.

Outlease tenants. Non-Federal tenants working in GSA federally owned or federally leased sublet space.

Personal Identification Verification (PIV) Credential. A physical artifact (e.g., identity card, smart card) issued to an individual that contains stored identity http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/fips/201/2/final credentials (e.g., photograph, cryptographic keys, and digitized fingerprint representation) so that the claimed identity of the cardholder can be verified against the stored credentials by another person (human readable and verifiable) or an automated process (computer readable and verifiable). Known within GSA as GSA Access Card or PIV Card.

PIV Adjudicator. The individual who adjudicates and attests to the results of the background investigation for each agency’s applicants for the Managed Service

Office credentialing system.

PIV Security Officer. The individual who has the ability to immediately revoke a

GSA Access Card upon termination or other security events. The individual also reviews flagged documents and duplicate fingerprint checks.

PIV Sponsor. Substantiates the need for a GSA Access Card to be issued to the applicant. The sponsor is responsible for managing the employment status of the card holder when a GSA Access Card holder retires, terminates, or for another reason no longer requires a GSA Access Card.

Randolph-Sheppard Act Vendors. The Act authorizes a blind individual licensed by the state licensing agency to conduct specified activities in vending facilities through permits or contracts. The Randolph-Sheppard Act locations are in GSA facilities that meet the GSA joint use space requirements, which allows GSA to do a background investigation and provide GSA Access Card as needed.

Requesting Officials (RO). Staff that includes Contracting Officers (CO) and

Contracting Officer’s Representatives (COR) as designated and authorized by the CO. The ROs have specific oversight roles and responsibilities outlined in

Appendix A.

Routine (Physical) Access. Regularly scheduled access to a facility at a minimum of once a week. For example, a contractor employee who reports to a facility once per week is determined a long-term contractor employee (if work duration on a contract is 6 months or longer) and should go through the Tier 1 or higher investigation and obtain a GSA Access Card.

Short-term Contractor Employees. Contractors who work on a contract for less than 6 months.

Special Agreement Check (SAC). An investigation for short-term contractor employees and non-United States citizen contractor employees with less than three consecutive years of residency in the United States or its territories that allows them to work on a GSA contract.

Student Volunteer. A person that works for GSA under the GSA Student

Volunteer Service Program (SERVICE), GSA Order HRM 9308.1.

Temporary Contractor Employees. Contractor employees who work on a contract for 15 days or less.

Tier Investigations. An investigation for employees and long-term contractor employees. The levels of Tier investigation are the following (listed lowest to highest level): Tier 1, Tier 1C, Tier 2S, Tier 3, Tier 4, and Tier 5. Tier

Investigations are referenced in the Investigation (INV) 15, Requesting National

Background Investigations Bureau Personnel Investigations (or its successor).