Personnel completing the clearance activation process to activate a security clearance granted by the Department of Commerce must complete a clearance debriefing prior to leaving any position requiring access to Classified National Security Information (CNSI). Debriefings outline the continuing obligation to protect CNSI after a security clearance is deactivated. Collateral clearance holders complete the Security Debriefing Acknowledgement portion of the SF-312 Classified Information Nondisclosure Agreement acknowledging the lifetime obligation to protect CNSI. The Department separation process uses the CD-126 Separation Clearance Certificate to close operational accounts assigned to a clearance holder for the Office of Human Resources Management and collected by the Bureau.

Personnel with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) activated by the Department Special Security Office (SSO) must schedule a debriefing for special access and collateral CNSI. SCI briefings for initial access and deactivation for classified contractors must be scheduled with the SSO. Classified contractors complete the Contractor Out-Processing Form with their Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). The COR provides the classified contractor’s name and separation date to the Industrial Security office to close the Security Manager record.

Do not send correspondence to group inboxes with Kiteworks as they are unable to receive Kiteworks email. Personally Identifiable Information shall be protected went sent via email. (How to Protect Personally Identifiable Information).

Contractors

Classified contractors requesting SCI access require an active Top Secret (TS) clearance with eligibility for access from their employer’s Facility Security Officer (FSO). The FSO must provide a Visitor Access Request Memo (VAR) identifying the employee, start/end dates of access, clearance status, current contract and Department POC. Once a VAR has been processed by the Industrial Security Program (osy_industrialsecurity@doc.gov), the COR may send an SCI access request memo to SCIRequests@doc.gov.

Do not send correspondence to group inboxes with Kiteworks as they are unable to receive Kiteworks email. Personally Identifiable Information shall be protected went sent via email. (How to Protect Personally Identifiable Information)

Contractor’s authorization to work on Department contracts requires an annual VAR renewal memo confirming the collateral clearance, employer, and bureau contract. SCI access requires an annual training and debriefing from the SSO prior to separation. COR must notify National Security Solutions & Services (NS3) at ns3servicedesk@doc.gov to close classified network access prior to the separation of a classified contractor.

Federal Employees and Committee Members

Department personnel are authorized to access classified information when assigned to a position designated for a security clearance. Personnel with an active security clearance shall complete a debriefing prior to leaving the position. The debriefing process consists of a review of the clearance holder’s responsibility to protect classified information in perpetuity and sign the security debriefing section of the SF-312 Nondisclosure Agreement. The Information Security Division collects records the debriefing within Security Manager. The Personnel Security Division (PSD) is notified of a debriefing leading to a separation. PSD then updates the status of the clearance in the Office of Personnel Management database.