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Completed background investigations for security clearances will be sent via electronic transfer under a pilot project initiated by the Office of Personnel Management.

Under the pilot, OPM, which conducts 95 percent of background investigations, will electronically deliver the results of such reviews to the Army Central Personnel Security Clearance Facility for adjudication of the applications under its jurisdiction. If the test is successful, OPM expects to extend electronic transfer to all agencies by Oct. 1.

The use of technology has been cited as critical to reducing the time necessary to transfer documents across agencies. Currently, most background investigation results are delivered through the mail or other hand-delivery methods. Electronic transfer will reduce delivery time by seven to 13 days and will provide savings on postage and personnel, according to OPM.

"OPM has worked diligently over the past two years to increase the speed with which federal employees receive their security clearance," said OPM Director Linda Springer. "Through electronic transfer, agencies will have instant access to completed background investigations, ensuring more timely and efficient adjudication of clearance cases."

The program will enable the Army's clearance facility to process adjudication cases electronically through the Clearance Adjudication Tracking System. That system can manage cases more efficiently, in part by automatically prioritizing them based on OPM codes. The system helps eliminate staff costs associated with the current paper-based environment, OPM said.

Under a 2004 anti-terrorism law, agencies are required to ensure by 2009 that 90 percent of applications get adjudicated within 60 days of the date investigators receive the forms. Within that time, the investigations phase could take 40 days at most, and the process of deciding whether to accept or reject the application could take a maximum of 20 days, according to the law.

A February report by the Office of Management and Budget found that agencies are making significant progress in speeding security clearance processing, with 80 percent of initial investigations and adjudications completed within 118 days. However, the report did not include a measure of the amount of time it takes OPM to hand off or mail applications to agencies.

"OPM is looking at one small segment of the clearance process that can be more easily fixed," said Evan Lesser, director of ClearanceJobs.com, which matches clearance-holding job seekers with top hiring companies. "The government is saying that things are improving, but we are not seeing it trickle down yet."

Lesser pointed to a request-for-information posted last week on the Federal Business Opportunities Web site, in which the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Defense Department and OMB sought input from vendors on potential ways to reduce clearance delays.

"This is probably the most remarkable thing to come about with the security clearance backlog in years," Lesser said.

According to the information request, the agencies are seeking a defined industry solution on how to speed clearance processing in compliance with the law. The agencies are hoping to have the new system in place by Dec. 31, 2008, the request stated.

"It's interesting that OPM is talking about one [technological] area and, at the same time, a more broad group of agencies is looking at what is very much a solution to the problem," Lesser said.

COMMENTS

• I was denied a clearance for" just knowing" on friendly business terms 3 highly respected computer scientists who happen to be from Russia, two of whom live in the netherlands and one who lives in London. Each of these scientists are private sector with no relationship to the Russian Government. Just for that my 56 years of good citizenship, honorable Discharge from Coast Guard, 2 years in the Peace Corps and all my degrees and accomplishments were "criminalized" by OPM. It just shocks the conscience !!! that these kind of federal morons are authorized to do harm to their fellow citizens. The OPM appeal system is a "Star Chamber" where no case history is available and all information is funneled through one individual - Melinda Davis. Steven Hunziker Posted May 15, 2008 3:24 PM
• Someone, Please, Please explaing to me, why it can possibly take (and still not completed) 16 months to do a five year update. I'll tell you why, because an agent asked me why I didnt have an address for my mother. Maybe its because she is listed as "DECEASED". And after 14 months they are just now checking my employment references. The system is broken. Clearance Holder Posted May 12, 2008 12:55 PM
• The deception and conruption within OPM FISD is overwhelming. I am sorry to say that this comment and other comments on this page will not make any changes. They are killing our sons and daughters in harms way with there lies and failures. opm agent Posted December 11, 2007 2:05 PM