15 Survey results final WEB posting

Update to Facility Security Officers: Survey Results of Cleared Contractor Personnel Security Investigation (PSI) Projections (April 14 – May 9, 2008)

The annual Defense Security Service Personnel Security Investigations (PSI) survey opened on April 14, 2008 and closed on May 9, 2008. The response rate to this web-based survey was the best yet with 83 percent of cleared facilities responding, representing 92 percent of the cleared contractor population.

Since the cost of contractor clearance investigations for the National Industrial Security Program (NISP) is centrally funded, DSS must budget for it as well as reimburse the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for the costs of the investigations conducted. As a result, more accurate PSI projections mean DSS is better able to plan and budget for contractor PSIs for clearances.

DSS plans to conduct the PSI survey in the spring of each calendar year to better align with the budget cycle.

DSS appreciates your reasonable best estimates of anticipated investigative needs for clearances for fiscal years 2009, 2010 and 2011. We recognize that projections may be difficult to determine, and are subject to change due to circumstances. We contacted a sampling of FSOs in late May to confirm the most costly investigation (Top Secret) projections prior to finalizing our analysis.

We also appreciate the feedback and comments submitted by many FSOs with their projections. In response to your comments, DSS will include definitions and more examples in future surveys. To the extent possible, we will streamline the survey’s design without compromising accuracy. We will continue to provide updates on the DSS website at least 90-120 days prior to next spring’s survey, particularly to ask FSOs to provide any updated email addresses to their Industrial Security Representatives.

Thank you again for the increased response rate to this year’s survey.