Person
Provides accurate forms, releases, identity information and fingerprints; responds to investigator or adjudicator follow-up; receives notices; submits required updates through approved channels.
Clearance process · Detailed map
Decision owners and outcomes
See which office owns each decision, how investigation and adjudication gates work, and what outcomes move a case forward or send it back.
Five responsibility lanes
Who owns each handoff?
The same person can interact with several offices, but each decision stays with its authorized owner. For the industry sponsor chain and individual-to-contract relationship, follow the cleared-industry role map.
Sponsor, HR, position manager or FSO
Defines the official requirement and position; checks previous vetting; selects the appropriate request route; verifies package completeness and submits it. In industry, the FSO does not decide eligibility.
DCSA / investigative provider
Accepts or returns the request for correction, conducts authorized checks and inquiries, resolves leads, requests clarification or expanded coverage, then sends the developed record forward.
CSA / adjudicator / determining authority
Owns the eligibility or trust determination, sets authorized conditions or exceptions, records the decision, and provides the applicable notice and review process.
Employer, agency and access authorities
Make employment and local-access decisions within their authority; confirm mission need and need-to-know; grant only necessary access; approve separate programs; act on authoritative status changes and withdraw access when need ends.
Special-access authorities separately decide SCI, SAP, Restricted Data and other program access. A baseline investigation or clearance does not replace that approval.
Shared decision gates
Follow the requirement through seven control points
A “yes” moves the case forward only to the next gate; it does not skip later checks. A “no” or unresolved item routes to the named owner before the individual receives access.
- 1 · Is there a real duty requiring classified access?Yes: sponsor documents the level and work. No: stop the clearance request; route only suitability, fitness, or credentialing if required.
- 2 · Is there an authorized sponsor and valid affiliation?Government: employing/mission agency sponsors. Industry: verify the Government contract, prime/subcontract chain, performing entity, written employment basis, and assigned task.
- 3 · Can existing trust meet this requirement?Check current record, scope, level/tier, continuous-vetting status, exceptions, and break in service. Use reciprocity/transfer where criteria are met; request only needed upgrade or initial work.
- 4 · Is the package complete and investigation sufficient?Applicant resolves form/fingerprint gaps. Agency or FSO performs only its allowed completeness checks; ISP resolves investigation leads. Missing coverage returns for follow-up.
- 5 · Did an authorized Government adjudicator grant eligibility?Favorable: record the determination and limits. Unfavorable/contested: follow the proper notice, response, appeal, or review path. Pending alone is not permission to access.
- 6 · Is this specific access separately authorized?Verify active eligibility, mission/contract need, need-to-know, agreements and briefings, program approval, and approved location/system. Resolve each missing condition before access.
- 7 · Does affiliation and access need continue?Recheck on transfer, upgrade, new contract/customer, duty/location change, concern, or separation. Update records, change or withdraw access, and debrief as required.