Federal Student Aid’s Contractor Personnel Security Clearance Process

We found that FSA did not effectively implement Department requirements for the contractor personnel security screening process. We specifically noted weaknesses in FSA’s development of internal policies and procedures; designation of contract positions and risk levels; maintenance of contract position, risk, and employee information, notification and maintenance of security screening decisions, and contractor employee departure procedures. We found that FSA staff and officials involved in the process were generally unaware of Department requirements and their related responsibilities for processing contractor employees’ security screenings.