The Institute of Education Sciences’ Contractor Personnel Security Clearance Process

We found that the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) did not effectively implement Department requirements for the contractor personnel security screening process. We specifically noted weaknesses in IES’s development of internal policies and procedures, designation of contractpositions and position risk levels, notification and maintenance of security screening decisions and other related information, and inclusion of required contract provisions in contract solicitations. We found that IES staff and officials involved in the process were generally unaware ofDepartment requirements and their related responsibilities for processing contractor employees’ security screenings. We also determined that IES has not ensured that all contractor employees have appropriate security screenings and that security screenings are initiated in a timely manner.