No Need-to-Know Signature and Classified Visits using JPAS

The change to the NISPOM, chapter 6 removes the need for a U.S. government agency to approve need-to-know for a classified meeting. This change removed invalid administrative burden on industry. However, there are still agencies that won't honor the new procedure. Here is what the NISPOM says:

6-102. Need-to-know Determination. Eliminates the requirement to obtain GCA approval for non-contract related classified visits.

The below paragraph helps to move visit requests into JPAS where they are easier to administer.

6-104. Visit Authorization. Eliminates the requirement for a visit authorization letter (VAL) for classified visits within DoD when a CSA-designated database is available. Basically this means that within DoD, you do not need a VAL if you use JPAS.

NISPOM Changes that Affect JPAS

Here is specific information from the "Summary of Major NISPOM Changes published in April 2007 by DSS. This continues to move all of industry towards the requirement to use JPAS as the government source for security clearances.

Section 2. Personnel Security Clearances

2-200. General.

LOCs are eliminated. Notification of granting of eligibility for access to classified information; i.e., personnel security clearance (PCL); is accomplished by use of the JPAS.

The contractor is responsible for maintaining the records of its employees in JPAS.

Contractors within a corporate family may centrally manage the eligibility and access records (i.e., PCLs) of their employees in JPAS.