ML15194A401 

UNITED STATES 

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION 

OFFICE OF NEW REACTORS 

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDS 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 

July 15, 2015 

NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 2015-07: TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF E-QIP SYSTEM 

TO AFFECT PENDING BACKGROUND 

INVESTIGATIONS 

ADDRESSEES

All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensees or certificate holders under Title 10 of 

the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Parts 50, 51, 52, 70, 71, 72, and 76; Agreement 

State Radiation Control Program Directors; and State Liaison Officers. 

All contractors and vendors that supply basic components to NRC licensees under 

10 CFR Part 50, “Domestic Licensing of Production and Utilization Facilities” or 

10 CFR Part 52, “Licenses, Certifications, and Approvals for Nuclear Power Plants.” 

Any person with a pending submission in Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations 

Processing (e-QIP) for an initial security clearance, or currently due for reinvestigation with the 

NRC. 

PURPOSE

The NRC is issuing this information notice (IN) to provide information that was transmitted to the 

NRC from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) regarding a temporary inability to 

process e-QIP for submission of a background investigation after June 26, 2015. 

DESCRIPTION OF CIRCUMSTANCES

The NRC was informed that OPM is conducting a comprehensive review of the security of its 

information technology systems, including e-QIP. The e-QIP system is used by individuals to 

complete a Standard Form 86 (SF 86), “Questionnaire for National Security Positions,” to 

support the background investigation of individuals seeking a personnel security clearance. 

OPM has taken e-QIP offline due to a vulnerability that was identified during this review and 

currently intends to bring e-QIP online within four to six weeks. OPM intends to maintain the 

information previously entered into e-QIP. At this time, there is no indication that information 

 
IN 2015-07 

Page 2 of 3

stored within e-QIP has been compromised. However, the temporary suspension greatly 

impacts the NRC’s ability to submit information to OPM, allowing OPM to conduct background 

investigations. 

DISCUSSION

All SF 86s released to OPM prior to June 26, 2015 by the NRC should have background 

investigations in progress. However, those applicants with a “Pending Status” are affected by 

the temporary suspension, including: 

1. individuals who have not yet started their SF 86s; 

2. individuals who have started but not completed their SF 86s; and 

3. individuals who completed SF 86s, but the NRC is unable to access the information 

in e-QIP for review. 

CONCLUSION

The NRC asks licensees and certificate holders to take this matter into consideration and refrain 

from submitting new requests for personnel security clearances. All requests received prior to 

e-QIP being taken offline during this temporary suspension period will be processed. All 

requests received subsequent to e-QIP being taken offline will be processed when e-QIP is 

back online. The NRC will directly contact any individuals who are expected to complete their 

e-QIP submissions for initial processing. 

OPM’s temporary suspension does not impact the NRC’s ability to process requests for 

personnel security clearances through reciprocity. 

The NRC has temporarily suspended its personnel security clearance reinvestigation process 

while e-QIP is unavailable. However, previously issued security clearances will not expire. 

Please note that the reporting requirements regarding adverse information for clearance holders 

remain in effect. 

 
IN 2015-07 

Page 3 of 3

CONTACTS 

This IN requires no specific action or written response. Please direct any questions about this 

matter to the technical contacts listed below. 

/RA/ /RA/

Michael C. Cheok, Director Lawrence E. Kokajko, Director 

Division of Construction Inspection Division of Policy and Rulemaking 

 and Operational Programs Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 

Office of New Reactors 

/RA/

Josephine Piccone, Director 

Division of Material Safety, State, Tribal, 

 and Rulemaking Programs 

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards 

Technical Contacts: Linda M. Watson, ADM/DFS/PSB 

 301-415-7409 

 e-mail: Linda.Watson@nrc.gov 

 Lisa C. Nichols-Streck, ADM/DFS/PSB 

 301-415-5834 

 e-mail: Lisa.Nichols-Streck@nrc.gov 
IN 2015-07 

Page 3 of 3 

CONTACTS 

This IN requires no specific action or written response. Please direct any questions about this 

matter to the technical contacts listed below. 

 /RA/ /RA/ 

Michael C. Cheok, Director Lawrence E. Kokajko, Director 

Division of Construction Inspection Division of Policy and Rulemaking 

 and Operational Programs Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 

Office of New Reactors 

/RA/ 

Josephine Piccone, Director 

Division of Material Safety, State, Tribal, 

 and Rulemaking Programs 

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards 

Technical Contacts: Linda M. Watson, ADM/DFS/PSB 

301-415-7409 

e-mail: Linda.Watson@nrc.gov 

Lisa C. Nichols-Streck, ADM/DFS/PSB 

301-415-5834 

e-mail: Lisa.Nichols-Streck@nrc.gov 

ADAMS Accession No. ML15194A401 *concurrence via email TAC No. MF6467 

OFFICE NRR/DPR/PGCB/PM* ADM/DFS/PSB/BC* NRR/DPR/PROB/BC* ADM/DFS/D NSIR/DSO/DD* 

NAME APopova VKerben KHsueh TPulliam APretzello 

DATE 07/13/2015 07/14/2015 07/14/2015 07/14/2015 07/15/2015 

OFFICE NRR/DPR/PGCB/LA NRR/DPR/PGCB/BC* NRR/DPR/DD* NRO/DCIP/D* NMSS/MSTR/D* 

NAME ELee SStuchell AMohseni MCheok JPiccone 

DATE 07/14/2015 07/15/2015 07/15/2015 07/15/2015 07/15/2015 

OFFICE NRR/DPR/D 

NAME LKokajko 

DATE 07/15/2015 

OFFICIAL RECORD COPY