Annual Report to Congress on 

 Personnel Security Investigations 

 for Industry and the National 

 Industrial Security Program 

 U.S. Department of Defense 

 

 January 2010 
Annual Report to Congress on 

Personnel Security Investigations for Industry and 

the National Industrial Security Program 

 This report complies with Section 347 of the John Warner National Defense 

Authorization Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 (Public Law 109-364), which requires the 

Secretary of Defense to include, in the budget justification documents submitted to Congress 

in support of the President’s budget for the Department of Defense (DoD) for each fiscal 

year, a report on the future requirements of DoD with respect to the Personnel Security 

Investigations for Industry (PSI-I) and the National Industrial Security Program (NISP) of the 

Defense Security Service (DSS). This is the fourth annual report. Data in this report 

provided by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) cannot be validated by DoD. 

Section I: The Funding Requirements of the Personnel Security Clearance 

Investigation Program and the Ability of the Secretary of Defense to 

Fund the Program. 

The FY09 total cost for PSI-Is was $218.7 million. DoD has funded $230.6 million 

for FY10 requirements. In addition, DoD has approved the following PSI-I funding for 

FY11 through FY15. Based on current projections and requirements known at the time of 

this report, this funding is expected to be sufficient: 

• FY11: $235.2 million 

• FY12: $239.9 million 

• FY13: $244.7 million 

• FY14: $249.6 million 

• FY15: $254.6 million 

PSI-Is for national security clearances are centrally funded through the Defense-wide 

Operations and Maintenance Appropriation. 

2
Section II: The Size of the Industry Personnel Security Clearance 

 Adjudication and Investigation Process Backlog

As part of the DSS mission to facilitate the personnel security clearance process for 

industry, the Defense Industrial Security Clearance Office (DISCO), a DSS component, is 

responsible for the adjudication of PSI-Is on behalf of DoD and 23 other Federal agencies in 

the NISP. During FY09, pending adjudication inventory at DISCO increased by 9 percent 

overall, from 8,833 to 9,596. The slight inventory increase is attributed to a reduction in 

overtime use and increased hours of adjudicator training requirements, resulting in a net 

decrease of available adjudication staff of 6 percent when compared to FY08. 

In 2005, the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) mandated relocation of 

DISCO operations from Columbus, Ohio to Fort Meade, Maryland by September 2011. As a 

result, DISCO adjudicators in Columbus are seeking employment elsewhere, raising a 

traditional 2 percent attrition rate to 16 percent in FY08. Further, competition for qualified 

resources for the satellite office in the Fort Meade area is significant. DSS expects to see 

these higher attrition rates continue. Positions formerly occupied by experienced 

adjudicators in Columbus are being filled with less experienced adjudicators near the Fort 

Meade area, which continues to require a considerable amount of training assistance. The 

resulting challenges have had an impact on operational productivity at DISCO. DSS 

initiatives to ensure no serious degradation to operations include both locations. In the Fort 

Meade area, the satellite office space will be expanded, over hires authorized, and shift work 

will be possible. In the Columbus area, retention of remaining personnel until the facility 

closes and the use of term appointments will supplement capacity until sufficient resources 

are available. Contingency options are also being developed. 

FY09 DISCO Pending Adjudications Chart 

Case Type 

Dec-08 

(End of 

Q1)

Mar-09 

(End of 

Q2)

June-09 

(End of 

Q3)

Sept-09 

(End of 

Q4)

Delta 

Q1 vs Q4 

NACLC 4,721 1,815 4,187 7,292 54% 

SSBI 1,448 634 1,102 1,608 11% 

SSBI-PR 974 340 756 488 -50% 

Phased PR 1,690 495 346 208 -88% 

TOTAL PENDING 8,833 3,284 6,391 9,596 9% 

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OPM Pending Cases Report1

Pending Cases at the close of FY09 (9/30/09) for Initial Investigations 

The following OPM data depicts open DoD NISP initial investigation cases pending 

at OPM at the end of FY09 (including cases not scheduled) as well as those pending longer 

than 90 days, in successive 30-day increments. 

Case 

Type 

Total 

Pending <90 91-120

121-

150 

151-

180 

181-

210 

211-

240 

241-

270 

271-

300 

301-

330 

331-

360 >360

Standard 

SSBI2 6,561 6,007 258 124 80 36 24 10 2 5 6 9 

NACLC3 12,307 12,013 122 57 36 17 24 14 6 6 3 9 

Totals 18,868 18,020 380 181 116 53 48 24 8 11 9 18 

• There was a 15 percent reduction in the number of total pending SSBI and NACLC 

investigations at the end of FY09 (18,868), compared to the end of FY08 (22,281). 

• 4.5 percent (848 out of 18,868) of investigations were more than 90 days old. 

OPM Pending Cases Report4

Pending Cases at the Close of FY09 (9/30/09) for Periodic Reinvestigations (PRs)

The following OPM data depicts open DoD NISP Top Secret (TS) PR cases pending 

at OPM at the end of FY09 (includes cases not scheduled) as well as those pending longer 

than 180 days, in successive 30-day increments. 

Case 

Type 

Total 

Pending <180 181-210 

211-

240 

241-

270 

271-

300 

301-

330 

331-

360 >360 

SSBIPR5 3,703 3,599 48 28 3 4 6 5 10 

Phased 

PR6 2,640 2,597 8 12 6 5 2 5 5 

Totals 6,343 6,196 56 40 9 9 8 10 15 

 

1

 Data Source OPM, Pending Case Report 

2

 SSBI – Single Scope Background Investigations are for Top Secret Clearances 3

 NACLC – National Agency Check, with Local and Credit Check Investigation for Initial Secret Clearances 

and Periodic Reinvestigations for Secret Clearances 

4

 Data Source OPM, Pending Case Report 

5

 SSBI-PR – Single Scope Background Investigation for Periodic Re-evaluation for Top Secret Clearances 6

 Phased-PR – is a streamlined investigation used for cases where derogatory information is not present and is 

for re-evaluation for Top Secret Clearances 

4
• In all, there was a 41 percent reduction in the number of total pending TS PRs at the 

end of FY09 (6,196) as compared to the end of FY08 (10,575). 

• At the close of FY09, 2 percent (147 out of 6,343) of TS PRs were more than 180 

days old. 

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Section III: The Length of the Average Delay for an Individual Case Pending in 

 the Personnel Security Clearance Investigation Process

 The National Industrial Security Program Policy Advisory Committee (NISPPAC) 

Ad Hoc Working Group7, consisting of members from industry, OPM, DSS and the 

Information Security Oversight Office, compiled end-to-end processing time metrics for 100 

percent of initial TS and Secret clearances completed during FY09. Below are process 

timelines for closed cases, by case type, for FY09. 

 

FY 2009 Sub-Step Timeliness – Closed Cases∗

Averages (Days) 

Sub-Step SSBI NACLC SSBI PR 

Initiation Time 16 15 8 

DISCO Processing Time 2 2 2 

OPM Investigation 82 46 100 

Mail to DISCO 10 10 10 

Adjudication 29 29 36 

TOTAL 139 102 156 

The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act (IRTPA) of 2004 mandated 

the development of a plan to reduce the length of the personnel security clearance process 

with the following criteria: 

• To the extent practicable, the plan shall require that each authorized adjudicative 

agency make a determination on at least 90 percent of all applications for clearances 

within an average of 60 days from the date of receipt of the completed application. 

• The act states that by December 2009, not more than 40 days should be spent on the 

investigative phase and not more than 20 days should be spent on the adjudicative 

phase. 

During the fourth quarter of FY09, 90 percent of initial industry clearances averaged 

84 days from start to finish, an 18 percent improvement over the fourth quarter of FY08 

when the average was 102 days. 

 

7

 The NISPPAC is a Federal Advisory Committee established on January 8, 1993, by Executive Order 12829, 

“National Industrial Security Program.” The NISPPAC advises the Committee Chair on all matters related to 

the NISP, and is chaired by the Director of the Information Security Oversight Office. ∗

 Pending (open) case data not available at time of publication. 

6
Section IV: Progress Made by the Secretary of Defense During the 12 

 Months Preceding the Date on Which the Report is Submitted 

 Toward Implementing Planned Changes in the Personnel Security 

 Clearance Investigation Process. 

DSS’s former Personnel Security Clearance Office (PSC) consisted of the Clearance 

Oversight Office (COO) and the Clearance Liaison Office (CLO). Responsibilities of the 

CLO included working with OPM and DoD components on quality policy, procedures and 

oversight of the DoD personnel security investigation (PSI) process. The COO was 

responsible for estimating the annual PSI workload requirements for DoD, monitoring PSI 

funding and timeliness, resolving billing matters between DoD and OPM and working with 

OPM on metrics. 

On April 2, 2008, the Secretary of Defense directed the Under Secretary of Defense 

for Intelligence (USD(I)) to formally assess future options for DSS. A study panel was 

convened, and that panel issued recommendations for future missions and functions of DSS. 

On January 15, 2009, the Deputy Secretary of Defense issued a memorandum adopting 

recommendations of the DSS Future Options Study (copy attached). As a result of the DSS 

study, DoD directed the implementation of numerous measures designed to strengthen and 

refocus DSS to meet 21st-century industrial security and counterintelligence needs. 

Toward this end, several significant changes occurred: 

• DoD enterprise-wide information technology (IT) systems associated with personnel 

security clearances will be transferred to the Defense Manpower Data Center 

(DMDC). A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to guide the transfer of the IT 

systems associated with personnel security clearances from DSS to DMDC was being 

negotiated at the end of FY09, and is now being finalized. 

• The PSC was disestablished and oversight of personnel security investigations policy 

was realigned to the Security Directorate of the Office of the Under Secretary of 

Defense for Intelligence (OUSD(I)). As of the end of FY09, the transfer of PSC 

functions relating to PSI oversight and policy were being formally coordinated with 

OUSD(I). DSS’s Industrial Policy and Programs (IP) Directorate, Assessment and 

Evaluation Division (IP-A), will continue to perform responsibilities related to PSI 

oversight and policy pending execution of a MOA and subsequent transfer of 

operations. The DSS retains responsibility only over PSI functions specific to 

industry personnel clearance adjudications, including projection of PSI-I 

requirements, management and payment of PSI-I bills, and related billing matters. 

• Oversight of DoD projections and billing matters for military and civilian personnel 

PSIs was formally transferred to the Department of the Air Force. The Air Force was 

formally designated as the DoD single point of contact for all DoD PSI billing matters 

and payments to OPM effective October 1, 2009. 

7
Additional DSS initiatives and improvements made during FY09 include:

Rapid Assessment of Incomplete Security Investigations (RAISE): The DSS, using a 

prototype developed by the Defense Personnel Security Research Center (PERSEREC), with 

input from DoD Central Adjudication Facilities (CAFs) and DoD policy experts, developed 

the RAISE online tool to efficiently and systematically collect information about the scope, 

issues, and utility of investigations with deficient information. In June 2009, RAISE was 

designated as the DoD tool for assessing personnel security investigation quality; shortly 

thereafter, the Joint Suitability and Security Reform Team (JSSRT) began work to 

incorporate the RAISE functionality into the DoD Case Adjudication Tracking System 

(CATS). We estimate that this functionality will be available through CATS during the 

second quarter of FY10.

Secure Web Fingerprint Transmission (SWFT): All initial PSIs require submission of 

fingerprints, which are transmitted to OPM as part of the request for investigation. SWFT is 

a program that permits electronic submission of fingerprints for PSIs. In August 2009, DSS 

launched the full production SWFT capability and began allowing cleared contractors to 

submit fingerprints electronically. These electronic submissions eliminate delays associated 

with the previous practice of mailing paper cards and ensure that fingerprint files are matched 

to a valid investigation in the Joint Personnel Adjudication System (JPAS) prior to release to 

OPM. These voluntary electronic submissions have already helped reduce the fingerprint 

rejection rate by approximately 9 percent due to the high quality of the fingerprint 

submissions. As of October 2009, 4 cleared companies had joined the SWFT program and 

over 9,400 electronic fingerprint files had been transmitted from the DSS SWFT system to 

OPM. Although these submissions represent only a small portion of the potential customer 

base, DSS continues to engage industry on the SWFT program and expects these numbers to 

grow dramatically over the next few years. Electronic fingerprint transmission will reduce 

fingerprint rejection rates as well as improve investigative timeliness. 

Enhanced Secret Internet Protocol Network (SIPRNet) to the Field: The introduction of 

mobile SIPRNet workstations to DSS regional and field offices allows DSS industrial 

security representatives and field counterintelligence (CI) specialists to use a secure network 

for day-to-day operations. This capability provides access to web content on SIPRNet 

including threat reporting, e-mail, and access to CI tools, and supports secure collaboration 

on work products. The DSS is the first DoD agency to expand SIPRNet to remote offices via 

the new National Security Agency-certified communication encryption devices. These 

devices allow DSS to provide SIPRNet capabilities to field offices and ensure classified and 

sensitive U.S. Government information remains secure. One hundred systems have been 

introduced across the agency as of October 2009. 

JPAS Enhancements: DSS implemented the revised SF-86 (Questionnaire for National 

Security Positions) in JPAS, allowing DoD to fulfill its commitment nearly two months 

ahead of the deadline for implementing this action. This enhancement allowed cleared 

industry and military accessions to continue processing personnel security clearance requests 

and to smoothly transition to the revised SF-86. DSS implemented interfaces with the CATS 

and the Automated Continuing Evaluation System (ACES) to allow critical data to be 

8
exchanged in support of DoD Personnel Security reform initiatives. The CATS tool was 

selected as the DoD non-intelligence community IT system for case management and 

adjudications. The interface allows adjudicative information from CATS to be updated in 

JPAS, giving security managers visibility into the clearance eligibility status of their 

personnel. The ACES interface provides JPAS data in support of the ACES automated 

eligibility assessments conducted between normal investigation cycles. The ACES is 

currently in pilot mode with initial operating capability planned for FY 2010 and full 

operating capability planned for FY 2011. 

JPAS Certification and Accreditation: DSS certified and accredited JPAS by validating 

the security controls, and obtained an Authority to Operate on the Non-classified but 

Sensitive Internet Protocol Router Network (NIPRNet). The DSS complied with various 

security vulnerability alerts issued by Defense Information Systems Agency and the Joint 

Task Force-Global Network Operations and tested all patches and upgrades to ensure 

requirements were implemented and new problems were not introduced into the system. 

DSS responded and provided resolution to various JPAS incidents involving government and 

contract personnel. In addition, DSS initiated a network security solution which provides 

real-time analysis of network flows and models behavior to identify abnormal activity. DSS 

installed U.S. Army Research Laboratory sensors to monitor external traffic between routers 

and firewalls for abnormal activity on the DSS unclassified data network. 

Call Center Operations: In FY09, the DoD Security Services Call Center team continued 

to provide exemplary customer service and assistance as verified and acknowledged by 

numerous customers. The dual-sited integrated Call Center team (located in Alexandria, 

Virginia, and Columbus, Ohio) currently provides front-line DSS IT mission systems user 

support. 

In addition to JPAS and SWFT, the significant DSS IT mission systems supported by the 

Call Center team include: 

• The Industrial Security Facilities Database, which manages facility information for 

those cleared contractors participating in the NISP. 

• The Defense Central Index of Investigations, which allows for the central 

management and identification of investigative reports created by DoD components 

about specific personnel. 

• The Electronic Network Registration & On-line Learning (ENROL) system, which is 

a web-based learning management system that automates the administration, 

documentation, tracking, and reporting of training in support of the Security 

Education Awareness and Training (SETA) mission area. 

• The Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (e-QIP) system, which is 

part of an e-Government initiative sponsored by OPM. E-QIP allows applicants to 

electronically enter, update, and transmit their personal investigative data over a 

secure internet connection to their employing agency for review and approval. 

9
With a call abandonment rate of less than 1 percent and an average caller wait time of 

only 7 seconds, the Call Center team exceeded their set standards for speed of service and 

ensured approximately 1,500 daily callers received personal, high quality assistance. 

Additionally, an element of the Call Center was relocated in September 2009 from the DSS 

Headquarters facility to the Hoffman Building I in Alexandria, Virginia, with no disruption 

to service. The move resulted in a dedicated workspace for the Call Center with reduced 

background noise and improved customer support. 

E-QIP as Designed: The e-QIP program will allow investigation requests by industry to 

flow directly to OPM, eliminating the use of JPAS as the sole front end for industry. 

Implementing this program will require system changes that should be completed during 

calendar year 2012. In the interim, industry will have to access both JPAS and e-QIP to 

generate requests for investigation. 

The DSS Industrial Policy and Programs Directorate, Assessment and Evaluation 

Division (IP-A), is responsible for estimating the annual PSI workload requirements for 

DoD, monitoring PSI funding, resolving billing issues between DoD and OPM and working 

with OPM on metrics. IP-A initiatives in FY09 include: 

• DSS Security Clearance Process Metrics Oversight Report: DSS produces a monthly 

statistical summary of DoD PSI processing metrics and of other elements of the 

security clearance process. The report includes timeliness metrics, projected vs. 

actual case volume, DoD pending case inventory levels, and DoD CAF adjudication 

metrics. The report is distributed to the staff of the USD(I), Military Services, and the 

Defense Agencies as a monthly personnel security program evaluation tool. The 

assessment tool has been well received and has assisted recipients in tracking actual 

PSI submissions against budget projections. This oversight function will be 

transferred to the USD(I) in FY10. 

• PSI-I Requirements Survey: In April 2009, DSS deployed its annual Web-based 

survey to 11,594 facility security officers (representing 12,735 cleared facilities) for 

the purposes of projecting PSI-I requirements. The projections are the key 

component in DSS/DoD program planning and budgeting for NISP security 

clearances in the Future Years Defense Program (FYDP). With more than 87.5 

percent of cleared contractor facilities responding (representing 94.6 percent of the 

cleared contractor facility population), the survey has proven to be highly effective in 

projecting contractor security clearance requirements. Projections provided from the 

survey in FY08 were 0.9 percent below actual submissions. At the close of FY09, 

industry clearance eligibility submissions were 2.4 percent below projections, which 

is well within the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) mandate that the survey 

results be plus or minus 5 percent of actual submissions. Projections of PSI-I will 

remain a DSS function. 

• Weekly PSI Budget Checkbook: DSS monitors DoD-component submissions of 

personnel security clearance requests and distributes to each component a weekly 

summary report of PSI expenses to date and a projection of expenses for the fiscal 

10
• PSI Billing Automation: DSS completed a fully automated system to improve 

accuracy, correctly identify DoD components’ separate shares of the OPM bill, and 

efficiently process bills for payment. The PSI billing system established consistent 

customer files, which ensures accurate communication and facilitates prompt 

payments by DoD components. DoD billing functions, with the exclusion of PSI-I, 

have been transferred to the Air Force as of October 1, 2009. 

• Billing Transaction Database: DSS developed a billing transaction database which 

depicts the cost of all PSIs since FY06. The database is a useful audit tool to identify 

discrepancies in OPM invoices for PSIs. Every PSI transaction is grouped by special 

key identifier and allows DSS to identify potential overcharges and duplicate billing 

entries. Continuous matching of PSI bills provided by OPM against actual DoD 

submissions identified discrepancies between OPM TS Phased PR requests and TS 

PR openings. Monitoring of PSIs by DSS resulted in the recovery of an estimated 

$3.8 million in overcharges DoD-wide, with an additional 8,000 cases pending 

review. 

The IRTPA mandated specific goals for improving timeliness for both PSIs and 

adjudications. DISCO, the DSS adjudication facility that adjudicates collateral clearances for 

contractor personnel, has exceeded the mandated IRTPA guidelines for completion of 

adjudications. During FY09, DISCO achieved significant success in reducing average 

adjudication process times. 

In FY09, DISCO completed 90 percent of initial adjudications in an average of 16 days. 

This exceeded the 20-day IRTPA goal established by the OMB by 4 days. 

• DISCO increased the number of interim personnel security clearance eligibilities 

granted by 28 percent, from 92,350 in FY08 to 118,323 in FY09. 

• DISCO made 125,245 initial personnel security clearance adjudications measured by 

IRTPA in FY09, as compared to 150,333 in FY08. 

• DISCO made 161,018 adjudications (initial and other) in FY09, as compared to 

191,914 in FY08. 

• DISCO granted 159,862 personnel security clearance eligibilities in FY09, as 

compared to 181,179 in FY08. 

11
Personnel Security Clearance Eligibilities Granted by DISCO FY05 - FY09 

Year Top Secret Secret Confidential 

FY09 57,101 102,756 5 

FY08 73,063 108,115 1 

FY07 40,494 98,909 4 

FY06 34,098 92,980 0 

FY05 34,512 73,306 528 

 During FY09, DISCO completed the following initiatives to improve the personnel 

security clearance process: 

• DISCO Satellite Office: The DSS staffed a DISCO satellite office in the vicinity of 

Fort Meade, Maryland, in FY09 as a strategy to mitigate disruptions associated with 

the pending relocation of DISCO from Columbus, Ohio, to Fort Meade in 2011, as 

directed in recommendation #130 from the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure 

(BRAC) Commission. Staffing of the DISCO satellite office included two 

adjudicative teams with two additional teams to be added in the first quarter of FY10. 

• Clearance Adjudication Tracking System (CATS): DISCO worked with the Army 

and the DoD Business Transformation Agency (BTA) to adopt the CATS, the DoDdesignated case management and adjudication system. Implementation of the system 

at DISCO occurred in August 2009. The CATS system included a JPAS interface, 

which enabled DISCO to receive and process reports of investigations electronically 

and will assist in managing work flow to DISCO adjudicators. 

• E-Adjudication: In September 2009, DISCO initiated e-Adjudication of NACLC 

investigations that are identified by OPM as having no issues or no actionable issues. 

This allows the eligibility determination to be made with no human review, resulting 

in enhanced efficiencies. Resources previously used for this were diverted to other 

workloads. 

• Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF): DISCO received 

accreditation for a SCIF and obtained access to the Joint Worldwide Intelligence 

Communications System and the Scattered Castles application. This access enhances 

the verification process of intelligence community clearances and promotes clearance 

reciprocity. 

In FY09, DoD completed the redesign of the DoD Personnel Security Adjudicator 

Certification Program, a SETA initiative led by PERSEREC. The certification program 

12
development team consisted of representatives from SETA, the DoD CAFs and PERSEREC. 

The program, originally developed as a multi-level program, was redesigned as a single-level 

program to certify that a DoD adjudicator is qualified to perform all adjudicative functions 

except for due process actions. Once certified, adjudicators who perform due process actions 

may qualify for an additional credential for the performance of these actions. This 

certification program will promote verifiable and sustained competency among the 

adjudicative workforce through training, initial testing, and approved continuing education. 

DSS is responsible for administering and maintaining the program. The certification package 

is currently being staffed through the DoD Office of General Counsel. 

SECTION V: Determination by the Secretary of Defense of Whether the 

Personnel Security Clearance Investigation Process Has Improved 

During the 12 Months Preceding the Date of the Report 

 The Department of Defense is committed to continue working with Congress to 

improve the personnel security process. As reflected in this document, we have made 

meaningful improvements in the funding and management of the PSI process, improved the 

timeliness of adjudications, and significantly reduced the pending adjudicative inventory. 

The Department continues to support the JSSRT and will work toward making more 

significant improvements in the future. 

Attachment: 

Deputy Secretary of Defense Memorandum, “Defense Security Service (DSS) Future 

Options Study Recommendations,” dated 15 January 2009

13
14

PL 109-364, SEC. 347. ANNUAL REPORT ON PERSONNEL SECURITY 

INVESTIGATIONS FOR INDUSTRY AND NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL 

SECURITY PROGRAM 

(a) ANNUAL REPORT REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Defense shall include in the 

budget justification documents submitted to Congress in support of the President’s budget for 

the Department of Defense for each fiscal year, a report on the future requirements of the 

Department of Defense with respect to the Personnel Security Investigations for Industry and 

the National Industrial Security Program of the Defense Security Service. 

(b) CONTENTS OF REPORT. —Each report required to be submitted under subsection 

(a) shall include the following: 

(1) The funding requirements of the personnel security clearance investigation 

program and ability of the Secretary of Defense to fund the program. 

(2) The size of the personnel security clearance investigation process backlog. 

(3) The length of the average delay for an individual case pending in the personnel 

security clearance investigation process. 

(4) Any progress made by the Secretary of Defense during the 12 months preceding 

the date on which the report is submitted toward implementing planned changes 

in the personnel security clearance investigation process. 

(5) A determination certified by the Secretary of Defense of whether the personnel 

security clearance investigation process has improved during the 12 months 

preceding the date on which the report is submitted. 

 (c) COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the Secretary 

of Defense submits the first report required under subsection (a), the Comptroller General 

shall submit to Congress a report that contains a review of such report. The Comptroller 

General’s report shall include the following: 

(1) The number of personnel security clearance investigations conducted during the 

period beginning on October 1, 1999, and ending on September 30, 2006. 

(2) The number of each type of security clearance granted during that period. 

(3) The unit cost to the Department of Defense of each security clearance granted 

during that period. 

(4) The amount of any fee or surcharge paid to the Office of Personnel Management 

as a result of conducting a personnel security clearance investigation. 

(5) A description of the procedures used by the Secretary of Defense to estimate the 

number of personnel security clearance investigations to be conducted during a 

fiscal year. 

(6) A description of any plan developed by the Secretary of Defense to reduce delays 

and backlogs in the personnel security clearance investigation process. 

(7) A description of any plan developed by the Secretary of Defense to adequately 

fund the personnel security clearance investigation process. 

(8) A description of any plan developed by the Secretary of Defense to establish a 

more stable and effective Personnel Security Investigations Program.