Facility Clearance (FCL): What it is and how it works

What is a Facility Clearance (FCL)?

A Facility Clearance (FCL) is an administrative determination by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) that — from a national security standpoint — your company is eligible to access classified information at a specified level (Confidential, Secret, or Top Secret). The FCL is formalized through execution of a DD Form 441 (Department of Defense Security Agreement) between your company and the U.S. Government.

How does a company obtain a Facility Clearance?

Companies cannot apply for their own facility clearance. You must be sponsored by either:

• A Government Contracting Activity (GCA) that has awarded you a classified contract, or
• A cleared prime contractor that needs you as a subcontractor on classified work.

The sponsor submits a request through NISS, and DCSA initiates the FCL process. Typical requirements include:

1. Legal organization in the United States
2. Key Management Personnel (KMP) identified and (as required) cleared
3. Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI) assessed
4. Designated U.S. citizen Facility Security Officer (FSO)

How long does it take to get an FCL?

Timelines vary based on your corporate structure, whether KMP already hold clearances, FOCI considerations, and documentation completeness. Two common sources of delay are KMP investigations and FOCI mitigation negotiations.

How does FCL Simple help with facility clearance management?

FCL Simple helps you maintain your FCL by supporting:

• Tracking KMP and clearance status
• Managing change condition notifications
• Monitoring self-inspection schedules and documentation
• Organizing documentation for DCSA security reviews
• Tracking annual requirements like self-inspections and training

Can a one-person company get an FCL?

In practice, DCSA will not process an FCL for a one-person company. If a prime contractor wants to utilize an individual consultant who is the sole employee of their own company, the prime should consider processing that individual as a consultant under the prime’s existing FCL rather than sponsoring a separate FCL.