Here are some insights and tips particularly relevant for small (and not-so-small) businesses that anticipate being sponsored for a facility security clearance (FCL).
In my consulting practice I’ve seen some instances recently of small businesses failing to keep their public records up-to-date. This has serious implications for the ability to obtain a facility security clearance and related, necessary credentials.
First, you need to have established a CAGE code for your company to even be sponsored for a facility security clearance. So register for a CAGE code at the U.S. government’s System for Award Management site. Second, before you’re sponsored for a facility security clearance (FCL), make sure your company information is up-to-date in that SAM site as well as in Dun and Bradstreet’s public database.
The company address you have registered in the SAM Web site is the address the DCSA will use for your facility security clearance (FCL). You must not have a mismatch between your address in SAM and the address your FCL sponsor submits to the DCSA for your facility security clearance.
Also, to obtain and maintain a facility security clearance, you must obtain digital ECA certificates from an approved provider. (This is something presently not mentioned by the DCSA’s checklist for facility security clearances.) And if the address you submit for your digital ECA certificates doesn’t match the addresses in public databases like Dun and Bradstreet and SAM, you’ll likely be denied those certificates.
And while you’re checking and updating those databases, check your state and/or local business registrations to ensure they’re also up-to-date. Once you submit corrections, it takes time for some of those organizations to update your public records.
You don’t want inaccurate public records about your organization to sabotage your facility security clearance (FCL). So get any discrepancies straightened out as soon as possible.
This is one of the many details I guide my clients through when obtaining and maintaining their facility security clearances.