Vendors want faster clearance

ITAA Security Clearance White Paper

A coalition of industry groups wants the federal government to remove obstacles for government contractors that need to swiftly get clearances for employees working on sensitive federal contracts.

There are too many challenges to overcome, according to Harris Miller, president of the Information Technology Association of America. Sometimes, he said, it can take more than a year to process a clearance request.

"Critical government work is being affected because government contractors cannot get the necessary people through the clearance process in a timely manner," Miller said.

The coalition issued a report recommending four reforms to smooth the clearance process:

* Increase the number of clearances for any job by 20 percent to make sure enough workers can get through the process.

* Take actions to eliminate the backlog.

* Create a process that allows cleared workers to take their clearances from one project to another.

* Standardize data and processes for clearances.

"Elongated clearance processes adversely affect mission accomplishment, keep people from working in a productive and timely manner and add to the cost of contractor programs to the federal government," the report said.

In addition to ITAA, the coalition includes the Professional Services Council, Security Affairs Support Association, Contract Services Association of America, AFCEA and the Northern Virginia Technology Council.