Company Security Management Office (SMO) Responsibilities and Lingo

When a defense contractor’s Security Management Office (SMO) offers someone a job in a sensitive position that requires a security clearance there are certain responsibilities and actions they must take to process the request through the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), depending on the scenario. First and foremost, they must have an owning relationship for the person in DISS. Then, a Customer Service Request (CSR) is submitted to DCSA to take the requested action. Here are some examples:

• Recertify CSR: This request is submitted when the applicant lost previous clearance eligibility due to an administrative withdrawal, a no-determination made, or a loss of jurisdiction. The current requirement calls for a no-break in service of less than 24 months or a new investigation will need to be done.
• Reconsideration CSR: This is used when the applicant was previously denied eligibility or had their clearance revoked. It must have been at least one year since the date of the final denial, revocation or appeal. Accompanying the CSR must have mitigating evidence that the issues that cause the denial or revocation no longer exist.
• Provide Supplemental Information CSR: This type of CSR is used in certain cases where the applicant needs to add information to an open investigation, is responding to a Statement of Reasons or Letter of Interrogatory, or to provide information for an incident report.
• Upgrade CSR: This request is submitted when the applicant does not currently have access or needs access to a higher level of clearance and already has an investigation on file that meets the requirements.
• Expedite CSR: This type of CSR is a request by the SMO to prioritize the processing of the case for adjudication after the background investigation has closed. It usually involves the applicant having to attend a school or course, an impending deployment, or a reassignment to a position needed the clearance.
• Reciprocity CSR: This is used when the applicant has had previous eligibility at the same level or higher with some other government agency.
• Interim Eligibility CSR:The SMO will submit this CSR If an interim clearance is needed while the background investigation is in progress.
• SCI Sponsorship Request: This one is when the applicant requires Sensitive Compartmented Information access. They must already possess active Top Secret clearance eligibility.
• Interim SCI Eligibility CSR: The SMO will submit this CSR if access is needed while the background investigation is in progress and other conditions have been met.

There are many other actions SMOs are responsible for, e.g., off-boarding ownership, submitting incident reports, responding to Requests for Action, briefings/debriefings, uploading documents obtained from applicants, etc. With Continuous Vetting adding to the workload, there is no shortage of work in the personnel security world.