The University has a facility clearance up to Secret (It cannot handle Top Secret materials).

When a University employee receieves an individual clearance he/she can review classified materials but University policy is that he/she cannot develop classified materials. The University does not want to develop classified materials because this action would go against the University's mission to disseminate information and educate. (On a rare occasion, there may be an exception to this rule.) For a person to transport classified material, he/she has to be designated as a courier. If a faculty member attends a meeting that has handouts of classified materials, he/she cannot bring it back. These materials must be mailed to a special PO box that the Facility Security Officer and his/her secretary has access.

The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) requires that a DD Form 254 be incorporated in each classified contract. The DD Form 254 (see guide) provides to the contractor (or a subcontractor) the security requirements and the classification guidance that would be necessary to perform on a classified contract. If a contract is classified, the Facility Security Officer needs to be notified so that the employees associated with the contract can obtain their security clearances. Defense Security Service (DSS) administers security for non-federal agencies or industry. DSS covers almost every federal agency. DOE has it's own clearances (Q clearances). DSS and DOE will not honor each other's clearances. The federal agency has to be the one that requires the security clearance. In order for an industry to require security clearance the request for clearance has to originate in the federal agency that is flowing the work down.

To apply for a security clearance, the University employee must contact the OSP Security Officer for the proper forms. The individual clearance usually lasts until the contract ends, however, DSS normally requires revalidation about every 5 years. The University facility clearance will last until withdrawn by DSS.

For more information see the Virginia Tech Security website.