Clearance Processing

Initial (New) Clearance Request

Clearances are allocated on a priority basis and must be approved by your Division or Directorate before submittal. A signed Allocation Approval form and Clearance Request/Recertification/Suitability Form (AL F5631.2C) constitute approval of clearance requested.

Package must include:

1. Allocation Approval Form signed by Division or Directorate allocation representative.
2. Clearance Request/Recertification/Suitability Form (AL F5631.2C) completed by group leader or higher. NOTE: Under comments note funding source, i.e.,
   • DP - Defense Programs
   • NN - Nuclear Nonproliferation
   • EM - Environmental Management
   • Other direct DOE programs
   • Work for Others and other non-DOE Programs
   • Indirect Site Support
3. Complete QNSP package, DOE Letter, Fair Credit Release, Security Acknowledgement form (DOE F5631.18), proof of citizenship and fingerprint cards.
4. LANL ONLY - Schedule appointment with Clearance Processing (667-8739) for package review, fingerprints, and review of proof of citizenship after HR-5 has received your Pre-Employment (Privacy Notification and Release Authorization Background Screening - Privacy Notification) form. The privacy notification form is submitted through your personnel generalist. NOTE: This information takes 10-14 working days to receive after submitted to HR-5.
5. SUBCONTRACTORS - Schedule an appointment with Clearance Processing (667-8739) for package review, finger prints, and review of proof of citizenship. Subcontractor personnel fills out a "Suitability for Employment on DOE Classified Work" form, which must be included in the clearance package. This form is available from the S-6 Clearance Processing team.
6. GRANTS
   • L > 180 working days
   • AAAP/Q > 250 working days from test date depending on DOE/HQ turn around time.
   • Q > 250 working days
     

Types of Security Clearances

About the types of data.

"Q" allows individual access to:	"L" allows individual access to:
Top Secret Restricted Data Top Secret Formerly Restricted Data Top Secret National Security Information Secret Restricted Data Special Nuclear Material (Category I & II) Exclusion Area Access	Confidential Restricted Data Confidential Formerly Restricted Data Special Nuclear Material (Category III) Confidential National Security Information Unescorted Access to Limited and Protected Area Secret Formerly Restricted Data Secret National Security Information

Reciprocal Clearances

To be eligible for a reciprocal clearance, the applicant must have

• an active clearance from another agency (DOD, NRC, FBI, CIA, etc.) and
• a current investigation.

DOE equivalencies are

• Secret is equivalent to a DOE-L.
• Top Secret or SCI is equivalent to a DOE-Q.
  NOTE: DOE does not recognize other levels of access.

Procedure:

1. Submit as an Initial clearance using the Clearance Request/Recertification/Suitability Form (AL F5631.2C).
2. Check the INITIAL box on the form as this is a new DOE clearance.
   
   
3. Check OTHER box and write the word Reciprocity.
   (NOTE: Time frame is about 6 to 8 weeks for the grant if there are no problems.)

DOE/AL Complex Internal and External
Clearance Extensions

A clearance can be active at another DOE site and extended to LANL. The individual being granted an extension to LANL will not be issued a DOE Standard Badge. Clearances must be extended to LANL if an individual is working on a FOCI approved contract.

1. Extending a clearance requires filling out the Clearance Request/Recertification/Suitability form (AL F 5631.2C) by the individual's Group Leader or higher level management.
   • The information in the Employee Information System (EIS) MUST BE UPDATED before extension can be done. Contact your Group or Division administrator for help.
   • Mail (B236) or fax (665-2919) AL F 5631.2C form to S-6 Clearance Processing.

Time table for extensions

Extension Type	Time Frame	Explanation
Internal Extension (within the DOE/AL complex)	2-4 weeks	The clearance is held at a DOE Field Office that Albuquerque Operations Office is responsible for.
External Extension (outside the DOE/AL complex)	2-4 weeks	The clearance is held at another DOE Field Office that Albuquerque Operations Office is not reponsible for.

Upgraded & Downgraded Clearances

* For those who have never held a Q clearance but who have an active L clearance.

Your Division or Directorate must approve your request before it is submitted. NOTE: A signed Allocation Approval form and Clearance Request/Recertification/ Suitability Form (AL F5631.2C) constitute approval of clearance requested. This upgrade is usually granted within 120–200 working days.

The package you submit must include the following items:

1. Allocation Approval Form signed by Division or Directorate allocation representative.
2. Clearance Request/Recertification/Suitability Form
   (AL F5631.2C) completed by group leader or higher. NOTE: Under comments, note funding source, (i.e.)
   
3. DP - Defense Programs
4. NN - Nuclear Non Proliferation
5. EM - Environmental Management
6. Other direct DOE programs
7. Work for Others and other non-DOE Programs
8. ISS - Indirect Site Support.
9. Complete QNSP package (supplemental instructions).
10. DOE Letter.
11. Fair Credit Release (2 original forms).
12. Security Acknowledgement form (DOE F5631.18).
13. Fingerprint cards.

Schedule an appointment with Clearance Processing (667-0640) so that the specialist can review your package and take your fingerprints

*For those who previously held a Q clearance, whose Q clearance has been downgraded to an L clearance, and who have a current 5-year investigation.

If your Q clearance has been downgraded to an L clearance and you have a current 5-year investigation, your Division or Directorate must approve your request before it is submitted. This upgrade does not cost your Division a Q from its quota. NOTE: A signed Allocation Approval form and Clearance Request/Recertification/Suitability Form
(AL F5631.2C) constitute approval of clearance requested.

This upgrade is usually granted within 120–200 working days.

The package you submit must contain the following items:

1. Allocation Approval form signed by Division or Directorate allocation representative.
2. Clearance Request/Recertification/Suitability Form
(AL F5631.2C) completed by
group leader or higher.
NOTE: Under comments note funding source, (i.e.)
• DP - Defense Programs
• NN - Nuclear Non Proliferation
• EM - Environmental Management
• Other direct DOE programs
• Work for Others and other non-DOE Programs
• ISS - Indirect Site Support.
  
3. Complete QNSP package (supplemental instructions).
4. DOE Letter.
5. Fair Credit Release.
6. Security Acknowledgement form (DOE F5631.18).
7. Fingerprint cards.
   

 

Schedule an appointment with Clearance Processing (667-0640) so the specialist can review your
package and take your fingerprints

 

*Your clearance has been downgraded to an L clearance and you do not have a current 5 year investigation.

If you have been downgraded to an L clearance and you do not have a current 5 year investigation, your request must be approved by your Division or Directorate before submittal. This does not cost a Q quota from your Division UNLESS the Q clearance is older than 10 years. This request will also require an reinvestigation. A signed Allocation Approval form and Clearance Request/Recertification/Suitability Form (AL F5631.2C) constitute approval of clearance requested.

Package must include:
Allocation Approval Form signed by Division or Directorate allocation representative
Clearance Request/Recertification/Suitability Form (AL F5631.2C) completed by group leader or higher.
NOTE: Under comments note funding source, (i.e.)
DP - Defense Programs
NN - Nuclear Non Proliferation
EM - Environmental Management
Other direct DOE programs
Work for Others and other non-DOE Programs
ISS - Indirect Site Support.
Complete QNSP package, (supplemental instructions)
DOE Letter, Fair Credit Release, Security Acknowledgement form (DOE F5631.18), Fingerprint cards.
Schedule appointment with Clearance Processing (667-0640)
for package review and fingerprints.
Usually granted within 120 - 200 working days

Downgrades from Q to L

To request downgrading a clearance from Q to L, the individual's Group Leader or higher-level manager

• Fills out the Clearance Request/Recertification/Suitability form (AL F 5631.2C) and
• Mails (B236) or faxes (665-2919) the AL F 5631.2C form to S-6 Clearance Processing.

The individual whose clearance is changing must to come to the Clearance Processing Office to turn in his or her badge to ensure proper transition to L access.
NOTE: This individual must be badged with a new L badge the same day.

Reinstatement of Clearances (Forms and Timelines)

The reinstatement of a clearance does not cost your division an initial allocation allotment.
The guidelines below will help in determining your individual circumstance.

An Allocation Approval Form signed by Division or Directorate allocation representative and Clearance Request/Recertification/Suitability Form (AL F5631.2C) completed by group leader or higher must accompany QNSP form.

NOTE: Under comments, note funding source, i.e.,
- DP - Defense Programs
- NN - Nuclear Non Proliferation
- EM - Environmental Management
- Other direct DOE programs
- Work for Others and other non-DOE Programs
- Indirect Site Support.

1. IF

• your clearance has been INACTIVE less than 6 months and
• you have a current 5-year reinvestigation,

complete the following:

	Part II of the QNSP form.
	Fair Credit Reporting Act (2 original forms)
	Security Acknowledgement letter
	DOE letter: To All Clearance Applicants or Clearance Holders

Schedule appointment with Clearance Processing (667-0640) for package review.

TIME FRAME: Clearance normally granted 10 working days from receipt at DOE/AL.

 

2. IF

• your clearance has been INACTIVE greater than 6 months but less than 5 years and
• you have a current 5-year reinvestigation,

complete the following:

	Parts I and II of the QNSP form.
	Fair Credit Reporting Act (2 original forms)
	Security Acknowledgement letter
	DOE letter: To All Clearance Applicants or Clearance Holders

Schedule appointment with Clearance Processing (667-0640) for package review.

TIME FRAME: Clearance normally granted 90 working days from receipt at DOE/AL.

 

3. If

• your clearance has been INACTIVE greater than 6 months and
• you need a reinvestigation,

complete the following:

	Parts I and II of the QNSP form.
	Fair Credit Reporting Act (2 original forms)
	Security Acknowledgement letter
	DOE letter: To All Clearance Applicants or Clearance Holders

Schedule appointment with Clearance Processing (667-0640) for package review.

TIME FRAME: up to 200 working days.

LANL Clearance Transfers

Transferring a clearance requires filling out the Clearance Request/Recertification/Suitability form (AL F 5631.2C) by the individual's future Group Leader or higher management.

• Write the effective date of transfer in the upper right hand corner of the form.
• Employer should be future employer, not the current employer.
• The information in the Employee Information System (EIS) MUST BE UPDATED before transfer can be done. Contact your Group or Division administrator for help.
• Mail (B236) or fax (665-2919) Clearance Request form (DOE 5631.2C) to S-6 Clearance Processing before the transfer date to avoid individual being held up at the Badge Office to get their new badge.

A Security Termination Statement (STS) DOE F 5631.29 must be completed and the badge turned into Clearance Processing for each transfer to terminate interest with the current employer. The individual who is transferring is responsible for filling out this form. (Transfer may be held up if the employer holds onto the STS and badge before getting it to Clearance Processing.)

• LANL employees are required to go through the check-out procedure before transferring their clearance to another employer.
• LANL subcontractors are required to check out with their current employer or S-6 Clearance Processing before transferring their clearance to another employer.

NOTE: A transfer must be completed within 2 working days of last day of employment or clearance will be terminated and will need to be reinstated.

Timetable for Transfers

Type of Transfer	Time Frame	Explanation
Internal Transfer (LANL Only)	Immediate	This involves clearances that LANL holds. Example: Comforce to LANL, Plus Group to Comforce, or LANL to Plus Group.
Internal Transfers (within the DOE/AL complex)	3- 20 working days*	The clearance is held at another DOE Field Office that Albuquerque Operations Office is responsible for. The individual must terminate from previous employer or clearance is considered an extension.
External Transfers (outside the DOE/AL complex)	3 - 20 working days.*	The clearance is held at another DOE Field Office that Albuquerque Operations Office is not reponsible for. The individual must terminate from previous employer or clearance is considered an extension.
* Depending on the date of termination from the previous employer.