Research Security Office

Welcome to the Research Security Office

Our mission is to assist in meeting and ensure any security requirements associated with contracts, projects, or programs supported by Florida International University (FIU). Select from the sections below to learn more about our office and how we can better assist you.

About Us

Policies and Procedures

Personnel Security

Briefings and Education

Visit Request

Self-Reporting

About Us

Hotline

Policies and Procedures

Education and Training

About Us

As a cleared defense contractor, FIU is a participant in the security program administered in accordance with the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM), DoD 5200.22-M, and the Defense Counterintelligence Security Agency (DCSA).

The office performs the following primary functions for the University:

Protect national security, maintain United States economic and military advantage, and protect FIU research efforts.
Perform industrial security functions outlined in the NISPOM and required by DCSA.
Obtain, maintain, and terminate personnel security clearances issued to those FIU employees working on contracts for the United States Government.

Gregory Hughley is The Facility Security Officer (FSO) for Florida International University (FIU). The FSO is responsible for managing FIU’s relationship with federal agencies under the National Industrial Security Program (NISP) requirements. Mr. Hughley can be reached at (813) 898-4444 or via email at ghughley@fiu.edu

Need Assistance?

Policies and Procedures

NISP

The National Industrial Security Program (NISP) is a partnership between the federal government and private industry to safeguard classified information. Executive Order 12829, as amended, “National Industrial Security Program”, further amended by Section 6 of E.O. 13691, was established to achieve cost savings and to ensure that industry safeguards the classified information with which it is entrusted while performing work on contracts, programs, bids, or research and development efforts while working for United States Government. The Order also calls for a single, integrated, cohesive systems for safeguarding classified information in industry. Consistent with the goal of achieving greater uniformity in security requirements for classified contracts, the four major tenets of the NISP are:

Achieving uniformity in security procedures;
Implementing the reciprocity principle in security procedures, particularly regarding facility and personnel clearances;
Eliminating duplicative or unnecessary requirements, particularly agency inspection; and
Achieving reductions in security costs.

CUI

Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) is information that requires safeguarding or dissemination controls pursuant to and consistent with applicable law, regulations, and government-wide policies but is not classified under Executive Order 13526 or the Atomic Energy Act, as amended.

Executive Order 13556 “Controlled Unclassified Information” (the Order), establishes a program for managing CUI across the Executive branch and designates the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) as Executive Agent to implement the Order and oversee agency actions to ensure compliance. The Archivist of the United States delegated these responsibilities to the Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO).

32 CFR Part 2002 “Controlled Unclassified Information” was issued by ISOO to establish policy for agencies on designating, safeguarding, disseminating, marking, decontrolling, and disposing of CUI, self-inspection and oversight requirements, and other facets of the Program. The rule affects Federal executive branch agencies that handle CUI and all organizations (sources) that handle, possess, use, share, or receive CUI—or which operate, use, or have access to Federal information and information systems on behalf of an agency.

Personnel Security

FIU Office of Facility Security assists with all aspects of obtaining, maintaining, and terminating personnel security clearances.

Obtaining Personnel Security Clearance

Working on a contract issued by a branch of the United States Government or another defense contractor, and it is determined that access to classified information is essential in the performance of your duties on the contract, you may be required to obtain a personnel security clearance.

Initial Security Clearance

Never held a personnel security clearance before, or if your previous clearance was terminated more than twenty-four (24) months ago, the following items are needed in order to process your request for a personnel security clearance:

Justification for Personnel Security Clearance
Proof of U.S. Citizenship: Original or Certified Copy of a U.S. Birth Certificate, or a U.S. Passport
Contact Information Sheet
Electronic Questionnaire for Investigations Processing (E-QIP), which is the electronic version of the Standard Form 86 (SF 86).
Electronic Fingerprint (FIU Office of Facility Security is able to capture and submit to Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC))

Briefings and Education

The Facility Security Officer (FSO) or Designees Person(s) will be responsible for the implementation, administration, and coordination of security briefings. The FSO will be responsible for ensuring all appropriate FIU employees participate in FIU’s Security Education/Awareness Program.

When access to classified information is essential in the performance of a contract, employees will be cleared to the highest level authorized under the contract and debriefed upon termination of employment or as otherwise specified.

Briefing Prior to Access to Classified Information

The employees must execute Standard Form 312, Classified Information Non-Disclosure Agreement prior to accessing classified information. The Standard Form 312 will be forwarded to DCSA if one is not already indicated in Defense Information Security System (DISS). In addition, the individual will be briefed on their obligation to safeguard classified information.

Employee who refuse to execute SF 312 will forfeit their approval to access classified information. The FSO shall inform DCSA and notify their supervisor of the employee’s refusal.

Annual Refresher Briefings

At least annually, each cleared employee will be briefed concerning responsibilities to safeguard classified information, the hostile intelligence threat and methods of operations, and the local security procedures. The FSO may use one or several means to distribute the material and ensure that each cleared employee is given an opportunity to refresh themselves on their obligations and responsibilities to protect classified information under their control.

Debriefing

When a cleared employee, who has been granted a security clearance, either terminates employment (including discharge, resignation, or retirement), or departs on a leave of absence (for an indefinite period or longer than one year) he/she shall be debriefed by the FSO or Designee Person(s). The FSO shall separate the employee within DISS.

Visit Request

A Visit Request Notification is sent as early as possible of the planned visit to the FSO via email.

Authorizing A Clearance

Clearances are authorized:

Visit Requests are used to authorization individual’s security clearance. 5-10 days advance notice is required to ensure proper processing of the request.
International Visit Requests – security clearances to locations other than a U.S. Government location. 30 days or more notice is required.

Required Information

5-10 days prior to the planned trip or meeting, you must submit the following form within your Visit Request Notification:

Visit Request Form

Self-Reporting

By law, security clearance holders are required to self-report all life events, incidents that could impact your ability to meet security clearance requirements to the FSO. Unofficial foreign travel is required to be reported at least five days in advance. Official foreign travel is not required to be reported. Official foreign travel is defined as foreign travel by cleared individuals what is in direct support of an established U. S. Government contract with the ultimate customer being the U.S. Government, where as a prime contractor or a sub-contractor.