GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
Washington, DC 20405
ADM 9732.1E
March 12, 2019
GSA ORDER
SUBJECT: ADM 9732.1E Personnel Security and Suitability Program Handbook
1. Purpose. To issue an updated U.S. General Services Administration’s (GSA) Personnel Security and Suitability Program Handbook.
2. Background. The Personnel Security and Suitability Program responsibilities and procedural requirements for investigations, suitability adjudications, security clearance determinations, and appeals of GSA employees, applicants, appointees, volunteers, and affiliates, are all updated. These Federal requirements are a result of various sources including:
a. Executive Order (EO) 12968, as amended, Access to Classified Information (August 2, 1995);
b. EO 13467, as amended, Reforming Processes Related to Suitability for Government Employment, Fitness for Contractor Employees, and Eligibility for Access to Classified National Security Information (June 30, 2008);
c. EO 13488, as amended, Granting Reciprocity on Excepted Service and Federal Contractor Employee Fitness and Reinvestigating Individuals in Positions of Public Trust (January 16, 2009);
d. EO 13526, as amended, classified National Security Information (December 29, 2009);
e. EO 13764, Amending the Civil Service Rules, EO 13488, and EO 13467 to Modernize the Executive Branch-wide Governance Structure and Process for Security Clearance, Suitability and Fitness for Employment, and Credentialing, and Related Matters (January 17, 2017);
f. 5 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)Part 731 - Suitability;
g. 5 CFR Part 732 - National Security Positions;
h. 5 CFR Part 736 - Personnel Investigations;
i. 5 CFR Part 1400 - Designation of National Security Position;
j. Homeland Security Presidential Directive-12 (HSPD-12) - Policy for a Common Identification Standard for Federal Employees and Contractors, as it applies to GSA (August 27, 2004);
k. Security Executive Agent Directive (SEAD) 3. Reporting Requirements for Personnel with Access to Classified Information or Who Hold a Sensitive Position (June 12, 2017);
l. SEAD 4. National Security Adjudicative Guidelines (June 8, 2017);
m. SEAD 6. Continuous Evaluation Program (January 12, 2018); and
n. SEAD 7. Reciprocity of Background Investigations and National Security Adjudications (November 9,2018).
3. Scope and applicability.
a. This Order describes the investigations program as it applies to GSA. In addition, commissions, committees, and other entities supported by GSA may use this Handbook for guidance. Nothing in this Policy is intended to limit the independent authority of the Office of Inspector General (OIG) under the Inspector General Reform Act with regard to OIG's programs and personnel.
b. GSA employs only persons who are suitable for employment (5 CFR Part 731), and grants national security clearances only to persons whose employment is clearly consistent with the national security interest (5 CFR Part 732). Unless the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) grants specific exceptions, all GSA employees must undergo personnel security investigations (5 CFR Part 736). GSA makes National Security and Suitability determinations based on current and relevant prior security investigations, and other investigative materials (criminal, employment, and credit history, etc.) that are developed during the vetting process.
4. Cancellation. The Order cancels and supersedes ADM P 9732.1D.
U.S. General Services Administration