• (07/23/10) Attention DoD Security Services (Call) Center Customers (e-QIP "As Designed" Users): The DoD Security Services (Call) Center (aka JPAS Help Desk) is not able to fully assist OPM e-QIP application users whose e-QIPs are managed/initiated directly via the OPMIS Portal (i.e., e-QIP "As Designed") in lieu of JPAS; e-QIP "As Designed" does not interface with JPAS. Specifically, the Call Center is not able to view e-QIPs or reset e-QIP Golden Questions for military or DoD civilian personnel and recruits/accessions whose e-QIPs are not managed within JPAS. Affected e-QIP users should contact the appropriate/applicable military agency/unit security manager or officer for assistance. Thank you! (NOTE: THIS ALERT WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON 5/12/10 AND IS PERIODICALLY REFRESHED WITH A NEW POSTING DATE.)
• (7/19/10) Transfer of DCII from DSS to DMDC: Effective July 26, 2010, the program management and operational control of DCII will be transferred from DSS to DMDC. Read more.
• (7/16/10) DSS conducting telephonic outreach to small cleared companies: DSS is currently conducting telephonic outreach to a number of small cleared contractors in order to update DSS facility files. If your facility receives a call, please respond to the questions with as much information and detail as possible. If you have questions or wish to verify the identity of the caller, please contact DSS at 703-325-5483.
• (7/16/10) DSS Notice to Cleared Companies/Potential disclosure of contract information: See the attached guidance.
• (07/06/10) Attention JPAS/ISFD/DCII/SWFT Access Request (DSS Form 273) Applicants: The DoD Security Services (Call) Center consolidated its JPAS/ISFD/DCII/SWFT applications System Access Request (SAR) processing operations at a single site (Columbus, OH) in April 2008. Please submit applicable JPAS/ISFD/DCII/SWFT SARs and JPAS/ISFD/DCII/SWFT SAR-related correspondence via fax number (614) 827-1544, e-mail address account.request@dss.mil, or mailing address: Defense Security Service, Attn: Customer Service, 2780 Airport Drive, Ste 400, Columbus, OH, 43219-2268. FYI, DSS revised the downloadable SAR form (DSS Form 273, dated July 2009) to align with this change. Please also refer to JPAS, ISFD, DCII and SWFT Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on other pages of this web site, for additional SAR submission procedures pertaining to the respective systems/applications, and to determine if the DoD Security Services (Call) Center is the designated processing/approving agency/authority for your particular access request (for instance, the DoD Security Services (Call) Center does not process JCAVS access requests for military personnel - these requests should be submitted to the appropriate military agency approving authority). NOTE (RETAINED FROM 07/02/09 SAME SUBJECT POSTING): AFTER JULY 31, 2009, PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE JPAS/ISFD/DCII/SWFT SAR FORM (TO INCLUDE, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE SYSTEM X INTERNAL/EXTERNAL SAR AND THE DISS USER SAR) RECEIVED BY THE DOD SECURITY SERVICES (CALL) CENTER WILL BE CONSIDERED OBSOLETE (AS INDICATED ON DSS FORM 273, DATED JULY 2009) AND PROCESSED FOR REJECTION; THE APPLICANT WILL BE NOTIFIED AND ASKED TO RE-SUBMIT THEIR ACCESS REQUEST VIA THE CURRENT IN-USE FORM (DSS FORM 273, DATED JULY 2009). PLEASE UTILIZE DSS FORM 273, DATED JULY 2009, TO AVOID ANY PROCESSING DELAYS. THANK YOU!
• (06/30/10) ISFO Process Manual Update: Change in the Spill Overwrite Requirement Listed in Appendix S of the ISFO Process Manual, dated March 2010 – Effective immediately, sanitization of media will be complete when three overwrite cycles have been completed. Currently, the ISFO Process Manual states in Appendix S-2 #4 that the wiping utility “Must be able to sanitize by overwriting with a pattern, and then its complement, and finally with another unclassified pattern (e.g., “00110101” followed by “11001010” and then followed by “10010111” [considered three cycles]). Sanitization is not complete until six passes of the three cycles are successfully completed.” DSS is updating the ISFO Process Manual stating that “Sanitization is not complete until the three cycles (overwrites) are successfully completed.” If the process is not successful, the hard drive must be destroyed. DSS will incorporate this change in the next release of the ISFO Process Manual.
• (6/28/10) NEW!!!! Electronic Communications Plan (ECP) Released: The Defense Security Service is pleased to release an Electronic Communications Plan (ECP) template for use by facilities cleared under the National Industrial Security Program (NISP). This new product supports the National Industrial Security Program Manual (NISPOM) and provides tools to mitigate Foreign Ownership Control or Influence. The ECP template will assist Industry with developing appropriate security countermeasures to effectively monitor electronic communications and ensure that unclassified systems/networks are protected from FOCI.
  
  Effective immediately, those companies that are in the FOCI mitigation process and will require an ECP, must comply with the requirements of the new template within 45 days of the execution of the FOCI mitigation agreement.
  
  Effective September 1, 2010, companies under existing FOCI mitigation agreements that require an ECP are required to be compliant with the new ECP template by the date of their next annual DSS security inspection. Companies that require assistance regarding the ECP template or its implementation should contact their Industrial Security Representative.
  
  The above requirements apply to FOCI signatory facilities that require an Electronic Communications Plan. Branch or division locations and Subsidiary entities which fall under a FOCI signatory requiring an ECP will have 45 days from the date of the signatory facility's ECP approval to submit their site-specific ECP to their local Industrial Security Representative. Download ECP Template
  
  
• (06/21/10) Attention DoD Security Services (Call) Center Customers (e-QIP "Direct" Users): The DoD Security Services (Call) Center is not able to fully assist OPM e-QIP application users whose e-QIPs are managed/initiated directly via the OPMIS Portal (e-QIP "Direct") in lieu of JPAS (e-QIP "Direct" does not interface with JPAS). Specifically, the Call Center is not able to view e-QIPs or reset e-QIP Golden Questions for military or DoD civilian personnel and recruits/accessions whose e-QIPs are not managed within JPAS. Affected e-QIP users should contact the appropriate/applicable military agency/unit security manager or officer for assistance. Thank you!
• (06/10/10) Attention DCII Users: The DCII will be unavailable on Saturday, June 12, 2010 from 2PM - 10PM EST due to deployment of DCII version 4.4.2.0. We apologize for any inconvenience this downtime may cause. Read more
• (06/10/10) The DSS Academy Announces Release of "Truth About the Polygraph" Video: The video and brochure "The Truth About the Polygraph" produced by the Polygraph Division of NSA is now available on the DSS Academy website. Both products, aimed at either current or prospective employees, provide an overview of the process that may be encountered when a polygraph examination is required for employment or access to sensitive information. To view the video go to DSS Academy webpage "Training Videos" page.
• (06/10/10) Attention ISFD Users: The ISFD will be unavailable on Saturday, June 12, 2010 from 2PM - 10PM EST due to deployment of ISFD version 2.1.2.0 (Read more). We apologize for any inconvenience this downtime may cause.
• (06/09/10) National Industrial Security Program (NISP) Cleared Contractor Facilities Periodic Reinvestigations for Cleared Personnel: Effective immediately, the Defense Industrial Security Clearance Office (DISCO) will identify and subsequently notify NISP cleared contractor facilities of cleared personnel who are eligible or overdue for a periodic reinvestigation (PR). Eligibility for a PR is contingent upon the access level and the closed date of the investigation. Contractor facilities are highly encouraged to begin identifying those employees who maintain a security clearance and are eligible for a PR. This will allow the cleared contractor facility to reconcile any discrepancies between the Joint Personnel Adjudication System (JPAS) and the actual employment or clearance status of the employee. Read More
• (06/02/10) JPAS System Transition Notice to all JPAS Customers: On February 2, 2010, a Memorandum of Agreement was signed that detailed actions to be taken to transfer DoD enterprise personnel security IT systems from the Defense Security Service (DSS) to the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC). This transfer was directed by Gordon England, Deputy Secretary of Defense on January 15, 2009. Read more
• (05/12/10) Transfer of IT Systems from DSS to DMDC: On February 2, 2010, a Memorandum of Agreement was signed which detailed the actions to be taken to transfer DOD enterprise personnel security IT systems from the Defense Security Service (DSS) to the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC). This transfer was directed by Gordon England, Deputy Secretary of Defense on January 15, 2009. Read more
• (04/29/10) Attention ENROL Users: We are currently experiencing technical difficulties with the ENROL exams, specifically submittal of the exams. After you click submit (once), allow up to one hour for processing. Please do not click the submit button multiple times and do not close or "X" out of the exam screen. You must keep the exam screen open until a score or an error message is displayed. Contact the Registrar’s Office at (410) 865-3172 for further assistance; we apologize for the inconvenience.

News Archive