What is a Facility Security Clearance?
A Facility Security Clearance (FCL) is an administrative determination that, from a national security standpoint, a facility is eligible for access to classified information at the same or lower classification category as the security clearance being granted. The Facility Security Clearance (FCL) may be granted at the Confidential, Secret, or Top Secret level. The Facility Security Clearance (FCL) includes the execution of a Department of Defense Security Agreement (DD Form 441). Under the terms of the agreement, the Government agrees to issue the Facility Security Clearance (FCL) and inform the contractor as to the security classification of information to which the contractor will have access. The contractor, in turn, agrees to abide by the security requirements set forth in the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual, commonly referred to as the NISPOM.
