Bureau of Indian Education Human Resources Personnel Security

The Personnel Security (PerSec) Section carries out the BIE Mission through ensuring all employees, volunteers and contractors meet the minimum standards of character to ensure the safety of Indian Children and our employees at Bureau Operated Schools.  

PerSec also provides oversight for the suitability programs at Tribally Controlled Schools (TCS). Regular audits of these schools are conducted to ensure they are meeting regulatory requirements.  

It is our mission to "Providing students and staff with a safe and secure learning and working environment."

Centralized Background and Suitability Screening

Security Clearance Eligibility: A determination that a person is able and willing to safeguard classified national security information and/or occupy a national security sensitive position. The three national security clearance eligibility levels are: Confidential, Secret, and Top Secret. Federal employees, or contractors who require access to classified national security information and/or assignment to a national security position must be granted security clearance eligibility at the proper level to access that information or occupy the national security sensitive position.

The Adjudication Process: The adjudication process is based on decisions made by applying a standard set of guidelines to an individual’s specific circumstances. Trained adjudicators assess an individual's loyalty, trustworthiness, and reliability and determine whether it is in the best interest of national security to grant the individual an eligibility for access to classified information or render a favorable suitability determination.

National Security Determinations: National security determinations are governed by the principles established by Executive Order 12968 adjudicative guidelines are established by Security Executive Agent Directive 4.

Suitability/Fitness: Suitability refers to a person's character or conduct that may have an impact on the integrity or efficiency of the individual’s government service. Suitability adjudicative determinations are in accordance with Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 731. Fitness determinations are made under separate guidelines determined by the entities making the decisions.

Fitness: Fitness refers to the adjudicative decision made on excepted service, contractor, and other federal personnel working for or on behalf of the federal government. These adjudicative guidelines are like suitability guidelines but governed by different regulations. Instead of being governed by Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 731 (5 CFR 731), fitness determinations are made under separate guidelines determined by the entities making the decisions. Although no one standard exists for fitness decisions, the Chief Human Capital Officer (CHCO) within the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued “Contractor Fitness Adjudication — Best Practices” guidance in 2013.  

The 2004 Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) implemented a requirement for a federal standard for secure and reliable forms of identification, establishing the use of Personal Identity Verification (PIV) cards.

Clearance Eligibility Levels

  • (C) Confidential
  • (S) Secret
  • (TS) Top Secret

Types of Adjudication

  • HSPD-12 adjudication
  • Suitability adjudication under 5 CFR 731
  • Fitness determinations that are equivalent to criteria in 5 CFR 731
  • National Security adjudication under Executive Order 12968
  • Other agency authorities

Tribally Controlled Schools (TCS)

Personnel security (PerSec) created this page specifically for TCS schools to provide the resources needed for schools meet Personnel Security Requirements under 25 CFR 63 along with recommendations on how to enhance  TCS school's personnel security program  

  • Audit Information
    • Delegation of Authority – Transferring Tribally Controlled School, Personnel Security Auditing to the BIE Personnel Security Branch 
    • Public Law 100-297
    • 25 CFR
  • Adjudication Resources
    • TCS Guide - (follow up with Larry, post or add description of guide and how to request one) 
    • Sample Forms

Bureau of Indian Education Applicants (Bureau Operated Schools)

 

Forms

Bureau of Indian Education Security Office Contact Information

Email: