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OPM Deploys Revised SF-86 Questionnaire for National Security Positions in e-QIP
The July 19, 2017 DPSAC News kicked off a new mini-series that features recent changes to the SF-86 Questionnaire for National Security Positions in e-QIP. As anticipated, on July 30, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) replaced the existing Standard Form (SF)-86 with a version that incorporates these changes.
In the next two issues, DPSAC News will present a review of all 29 sections of the revised SF-86, focusing primarily on the new material to help the administrative community and DPSAC staff better assist applicants completing this form.
What is the SF-86 Questionnaire for National Security Positions?
The background investigation for a national security position is conducted to gather information to determine whether the applicant is reliable, trustworthy, of good conduct and character, and loyal to the U.S. The SF-86 is the questionnaire upon which such an investigation is based.
The SF-86 revisions will affect individuals who are applying for positions in
Tier 3 (Non-Critical Sensitive positions requiring Confidential or Secret background investigations) and
Tier 5 (Critical Sensitive positions requiring Top Secret or Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI).
As part of the background investigation process, in addition to the questions on the SF-86 form, inquiry also is made about the applicant's adherence to security requirements, honesty and integrity, vulnerability to exploitation or coercion, falsification, misrepresentation, and any other behavior, activities, or associations that tend to demonstrate a person is not reliable, trustworthy, or loyal. Federal agency records checks may be conducted on the applicant's spouse, cohabitant(s), and immediate family members.
After an eligibility determination has been completed, the applicant also may be subject to continuous evaluation, which may include periodic re-investigations, to determine whether retention in the applicant's position is clearly consistent with the interest of national security.
By completing all 29 sections of the SF-86 Questionnaire for National Security Positions, the applicant is giving reviewers an in-depth look at his/her history and background so that they can determine whether s/he is suitable for initial and continued federal employment and, specifically, for positions of national security.
Note: Two other questionnaires are used for applicants applying for less sensitive positions: the
SF-85 questionnaire is used for non-sensitive low risk
Tier 1 positions; the
SF-85P questionnaire is reserved for individuals applying for
Tiers 2 and Tier 4 public trust positions.
Changes appearing in the 2017 SF-86
Many of the changes to the revised SF-86 questionnaire are relatively minor expansions or modifications to the instructional portions of the form.
Other changes are more substantive and reflect a shift in societal attitudes or changes to the law or policy. For example, enhancements to the psychological emotional health questions (Section 21 on the form) emphasize the importance of mental health and wellness of the federal workforce and others while simultaneously protecting national security interests.
The revisions to Section 21 focus on adjusting the psychological and emotional health-related questions to avoid any potential negative impact the questions and the security clearance process could have on individuals seeking mental health treatment.
Terminating the 2010 SF-86 and processing discontinued questionnaires still in the pipeline
When the National Background Investigations Bureau (NBIB) adopted the revised questionnaire on July 30, 2017, it simultaneously disabled the 2010 SF-86 to ensure that all new request initiations will be requested on the 2017 SF-86 only.
According to Office of Personnel Management (OPM), requests that were initiated on the 2010 form prior to July 30 will continue to run their course and agencies will be able to release these requests to NBIB, which will be accepted and processed accordingly. NBIB will continue to process 2010 SF-86s for 90 days thereafter, at which point it will turn off the 2010 SF-86 and terminate any remaining cases.
The revised SF-86 - reviewing the changes to sections 1 - 18
As noted above, DPSAC News is reviewing the changes to the SF-86 in this issue and the August 16 issue to give AOs the information they need to help applicants complete this lengthy form accurately and completely.
In addition to highlighting these changes, DPSAC News will share time-saving tips for completing the form as well as some of the more common errors and omissions DPSAC staff encounter during the e-QIP review process (prior to releasing your background investigation submission for processing by OPM).
Changes to the first 18 sections of the SF-86
Sections 1 through 7 focus on the applicant's 'personally identifiable information (PII)'
PII includes: the applicant's Full Name, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Social Security Number (SSN), Other Names Used, and Identifying Information (e.g., height, weight, hair color, eye color, sex (M/F).
Note: Personally identifiable information (PII), or sensitive personal information (SPI), as used in information security and privacy laws, is information that can be used on its own or with other information to identify, contact, or locate a single person, or to identify an individual in context.
Tip: The SSN that the applicant provides in Section 4 of the form must match the SSN that was used to initiate the applicant's request. If they do not match, the applicant must contact his/her agency representative with the correct SSN. S/he will not be allowed to continue past Section 4 until the SSNs match.
Section 7 - Your Contact Information: This section has been expanded and now requires the individual to include at least one telephone number in addition to his/her e-mail and address.
Sections 8, 9, 10, 11 focus on the individual's citizenship and residency history.
Tip: Section 8 requires the applicant to indicate whether or not s/he possesses a U.S. Passport. If the applicant answers "Yes," s/he will be asked to enter additional information about his/her U.S. Passport. A link to the U.S. State Department website is provided in the event the applicant needs assistance completing this section.
Section 9 - Citizenship: This section now includes the option of "I am a derived U.S. citizen" for the applicant's current citizenship status. Corresponding branching questions will provide further instructions on what kind of information is required, such as the basis of the derived citizenship
(i.e., citizenship the applicant obtained via birth, not application).
Section 11 - Where You Have Lived: This section includes expanded instructions on who should
not be listed as the verifier of periods of residence - such as a spouse, cohabitant or other relative.
Tip: Section 11 - Where You Have Lived: List places you have lived beginning with your present residence and working backward 10 years. There can be no date gaps. Do not list residences before your 18th birthday unless to provide a minimum of 2 years of residence history. T
he city, state and zip code are required for all addresses. All contact information must include a physical address. PO Boxes are unacceptable. APOI/PPO is allowed.
If you provide an APO/FPO address, you will be asked to provide a physical location with street address, base, post embassy, unit, and country location or home port/fleet headquarter.
For locations outside of the U.S. and its territories, select the country in the "Country" drop down list and leave the "State" field blank. It is not necessary to enter the United States as the country when the state location is inside the United States. Additional links are provided to assist with address information, zip code lookup and area code lookup.
Sections 12, 13a, 13b, 13c request employment and unemployment activities
Section 12 - Where You Went to School: This section now includes a link to the Department of Education website to assist applicants in obtaining their school addresses.
Tip: The applicant must go back 10 years. If s/he did not receive a degree or diploma within this time period, s/he will be asked to list the last school attended.
Tip: Be specific with school addresses. (e.g., state universities often have multiple campuses. Not specifying the exact address increases the likelihood that inquiries to the school will not reach the intended recipient).
Section 13a - Employment Activities: This section now has expanded instructions which direct the subject to provide separate entries for employment activities with the same employer, but for different physical addresses.
Instructions require the applicant to enter information for all employment activities, including unemployment and self-employment beginning with the present and working back 10 years. There must be no date gaps.
The applicant is asked to provide a verifier for any period of self-employment or unemployment. Also, explain any commuting distance discrepancies between conflicting employment locations and residences in the additional comments.
Section 14 and 15 deal with the individual's Selective Service record and military history
Tip: Males born after December 31, 1959 must list their Selective Service Number. If the applicant does not know his Selective Service Number, he can call 1-847-688-6888 or visit
http://www.sss.gov
to obtain it.
Section 16, 17 and 18 ask about the applicant's relationships: People Who Know You Well, Marital/Relationship Status, Relatives
Tip: Section 16 - People who know you well: Provide three people who know you well and who preferably live in the U.S. Do not list your spouse, former spouse(s), other relatives, or anyone listed elsewhere on this form in this section.
Section 17 - Marital/Relationship Status: This section has been expanded to more actively collect information regarding legally recognized relationships. The term "legally recognized civil union/domestic partner" will be found in this section and throughout the form.
Tip: Marital/Relationship Status: The Place of Birth field for the spouse, former spouse and cohabitant will require a country of birth even if a state has already been provided.
Section 18 - Relatives: This section now includes additional citizenship documentation types for each entry.
Enter the details of each relative. Provide address information, place of birth including state and country of birth, citizenship, contact information, and any contact with foreign government or military personnel.
Sections 19 through 29 of the 2017 SF-86
The August 16, 2017 DPSAC News will examine Sections 19 through 29, including modifications to Section 21 - Psychological and Emotional Health, and to Section 23 - Illegal Use of Drugs and Drug Activity.
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