Which document governs the security program for contractors under the National Industrial Security Program?

Which document governs the security program for contractors under the National Industrial Security Program?

• A. National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM)
• B. Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)
• C. DoD Information Security Manual (DoD 5200.01)
• D. Privacy Act

Answer: (A)

The document that governs the security program for contractors under the National Industrial Security Program is the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual. This manual lays out the mandatory requirements for safeguarding classified information in contractor environments, covering aspects like personnel and facility security, classification handling, marking and dissemination controls, security clearances, incident reporting, and how the program is audited and managed. It is the specific reference used by both government agencies and cleared contractors to implement industrial security in the NISP. The Federal Acquisition Regulation focuses on procurement rules, the DoD Information Security Manual provides broader DoD security guidance, and the Privacy Act deals with protections for individuals’ personal information; none of these establish the contractor security program as directly and comprehensively as the NISPOM does.

The document that governs the security program for contractors under the National Industrial Security Program is the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual. This manual lays out the mandatory requirements for safeguarding classified information in contractor environments, covering aspects like personnel and facility security, classification handling, marking and dissemination controls, security clearances, incident reporting, and how the program is audited and managed. It is the specific reference used by both government agencies and cleared contractors to implement industrial security in the NISP. The Federal Acquisition Regulation focuses on procurement rules, the DoD Information Security Manual provides broader DoD security guidance, and the Privacy Act deals with protections for individuals’ personal information; none of these establish the contractor security program as directly and comprehensively as the NISPOM does.