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The Defense, Counterintelligence and Security Agency conducts background checks on approximately 105 federal agencies as a reimbursable service through working capital funds. For the third year in a row, DCSA has been able to reduce the price he charges these agencies to provide background research and investigative services related to Trusted Workforce 2.0.
For the 2023 fiscal year, the price of background checks will be reduced by 5%. Prices for Trusted Workforce 1.5 Continuous Verification (CV) services have been reduced by 23%. Please note that pricing is only for the background research piece of the HR puzzle, initiation and adjudication costs fall under the agency’s cost (each agency makes its own adjudication). ), these costs are not included in his DCSA working capital fund. Investigative fees are for gathering and reporting information related to security clearance determinations.
2023 Security Clearance Survey Cost
“DCSA helps our clients by standardizing pricing and simplifying the DCSA billing process to support the predictability of their annual and long-term client agency budgets,” said William, DCSA Director. K. Lietzau said in a release. “Our efforts to reform the pricing process while making significant changes to personnel reviews across the enterprise are paying off not only for better quality reviews, but also cost savings for our customers across government.”
DCSA uses funds through its working capital fund to conduct background checks for security clearances. The working capital fund model means that the funds used to fund background research costs are not tied to the fiscal year. Funding is self-supporting and based on fees paid by the agency for research services.In January 2022, he described working capital funds in the DCSA’s Access publication, Jack Givirian’s publication. DCSA said: If you make a profit, you can set a lower rate and pass it on to your customers. You can also set a higher rate to recover your losses. Similar to your personal checking account, your working capital fund should always maintain a positive cash balance. ”
The 2024 background survey forecast price evolves into a three-tier survey model with low, mid, and high tier survey prices. Both current and future tier models have standard and preferred pricing models (although tier 1 and tier 3 studies do not have preferred options).
2024 (Forecast) Security Clearance Survey Expenses
Transforming security and saving taxpayer dollars
Even before DCSA took over the background investigation process from NBIB in 2019, reducing costs and improving the quality of investigations were important goals. Business Process Transformation analyzed different steps in the background research process to see where improvements could be made without compromising research quality.
“Perhaps 90 percent of the actual cost savings for conducting research can come from improved internal processes—how we capture, collate, and review information—” said former DCSA director. Deputy and CS Phalen Principal Charlie Phalen said. & Associates. “Business process improvements, automation, and elimination of humans at every stage of the process (for example, something as simple as importing fingerprint data) all contribute to cost savings.”
Many of these same business process efforts have been driven by the agency’s COVID-19 efforts as investigators have shifted to more phone confirmations and other options to advance the process and complete background investigations without increasing risk. 19 helped move the investigation forward during the pandemic. As the DCSA moves forward, it is worth following if the COVID-19-related efficiencies continue, even as the threat of spreading the disease weakens.
Cost savings benefits and common cost myths
By reducing the cost of investigations, agencies are free from concerns about funding their personnel to keep them moving through the process. The Air Force in particular has been a frequent contributor to the background check budget myth. Around this time last year, a memo from the Air Force stated that the military department was suspending all phased background checks and reviews due to budget constraints at the end of the fiscal year. Background investigations required to process military recruitment and civilian recruitment are not affected by this suspension,” although the memo does not state that pending background investigations will be subject to a full suspension. There was a lot of talk online about whether or not to face it. Last quarter of the fiscal year.
The working capital fund will allow DCSA to keep research moving forward even when research is inundated, and the agency will need to plan and budget accordingly.
There are several money myths associated with background research. The working capital fund dispels the common myth that DCSA does not have the funds to conduct research. There is another myth about who pays for surveys in the first place. Many contract applicants assume that the background check will be paid for by the contracting company. The contractor bears the costs of maintaining a personnel security program and keeping the applicant on board (and keeping the applicant on the bench pending a permit decision), but these Investigation costs will always be incurred and paid directly by the government (DoD or agency sponsoring the permit).
Background checks are paid for by the federal government, so individuals cannot pay for their own background checks. This is yet another common myth (and demand) from individuals wishing to pay the bills for their security clearance or upgraded access level. But only governments can make that decision and bear the costs.
Money matters. Budget issues and contract failures have caused problems in the security clearance process in the past. As DCSA adapts to inflation and maintains a healthy working capital fund, it is unlikely that it will continue to cut costs. But being able to do so for another year shows that the agency’s commitment to process improvement and efficiency is working, and that we are passing those benefits on to the agencies that support them. is shown.
Lindy Kyzer is the editor of ClearanceJobs.com.
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