Facility Clearance (FCL)

A Facility Clearance (FCL) is the organizational equivalent of a personal security clearance — it's the determination that a company's facility meets the security requirements to access, store, and process classified information. An FCL is required before any company employees can receive personal security clearances or access classified materials.

Obtaining an FCL requires sponsorship (typically through a classified contract), a facility security officer (FSO), compliance with the National Industrial Security Program (NISPOM), and a security inspection by DCSA. The process establishes that your physical facility, personnel, and procedures meet the standards for protecting classified information.