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DOD Should Give Better Guidance and Training to Contractors Who Classify National Security Information

PLRD-81-3 Published: Mar 23, 1981. Publicly Released: Mar 23, 1981.
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Highlights

GAO reviewed the classification and marking of national security imformation by Department of Defense (DOD) contractors. In evaluating contractor compliance with the classification program requirements of Executive Order 12065 and the Department of Defense, GAO visited 20 contractors and sent 600 questionnaires to about 600 contractors nationwide.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should revise the industrial security manual to provide that contractors identify the source of original classification (a classification guide or classified document) and the office of origin on derivatively classified documents.
Closed
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should revise the information security program regulation to require that classification guides, instructions, and revisions be reviewed during periodic independent classification inspections for compliance with the provisions and intent of the Executive Order.
Closed
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should revise the industrial security program regulation to (1) expand the industrial security education program to include more contractor personnel in the training courses given by the Defense Industrial Security Institute; and (2) provide assistance to contractors in developing and expanding their training programs on derivative classification.
Closed
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should revise the industrial security regulation to provide definitive guidance on the items to be covered by DOD inspectors, with special reference to the need for inspectors to question the propriety of classification decisions by contractors.
Closed
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should revise the industrial security program regulation to require that (1) DOD schools that train project managers emphasize the need for compliance with regulations concerning classification or guidance furnished to industry; (2) every solicitation or contract dealing with classified matters be accompanied by a contract security classification specification that has the concurrence of the cognizant security official; and (3) preaward and postaward conferences with contractors discuss security requirements.
Closed
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should revise the industrial security program regulation to clarify that contract security classification specifications not transmitting or referencing approved classification guides and containing the only classification guidance furnished to contractors are, in effect, classification guides and need to be approved personally and in writing by officials with top secret classification authority, as required by the Executive Order.
Closed
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.

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Topics

Classified informationContract termsContractor personnelDepartment of Defense contractorsEmployee trainingInspectionInformation classificationInformation securitySpecificationsData errors