Contractors and Consultants

Do I need a security clearance, or does my company need security cleared staff to bid for MOD contracts?
No. You do not need to hold security clearances to bid for MOD work advertised in OJEC and other sources. The MOD contracting procedures make sure that there is no competitive advantage in having prior security clearances.

Requests for clearances must be raised during the contractual process. Advertising for staff that already have a security clearance is contrary to Government policy, unnecessary and potentially discriminatory. Any individual who sees such a criterion specified in advertisements when seeking employment can inform the Cabinet Office by forwarding full details of the post and the employer using the link under Related links.

How do I get a security clearance?
First you need a sponsor. Individuals and companies cannot ask for a security clearance unless they are sponsored, and you will not be sponsored unless they are contracted (or are in the process of being contracted) to work on one or more specific MOD classified projects.

For sub contractors the company will sponsor the clearance if they are LIST X. If the contractor and sub contractor is not LIST X the governing body will sponsor the clearance. For example working on an MOD project the MOD site/unit will sponsor the clearance if the companies are not LIST X.

Why does MOD insist on having sponsors for security clearances? Why can’t I just apply for a security clearance?
A security clearance provides a certain level of assurance at a point in time as to an individual's suitability to have trusted access to sensitive information.

It does not provide a guarantee of future reliability and all security clearances are kept under review to ensure that the necessary level of assurance is maintained. This review is carried out by Government Departments and Government-sponsored contractors who are responsible for the oversight and aftercare of individuals granted a security clearance.

This would not be possible in the case of private individuals. Additionally, the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) is funded and staffed to meet forecast requirements for security vetting. It could not accommodate large numbers of additional clearances on an ad hoc basis.