Nuclear Nonproliferation: DOE Needs Better Controls to Identify Contractors Having Foreign Interests
Abstract
In February 1984, DOE amended its procurement regulations to obtain information on whether certain DOE contractors are owned, controlled, or influenced by foreign individuals, governments, or organizations and whether that foreign involvement might pose an undue risk to national security. Effective March 30, 1984, DOE began requiring certain entities to complete a questionnaire containing 11 questions on the degree and type of their foreign interests; this requirement applies to those prospective contractors, subcontractors, and their parent or holding companies that would have access to classified information and/or to significant quantities of special nuclear material. DOE Office of Safeguards and Security (OSS) officials are required to review the questionnaire and consult with the DOE contracting officer before the contract is awarded. According to OSS' FOCI procedures, if a prospective contractor responds positively to one or more questions-disclosing that the entity has identified a foreign interest- the questionnaire is reviewed by ass at DOE headquarters. If the answer to all 11 questions is "no,"-signifying that the entity may have undisclosed foreign interests-then OSS delegates its review to the cognizant field safeguards and security division at the DOE operations office responsible for security oversight of the prospective contractor. DOE's procurement regulations state that no classified contract can be awarded until DOE's contracting officer, after consulting with ass, determines that the award will not pose an undue risk to the common defense and security of the United States. If an undue risk may exist, the prospective contractor must submit a plan of action to prevent foreign access to the classified matter. If the contractor cannot provide a plan acceptable to DOE, then the contractor cannot be considered for contract award and affected existing contracts must be terminated.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1991
- Accession Number
- AD1176400
Entities
People
- Christopher Pacheco
- David A. Rogers
- J. D. Peach
- John D. Gentry
- Judy A. England-joseph
- Michael S. Sagalow
- Robert E. Jr Allen
- Ronald E. Stouffer
- Sarah A. Narvaez
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office