Industry Security Assurance Centre

Overview

The Industry Security Assurance Centre is responsible for providing relevant defence contractors with up-to-date security and business continuity policy and guidance.

We provide specialist and relevant advice to reduce security and business continuity risks and amplify Ministry of Defence (MOD) and government security policy requirements. These security services are provided to DE&S and the defence industry. This includes the provision of visit and visitor clearances through the International Visits Control Office (IVCO).

Contact us

For routine security enquiries please contact the Security Advice Centre: DESPSyA-SecurityAdviceCentre@mod.gov.uk

Industry Security Assurance centre: ISAC-Group@mod.gov.uk

Industry Security Assurance Centre responsibilities

We are responsible for:

• assisting UK companies in obtaining Facility Security Clearance (FSC) and/or Industry Personnel Security Assurance (IPSA) status when contractually required to hold classified material at SECRET (Foreign CONFIDENTIAL) or above
• helping UK companies to verify the security status of foreign facilities and citizens through liaison with national security authorities
• approving the hand carriage of classified material being taken overseas by casual courier
• co-ordinating of all international visits, inward and outward; for security cleared UK nationals to MOD, overseas government and defence industry sites
• approving some transportation plans relating to the movement of bulky,physical, classified assets travelling within the UK and overseas
• sponsoring personnel security clearances for primary security controllers and their deputy at an FSC facility and IPSA personnel security controllers and their deputy, if required.

The ISAC Vault

The ISAC Vault is the website we use to share security advice and policy withbetween DE&S and FSC and IPSA facilities. The available documentation is to promote effective security governance.

National security vetting and government contracting

Access more information on security vetting and clearance

Security awareness

Understanding UK threat levels

The threat of international terrorism comes from a diverse range of sources and a threat could manifest itself from a lone individual or group. The terrorist threat can take a number of forms, as terrorists may use a variety of methods of attack to achieve their objectives.

While the UK has faced a variety of terrorist threats in the past, a unique combination of factors place the current threat on a scale not previously encountered.

The terrorists draw their inspiration from a global message articulated by internationally recognisable figures.

The threat from terrorism when overseas

Information on threats to personal safety arising from terrorist activities, political unrest, lawlessness, violence, natural disasters, epidemics, anti-British demonstrations and aircraft/shipping safety. It is designed to help you make informed decisions about whether or not to travel to a particular country.

The threat of espionage

The UK is a high priority espionage target and a number of countries are actively seeking UK information and material to advance their own military, technological, political and economic programmes.

The International Visits Control Office

The IVCOresponsibilities isof responsibilethe for:International Visits Control Office (IVCO):

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Frequently asked questions

What is a security aspects letter?

The ‘secret matter’ in an invitation to tender (ITT) or contract containing DEFCON 659A must be defined to the contractor in writing. The special obligations laid upon the contractor become legally effective only when the MOD has issued a notice in writing, defining which aspects of the ITT or contract are graded at OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE or above. This is achieved by means of a security aspects letter (SAL) written by the contracting authority, or by the inclusion of a security aspects clause in the ITT or contract. A SAL provides a contractual means of ensuring that security is addressed in the work that a Contractor is undertaking. A SAL is not required if the Contractor will not be exposed to any classified material graded above OFFICIAL. In such cases the Contractor must still be informed of their security obligations via DEF CONS included in the contract.

The contractor is required to confirm in writing that he understands and will implement the terms of the SAL or clause. The SAL is the legal instrument under which a UK contractor may be prosecuted under the Official Secrets Act. The SAL must therefore be issued to the contractor with the ITT or contract document. DE&S PSyA’s office must be informed in advance if this is not possible.

Do I have a designated field adviser?

In most cases, DE&S PSyA assurance advisors are assigned by region These regions are: Scotland; England (North); England (East); England (West); England (South East) and London; England (South West) and Wales; and Hampshire. For details of your assurance advisor please contact the Security Advice Centre.

What are the timescales involved for hand carriages and transportation plans?

The required notice periods for hand carriages are:

• EU/RoW (exc Australia/US) - 2 working days
• US/Australia - 5 working days.

For transportation plans the required notice periods are:

• within UK - 3 working days notice
• EU (except Italy) - 5 days
• US/Italy/Australia/rest of world - 10 days

Please note that due to current resource issues we may not be able to approve ‘emergency requests’ with shorter lead times.

Contact details for the Defence Courier Service

The Defence Courier Service (DCS) is based at:

Telephone: 020 8589 3432 or see the British Forces Post Office services guide

How does my company gain a Facility Security Clearance (FSC)?

Facility Security Clearance (FSC) formerly known as ‘List X’ refers to contractors or subcontractors which have been formally assessed by the relevant Government authority and reached the required standard as defined in GoVS 007 – Security to hold, process or manufacture materiel at SECRET (foreign CONFIDENTIAL) or above on the company premises. FSC is not available on request, it must be sponsored by a contracting authority (CA).

The CA can be:

• a Ministry of Defence entity: This is extensively, but not invariably, in the form of a project team (PT).
• another government department: A number of UK Government departments, may also award a facility FSC status.
• an existing FSC holding company: An enterprise with an existing government contract may act as a contracting authority to one or more third-party subcontractors who may inherit the responsibility to hold classified assets. Any move to appoint a subcontractor must be approved by the original contracting authority.
• NATO: Where a contract requires a UK enterprise to hold NATO CONFIDENTIAL (or above) information at their facility, the contracting authority will require assurance from DE&S PSyA’s office that the facility is suitable for FSC status.
• overseas governments and their contractors. In the event that an overseas contracting authority require a UK enterprise to be awarded FSC, the UK government may complete this on their behalf Key requirements for FSC status:
• a contract at SECRET (foreign CONFIDENTIAL) or above
• a requirement either for the work to be done on the contractor’s premises or for classified information to be held on site

Who is my contact for IT accreditation?

For sites with existing accredited systems please contact Defence Assurance and Information Security.CyDR.

NATO visit questions

What is a Blue Card?

This is the old terminology for a personal index card (a form completed by all UK defence contractors wishing to visit overseas defence sites).

What does proof of vetting (POV) on the personal index card stand for?

This is the abbreviation for POV. Once an individual has been vetted by the DBS-NSV a proof of vetting reference number is generated. IVCO require the POV for proof of security vetting.

What are the required lead-times for visits to NATO agencies?

The lead time for visits to all NATO agencies is 4 weeks.

Which form should be used for visits to NATO agencies?

For all visits to NATO HQ the NATO HQ pass application form must be used. For visits to all other NATO agencies, the normal request for a visit form must be used.

Can I submit a visit request for multiple NATO agencies?

No. Only one agency can be submitted per visit request.

When can I apply for an annual pass for NATO HQ?

To be eligible for an annual pass you must visit NATO HQ at least twice a month, every month for a year.

When do I receive my NATO HQ pass?

On arrival at NATO HQ there will be a pass waiting for your collection.

When does my annual NATO HQ pass expire?

All annual passes expire on the 31 October.

How many individuals can be placed on a visit request?

New visit requests should have no more than 100 names listed (however, 10 Amendments can be made during the visits duration again with a maximum of 100 names each time).

How many amendments can be made to a visit request?

A maximum of 10 amendments can be made per visit request.

Inward visits questions

How much notice is required for a foreign national to visit a UK defence or FSC site?

IVCO require 20 working days notice (4 weeks) for all visits.

What is a RfV?

RfV is the abbreviation for the request for visit form (which must be completed for visit requests). The UK host company should advise visitors of the IVCO procedures and if necessary provide a copy of the RfV. The form should be completed by the foreign national (although companies are permitted to complete the form and email/fax a copy overseas for the signatures in Section 10 of the form).

How much notice is required for an emergency visit?

IVCO must have a minimum of 5 full working days notice.

Who should complete the justification for an emergency visit?

All emergency visit requests must be supported by a letter of justification. It is the responsibility of the UK host to provide written justification (on headed paper).

How many individuals can be placed on a visit request?

New visit requests should have no more than 100 names listed (however, 10 amendments can be made during the visit duration, again with a maximum of 100 names each time).

How many amendments can be made to a visit request?

A maximum of 10 amendments can be made per visit request.

Can I amend the site details on a visit request?

No. Amendments are limited to visitors and visit dates only.

Can I extend a current visits expiry date?

If the visit is recurring, has not already expired and has not exceeded 12 months then yes a visit can be extended (but please remember the maximum period for a recurring visit is 12 months).

What is MISWG?

Multi-national Industrial Security Working Group (please refer to the IVCO guidance notes).

PSyA documents

LOI request for visit form

PDF, 71.4 KB, 2 pages

NATO HQ pass application form

PDF, 158 KB, 1 page

Request for visit (RFV) form

MS Word Document, 107 KB

Electronic request for visit (RFV) form

PDF, 1.08 MB, 1 page

Digital signature instructions for requst for visit e-form

PDF, 1.05 MB

ListListXtranet Xaccount noticeapplication 2015/03: Use of new request for visit form for overseas visits

PDFMS Word Document, 7180.7 KB,

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Facility Security Clearance (FSC) policy and guidance for UK Defence contractors and MOD contracting authorities

PDF, 277 KB, 28 pages

Related links

• Defence Industry Security Association
• Foreign & Commonwealth Office
• The Security Service
• US Defence Security Service
• HMG Security Policy Framework