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National Industrial Security Program

The National Industrial Security Program (NISP) is a partnership between the federal government and private industry to safeguard classified information.

Executive Order 12829, as amended, "National Industrial Security Program", further amended by Section 6 of  E.O. 13691, was established to achieve cost savings and to ensure that industry safeguards the classified information with which it is entrusted while performing work on contracts, programs, bids, or research and development efforts while working for United States Government. The Order also calls for a single, integrated, cohesive system for safeguarding classified information in the industry. Consistent with the goal of achieving greater uniformity in security requirements for classified contracts, the four major tenets of the NISP are:

  1. Achieving uniformity in security procedures.
  2. Implementing the reciprocity principle in security procedures, particularly with regard to facility and personnel clearances.
  3. Eliminating duplicative or unnecessary requirements, particularly agency inspections.
  4. Achieving reductions in security costs.

The NISP affects all executive branch agencies. The major signatories of the program are the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, the Department of Homeland Security, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

National Industrial Security Program Policy Advisory Committee (NISPPAC)

Created under Section 103 of E.O. 12829, the NISPPAC ensures the partnership between government and industry. With representation from both, members of the committee advise the ISOO Director, who serves as the NISPPAC Chair, on all matters concerning the policies of the NISP. As such members may recommend changes to those policies as reflected in the Order, and its implementing directives. The NISPPAC also serves as a forum to discuss policy issues in dispute. The ISOO Director appoints 6 representatives from executive branch agencies and eight representatives from the industry. The committee hosts a maximum of three public meetings a year which are announced in the Federal Register. 

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