In category: Recruiting
NISPOM in 2026: What 32 CFR Part 117 Requires of a Cleared Employer
February 24, 2021 is the day the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual stopped being a manual. On that date it became a federal regulation at 32 CFR Part 117, with the force of law behind every paragraph, and contractors had six months to implement it. If you run … more
How to Read a DD-254: The Form That Defines Every Cleared Job You Post
Item 1a of a DD Form 254 holds exactly one of three words: Confidential, Secret, or Top Secret. That single box sets the clearance level of every requisition you write against the contract. Name a higher level than the work needs and you commit your company to an investigation th… more
OFCCP Compliance for Federal Contractors: The Hiring Rules That Bind Every Cleared Req
Executive Order 11246 governed how federal contractors hired from 1965 onward. On January 21, 2025, Executive Order 14173 revoked it. The affirmative-action program most recruiters and FSOs mean when they say "OFCCP compliance," the one built on race and sex, is now gone. A 90-da… more
FSO Requirements for a Cleared Contractor: Who Must Appoint One, and What They Actually Have to Do
Procedures. Security training and briefings. Determination of access. Reporting requirements. Information system security. Those five categories were roughly 82 percent of every open security vulnerability the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency carried across cleared… more
Cleared Recruiting Challenges: Diverse Locations, Salary Constraints, and Brand Visibility
Recruiting for security-cleared roles is never a one-size-fits-all effort. Whether you’re trying to fill positions in under-the-radar locations, attract candidates despite budget limitations, or stand out in a crowded market, each scenario demands a unique strategy. Behind… more