Declaration Pertaining to Standard Practices and Procedures (SPP)

The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) has entered into a legal and binding agreement with the U.S. Government which makes us eligible to perform work on classified contracts for certain agencies of the government. Work of this nature may involve information, material, and knowledge which have a direct bearing on the defense of the nation. By entering into and having obtained approval of this agreement by the Defense Security Service of the Department of Defense, The University of Alabama in Huntsville was granted a Facility (Security) Clearance (FCL) as of 29 November 1966, which was updated on 15 August 2000.
As a condition of this agreement to perform under these contracts, UAH is required to maintain a system of security controls and to prepare a Standard Practice Procedure (SPP) applicable to this University. These procedures and instructions have been prepared in an effort to assure that the University adheres to the aforementioned agreement by affording proper protection for all classified information entrusted to UAH.

Periodic Reinvestigations

The University of Alabama in Huntsville is a cleared facility for the Department of Defense (DOD). As a cleared facility, we are required by the DOD to follow the regulations of the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM) DOD S220.22-m.
The Cognizant Security Office (CSO) requirement for periodic reinvestigations is stated as every five to six years for individuals with a Top Secret Clearance and every ten years for a Secret Clearance. Failure to comply with these requirements is justification to terminate your clearance.

Federal Investigators Visits

To provide guidance regarding the circumstances when faculty, staff, and students are contacted by a Federal Agent for the purposes of arranging an in-person visit. To inform faculty, staff and students that the Office of Research Security (ORS) is available to attend the interview and provide location for the visit with Federal Investigators.

Export Control Information

To provide guidance when faculty, staff and students are involved with research pertaining to Export Control (ITAR and/or EAR) information.
To inform faculty, staff and students that violations of ITAR and EAR regulations are subject to criminal sanctions including monetary fines or imprisonment of individuals.
It is The University of Alabama in Huntsville’s policy that all personnel, including employees, visiting scientists, postdoctoral fellows, students, and other persons retained by or working at or for UAH conduct their affairs in accordance with U.S. laws and regulations, including compliance with U.S. export control laws and regulations applicable to its operations. The laws and regulations governing exports are detailed and complex. Employees with responsibility for UAH’s export-control compliance program or whose duties include a significant amount of work with foreign nationals will be offered formal training sessions on the U.S. export-control laws and regulations and their applicability to their jobs. All UAH employees with managerial or supervisory authority over foreign nationals or projects involving materials or technology subject to export controls should view export-control compliance as an important part of their day-to-day responsibilities. It is particularly important in an institution like UAH that frequently works in tandem with researchers and collaborators from abroad to determine early in the process of any international collaboration the potential requirement for export-control authorization.

International Travel and Export Control Compliance

To inform all University personnel (faculty, staff and students) planning to travel abroad of the need to be compliant with export control laws and regulations.
To inform all University personnel that violations of ITAR and EAR regulations are subject to criminal sanctions including monetary fines or imprisonment of individuals.
To inform all University personnel that taking a laptop and its software (and other “tools of the trade” such as electronic storing devices) outside the US are excluded from U.S. export control regulations under the “Temporary Export Exclusion” if it meets the list of criteria.
Sanitized laptops and/or tablets are available for use during travel outside the US to protect University personnel from non-intentional export control violations.

Security Clearance Processing

To provide guidance regarding the circumstances when faculty, staff and students require a security clearance to perform the duties assigned under classified contracts or grants.
To inform faculty, staff and students of the procedures in place to correctly and efficiently complete the process to obtain a security clearance.

Outgoing Security Clearance Verifications

To provide guidance regarding the circumstances when faculty, staff, and students require Visit Authorization Request (VAR) sent to a Government Facility or Federal Contractor Facility.
To inform faculty, staff and students of the procedures in place to submit a VAR for a visit to a cleared facility off-campus.

Badge and/or Remote IT Access to NASA/MSFC Facilities and/or IT Network

These procedures were developed for the following purposes to ensure there is no unauthorized access to NASA/MSFC facilities and/or Network.

Access to Cramer Hall Building

To protect The University of Alabama in Huntsville faculty, students, and staff from non-intentional export control violations.

Return of Common Access Card (CAC) and Government Contractor Badges

This policy was developed to ensure there is no unauthorized access to Redstone Arsenal and other Government facilities.