Annual Security Briefing & Disciplinary Policy
Annual Security Briefing & Disciplinary Policy
for Cleared Employees
Annual Security Briefing
The purpose of this briefing is to provide you with the basic knowledge necessary to recognize threats to national
security and be able to counter those threats within the realm of your responsibilities. The following topics are
discussed:
1. Defensive Security & Threat Awareness
2. Overview of the Security Classification System
3. Reporting Obligations & Requirements
4. Authorization to Review Contract Employee’s SF-86
5. Classified Nondisclosure Agreement (SF-312)
6. No TikTok on Government Devices Act
7. Contract Employee Duties Upon Termination of Employment
1. Defensive Security & Threat Awareness
As a cleared employee, you are a potential target for adversaries to attempt to obtain classified information.
Defensive security measures are necessary for cleared personnel who have or may have contact with foreign
intelligence entities. With an increasing number of representatives from foreign countries coming to the U.S. as well
as U.S. marketing representatives making reciprocal visits, the expanding global marketing opportunities carry with
them parallel responsibilities for ensuring certain categories of information are not disclosed to unauthorized
personnel.
Contacts by cleared employees with known or suspected foreign intelligence entities and suspected targeting efforts
by any individual regardless of nationality, must be reported to Apex Systems’ Facility Security Officer (FSO) and
Security Department.
2. Overview of the Security Classification System
The safeguarding of classified information must be accomplished in accordance with the established security
procedures outlined in the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM). A security clearance
is a privilege not a right. If at any time the integrity of the information entrusted to you is in jeopardy, your access to
classified information may be revoked. Unauthorized disclosure of classified information violates U.S. Government
regulations and contractual obligations and is punishable under Federal Law.
The following are the levels of classified information and the extent of damage to the national security that
unauthorized disclosure of the information would cause:
Top Secret: Information that if mishandled could result in exceptionally grave danger to the nation.
Secret: Information that if mishandled could result in serious danger to the nation.
Confidential: Information if mishandled could be prejudicial to the defense interests of the United States
Only appropriately cleared employees with a need-to-know are authorized to handle the designated level of
classified information based on the requirements of the project. When you gain knowledge of classified information,
you become custodians of that information. If your work takes you to more than one location, do not discuss one
location’s classified information at another location, unless required and authorized by the terms of the contract.
It is also important to understand Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). CUI is information that is not
releasable to the public due to Department of Defense (DoD) or other federal government regulations. There are
specific requirements governing the handling and storage of this type of information. While not as strict as
classified information, disclosure of CUI is limited to persons and/or agencies with a bona fide need to know.
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3. Reporting Obligations and Requirements*
As a cleared employee you are responsible for reporting any of the following:
a. Adverse Information - Any information that adversely reflects on your integrity or character, which
suggests inability to safeguard classified information. The following are examples of adverse information
that shall be reported: criminal activities/arrests, traffic infractions resulting in a fine of $300+, treatment for
mental or emotional disorders, excessive use of intoxicants, use of illegal, controlled substances such as
marijuana, heroin, cocaine and hashish, and excessive indebtedness or recurring financial difficulties.
b. Suspicious Contacts - Report any individual, regardless of nationality, who attempts to obtain illegal or
unauthorized access to classified information. In addition, all contacts with known or suspected intelligence
officers from any country, or any contact which suggests that you may be the target of an attempted
exploitation by intelligence services of another country.
c. Change in Status - Report: (1) changes in name; (2) address; (3) marital status; (4) citizenship; (5)
cohabitation; (6) citizenship of family members; (7) gender identity; (8) contact with the media; (9)
termination of employment and; (10) any personal information that has changed and would cause you to
change the answer you provided on your most recent clearance application form.
d. Representative of a Foreign Interest - If you should become a representative of a foreign interest.
e. Security Violations - Report all security violations or infractions.
f. Foreign Travel - You must report intention to travel abroad prior to leaving the U.S. and and complete any
applicable documentation including the “Apex Systems Foreign Travel Notification and Debrief Form”.
*All information under this section will be reported, as applicable, to DoD or other duly accredited Federal agencies
authorized to receive such information regardless of any previous agreement to the contrary.
4. Authorization to Review Contract Employee’s SF-86
Contract Employee understands that Apex Systems Security team will be reviewing their Standard Form 86 (SF-
86) and hereby authorizes them to do so. Such review of the information is for accuracy and completeness and will
be used for no other purpose. However, Contract Employee understands that any information pertaining to their
SF-86 may be released, as authorized by law, upon request of the investigator, special agent, or other duly
accredited representative of any Federal agency authorized to receive such information regardless of any previous
agreement to the contrary.
5. Classified Nondisclosure Agreement (SF-312)
Once you have completed this briefing you will be asked to read and sign the Classified Information Nondisclosure
Agreement, SF-312. The SF-312 is a legal document. By signing it, you are formally certifying that you have been
made aware of your obligations regarding classified information. If you refuse to sign the SF-312, your access to
classified information will be denied and a report will be submitted to Department of Defense Consolidated
Adjudication Services (DoD CAS). This non-disclosure agreement reminds you of your lifelong obligation to comply
with the terms of the security agreement.
6. No TikTok on Government Devices Act
Due to newly implemented federal regulations, Contract Employees are not permitted to install the TikTok
application on any device used to perform substantive work in support of a federal government contract. This applies
to any government-issued devices as well as any personal devices you may use for phone calls, e-mails, and text
messages. If such communications relate to substantive work under a federal contract or, if you currently or in the
future utilize any personal device in this manner, you must immediately delete and remove the TikTok application
from your device. However, if you do not utilize any personal devices to perform substantive work under a federal
contract, then this restriction does not apply to such personal devices.
7. Contract Employee Duties Upon Termination of Employment
Contract Employee reaffirms that: (a) the provisions of the espionage laws, other federal criminal laws and executive
orders applicable to the safeguarding of classified information has been made available; (b) they shall return all
classified information in their custody; (c) they will not communicate or transmit classified information to any
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unauthorized person or organization; (d) they will promptly report to the Federal Bureau of Investigation any attempt
by an unauthorized person to solicit classified information; (e) they will return all property that was issued in support
of the customer including, but not limited to, government or customer issued badges, computer equipment, login
devices, parking decals, keys, etc. and; (f) will be contacted by SecurityRequest@[Link] upon
termination to sign a security debriefing statement or other required documentation.
Disciplinary Policy
In addition to the Progressive Disciplinary Policy outlined in the Employee Handbook the following applies to all
Contract Employees with Security Clearances.
Security Violations
A security violation or infraction is any breach of security regulations, requirements, procedures, or guidelines,
whether or not a compromise results. No matter how minor, any security infraction must be reported immediately
to the security office at your worksite location so that the incident may be evaluated, and any appropriate actions
taken. If you are unclear about whom you should report an incident, please contact the security team.
The following are examples of security violations:
Leaving a classified file, security container or secure spaces onboard vessels unlocked and unattended either
during or after normal working hours.
Keeping classified material.
Leaving ESCORTED personnel in secure area unsupervised or unattended.
Reproducing or transmitting classified material without proper authorization.
Losing your security badge.
Removing classified material from the work area.
Granting a visitor, contractor, employee, or any other person access to classified information without verifying
both the individual's clearance level and need-to-know.
Discussing classified information over the telephone, other than a phone approved for classified discussion.
Discussing classified information in lobbies, cafeterias, corridors, or any other public area where the discussion
might be overheard.
Major Violations
The significance of a security violation does not depend upon whether information was compromised. It depends
upon the intentions and attitudes of the individual who committed the violation.
Ability and willingness to follow the rules for protection of classified information is a prerequisite for maintaining your
security clearance. Although accidental and infrequent minor violations are more likely to occur, deliberate or
repeated failure to follow the rules is not. It may be a symptom of underlying attitudes, emotional or personality
problems that are a serious security concern.
The following behaviors are of particular concern and may affect your security clearance:
A pattern of routine security violations due to inattention, carelessness, or a cynical attitude toward security
discipline.
Taking classified information home under any circumstances.
Prying into projects or activities for which the person does not have (or no longer has) a need to know. This
includes any attempt to gain unauthorized access to computer systems, information, data bases or shipboard
spaces that are not in your scope of work.
Intoxication while working in a classified area.
Deliberate revelation of classified information to unauthorized persons to impress them with one's self-
importance.
Copying classified information in a manner designed to obscure classification markings. This may indicate intent
to misuse classified information.
Making unauthorized copies of classified material. Going to another office to copy classified material.
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Failing to report requests for classified information from unauthorized individuals.
In addition, contract employees shall not, while accessing the web on client’s unclassified systems, access or
download documents that are known or suspected to contain classified information. Classified information, whether
or not already posted on public websites, disclosed to the media, or otherwise in the public domain remains
classified and must be treated as such until such time it is declassified by an appropriate U.S. government authority.
It is the responsibility of every employee to protect classified information and to follow established procedures for
accessing classified information only through authorized means.
Employees who inadvertently discover potentially classified information in the public domain shall report its
existence immediately to the FSO or their authorized designee.
Any violation may result in disciplinary action, including the immediate termination of your security clearance and/or
termination of employment.
DoD Hotline
DoD maintains a hotline to provide an unconstrained avenue for cleared employees to report, without fear of
reprisal, known or suspected instances of serious security irregularities and infractions concerning contracts,
programs or projects.
Report to the DoD Inspector General…
Fraud, Waste, & Abuse
Mission:
To provide a confidential, reliable means to report violations of law, rule,
or regulation; fraud, waste, and abuse; mismanagement; trafficking in
persons; serious security incidents; or other criminal or administrative
misconduct that involve DoD personnel and operations, without fear of reprisal.
HOTLINE – Department of Defense
(800) 424-9098 (TOLL-FREE) | (703) 604-8799 (COMMERCIAL) | 664-8799 (DSN)
Website: [Link]
This hotline does not replace responsibilities to report such incidents through established company channels but
may be used as an additional means to report this type of information when considered prudent or necessary.
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