Security Clearance Again

[Daywalker]

So what you're saying is that's practically impossible to compete for a contract requiring SC clearance against SC-cleared contractors, if you haven't currently got it. So unless you're the only one in the frame for the contract and the MoD project manager has been far-sighted enough to plan resources 6 months in advance (!), then you may as well not bother.

I didn't say that, but common sense dictates that if you are going for a 4-6 month contract for a gig which requires SC and SC takes 6 months then what do they do.

IMO this is a problem that the MOD etc have when trying to employ contractors, virtually impossible and the fair play rules are completely ignored.

[oraclesmith]

OK, that's helpful. At least I won't waste my time responding to these ads. I guess if an agent seeks me out for a contract and wants to put me forward regardless of SC clearance, then I know I'm on to a good thing !

[malvolio]

Found this to answer my own question...

http://www.contractoruk.com/002675.html

Isn't the CUK website fantastic...

Shame he's wrong. It's the agencies who are usually the roadblock. He's in cloud cuckoo land, sadly. Damnit, I have current SC clearance until 2009, and will merely need to resubmit the vetting form if I get a new role (and all the previous answers still apply!), and I can't get put forward for anything.

The Catch-22 shouldn't exist by HMG's own rules, else they could never take on new staff. There are always going to be some roles where clearance is needed up front (sysadmin, DBA and on-site support spring to mind), but that does not include programming, development in general or most of the management disciplines and there are ways to manage uncleared staff on cleared sites.

In the real world though, if you haven't got it, forget it. HMG are reduced to having the pick of 5% of the available resource. I wonder if they'll ever notice...

BTW, in the worst case SC will take 6 weeks, mostly it's 3-4, but they have to be fairly sure you aren't open to blackmail, coercion or subversion. BC is a week or so, CTC a shade more - but they're only concerned with proving who you are.

[expat]

In the real world though, if you haven't got it, forget it. HMG are reduced to having the pick of 5% of the available resource. I wonder if they'll ever notice...

Notice what? They've said it shouldn't happen, so it's sorted.

Geez, I hope the actual defence of the country is more reality-oriented.

[ratewhore]

Look on the bright side - if you don't have it you can't work on the big govt contracts - which in general are ******* sh1t contracts to be on...

[exmob]

Security Clearance

All,

I am SC cleared, i got it through being in the mob at one point in my life. I was recleared by a company some time ago as my role required it. I will say this, the SC system is not a democratic system, and it is not a right no matter who you are or where you where born.
Currently it is taking alot longer than it used to to get cleared due to the massive amount of applicants that are being received to cover all the work out there, proof positive that you are not discriminated against if you don't have SC, most of the big fish are willing to clear you if the time frame for the role allows, whereas it used to take 3 / weeks it can now take 6 months. Crazy as you would think that they would employ more people to clear others, the snag they need to be cleared to do the clearing lol, hey well as knife crime goes up we dont get more police on the streets do we lol!
If you have nothing to hide in your past then you will get clearance eventually you just generally have to be in the right place at the right time! Good luck :-)

[RichardCranium]

All,

I am SC cleared, i got it through being in the mob at one point in my life.

Blimey. They'll let anyone in now.

[pmeswani]

I've seen a few SC clearance contracts I could go for - if I had SC clearance. I've also seen good BC clearance contracts, which (although it only takes a week or so to sort out) I've been put off applying by the wording in the ad.

Has anyone here actually been successful in getting these sort of contracts without already having SC clearance ?

My understanding is that you need sponsorship (ie. existing client) and it takes months to sort out, in which case the contract will have been nabbed by someone who already has it - or rather that the agent chooses them over the others because they get their money earlier.

I had applied for a job that required SC clearance. I managed to get the job and my SC vetting was processed. Took about 6 - 12 weeks to complete. In order to obtain SC clearance, you need someone to sponsor you. You cannot apply for SC clearance without the sponsorship. And sponsorship is normally acquired by gaining employment with a company that provides a service to a company that is at a SC level.

[HermanDune]

I got sponsored by the recruitment agency I think. They put forward for the job without asking about my SC status. I had it for 7 years between 1999 and 2006.

It only took a week to come through.

[brianbetter]

Blame the clients not the agents!

Answer from a pimp who deals with cleared contractors.

The Sponsorship can only be requested by a company that holds what is called ListX status. In order to obtain this, the company has to prove that they are holding sensitive / secret material and that they are capable of holding it in the correct safe , secure environment and that this material is for ongoing work and is pertinant to the holding companies business ( i.e. you can't just request to be given some secret documents to keep them locked in a safe so you can get ListX status) .As this is the case, very few agencies hold ListX status, rather they get their clients to act as sponsor and the agency will handle the paperwork for their client to help speed up the process. Once paperwork is done, the agency will submit to that company pass office where it will be matched with a sponsor form from the appropriate person within the comapny (normally the manager requesting the contractor). This is all then sent to the DVA to be processed.
The fact that the agency needs to use the client to get clearance is normally where it all falls down.
Most demand for contractors is reactive rather than proactive (i.e. a lot of work appearing or staff people leaving) and as such the client instructs the agency that they need people a.s.a.p to fulfil the role. As an agency, we have no choice other than to try and find already cleared people as (and this happens a lot) the client will interview a contractor, start the clearance procedure for them but will then abandon them if someone with clearance comes on the scene. As an agency, this is obviously a huge waste of our time so, as the client demands it of us, we have to try and find SC cleared people.
If there is a large scale project and the client is actually organised, we do try and educate them that finding and clearing people is actually a lot better (i.e. they get fresh workers with non of the mentality of existing staff , you do not get cleared people using clearance to drive price up in line with supply / demand rules) and if this is the case, as an agency, we do go to the marketplace totry and find the BEST people and not just cleared, available people.

I hope this answers some questions about why agencies are driven to source people with existing clearances, it is not through ignorance, lack of knowledge or laziness, it is what we have to do to service the (sometimes frankly ludicrous) demands of our clients.

P.S. If there any any SC cleared P3e Planners, we would love to hear from you!