[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 199 (Monday, October 16, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60708-60710]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-17070]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION


Privacy Act of 1974; Notice of Updated System of Records

AGENCY: General Services Administration.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) is providing notice 
of a revision to the record system Personnel Security Files (GSA/HRO-
37). The system provides control over personnel security. The revisions 
ensure that the system of records meet the requirements of Homeland 
Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and that individuals be 
fully informed about collection of their personal information.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The system of records will become effective without 
further notice on November 27, 2006 unless comments received on or 
before that date result in a contrary determination.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Call or e-mail the GSA Privacy Act Officer: 
telephone 202-501-1452; e-mail [email protected].

ADDRESSES: GSA Privacy Act Officer (CIB), General Services 
Administration, 1800 F Street, NW., Washington, DC 20405.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: To comply with new requirements of Homeland 
Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) GSA updated its personnel 
security system. This notice explains the new categories of records in 
the system and the authorities for maintaining the system.

    Dated: September 21, 2006.
Cheryl Paige,
Acting Director, Office of Information Management.
GSA/HRO-37

System name:
    Personnel Security files.

Security classification:
    Some records in the system are classified under Executive Order 
12958 as amended.

System location:
    Personnel security files are maintained with other appropriate 
records in the Personnel Security Requirements Division (CPR), GSA 
Building, 1800 F Street, NW., Washington, DC 20405.

Categories of individuals covered by the system:
    Employees, applicants for employment, former employees of GSA and 
of commissions, committees, small agencies serviced by GSA, 
contractors,

[[Page 60709]]

students, interns, volunteers, individuals authorized to perform or use 
services provided in GSA facilities (e.g. Credit Union or Fitness 
Center) and individuals formerly in any of these positions that require 
regular, ongoing access to Federal facilities, information technology 
systems or information classified in the interest of national security. 
Included are historical researchers, experts or consultants, and 
employees of contractors performing services for GSA.

Categories of records in the system:
    Personnel security files contain information such as name, former 
names, date and place of birth, home address, phone numbers, height, 
weight, hair color, eye color, sex, passport information, military 
information, civil court information, employment history, residential 
history, Social Security Number, occupation, experience, and 
investigative material, education and degrees earned, names of 
associates and references and their contact information, citizenship, 
names of relatives, citizenship of relatives, names of relatives who 
work for the Federal government, criminal history, mental health 
history, drug use, financial information, fingerprints, summary report 
of investigation, results of suitability decisions, level of security 
clearance, date of issuance of security clearance, requests for 
appeals, witness statements, investigator's notes, tax return 
information, credit reports, security violations, circumstances of 
violation, and agency action taken.

Forms:
    SF-85, SF-85P, SF-86, SF-87, FCRA, OF306, FD258.

Authority for maintaining the system:
    Depending upon the type of investigation, GSA is authorized to ask 
for this information under Executive Orders 10450 as amended, 10865 as 
amended, 12968 as amended, and 12958 as amended; sections 3301 and 9101 
of title 5, U.S. Code; sections 2165 and 2201 of title 42, U.S. Code; 
parts 5, 732, and 736 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations; and 
Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12.

Purpose:
    To assemble in one system information pertaining to issuing 
security clearances and public trust certifications, suitability 
decisions, fitness for service of applicants for federal employment and 
contract positions, and administrative actions. Information security 
files also are used for recommending administrative action against 
employees found to be violating GSA classified national security 
information regulations.

Routine uses of records in the system, including the types of users and 
the purposes of such uses:
    a. In any legal proceeding, where pertinent, to which GSA is a 
party before a court or administrative body.
    b. To the Department of Justice when: (a) The agency or any 
component thereof; or (b) any employee of the agency in his or her 
official capacity; (c) any employee of the agency in his or her 
individual capacity where agency or the Department of Justice has 
agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States Government, 
is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by 
careful review, the agency determines that the records are both 
relevant and necessary to the litigation and the use of such records by 
DOJ is therefore deemed by the agency to be for a purpose compatible 
with the purpose for which the agency collected the records.
    c. To authorized officials engaged in investigating or settling a 
grievance, complaint, or appeal filed by an individual who is the 
subject of the record.
    d. Except as noted on Forms SF-85, 85-P, and 86, when a records on 
its face, or in conjunction with other records, indicates a violation 
or potential violation of law, whether civil, criminal, or regulatory 
in nature, and whether arising by general statute or particular program 
statute, or by regulation, rule, or order issued pursuant therto, 
disclosure may be made to the appropriate public authority, whether 
Federal, foreign, State, local or tribal, or otherwise, responsible for 
enforcing, investigating or prosecuting such violation or charged with 
enforcing or implementing the statute, or rule, regulation, or order 
issued pursuant thereto, if the information disclosed is relevant to 
any enforcement, regulatory, investigative or prosecutorial 
responsibility of the receiving entity.
    e. To a Federal agency in connection with the hiring or retention 
of an employee; the issuance of a security clearance; the reporting of 
an investigation; the letting of a contract; or the issuance of a 
grant, license, or other benefit to the extent that the information is 
relevant and necessary to a decision.
    f. To agency contractors or volunteers who have been engaged to 
assist the agency in the performance of a contract service, cooperative 
agreement, or other activity related to this system of records and who 
need to have access to the records in order to perform their activity. 
Recipients shall be required to comply with the requirements of the 
Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 552a.
    g. To the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB), or the Government Accountability Office 
(GAO) when the information is required for program evaluation purposes.
    h. To a Member of Congress or staff on behalf of and at the request 
of the individual who is the subject of the record.
    i. To an expert, consultant, or contractor of GSA in the 
performance of a Federal duty to which the information is reluctant.
    j. To the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) for 
records management purposes.
    k. To a Federal, State, or local agency, or other appropriate 
entities or individuals, or through established liaison channels to 
selected foreign governments, in order to enable an intelligence agency 
to carry out its responsibilities under the National Security Act of 
1947 as amended, the CIA Act of 1949 as amended, Executive Order 12333 
or any successor order, applicable national security directives, or 
classified implementing procedures approved by the Attorney General and 
promulgated pursuant to such statutes, orders, or directives.
    l. To the Office of Management and Budget when necessary to the 
review of private relief legislation pursuant to OMB Circular No. A-19.

Policies and practices for storing, retrieving, accessing, retaining, 
and disposing of records in the system:
Storage:
    Records are maintained on paper and electronically in secure 
locations. Records are maintained in the system of records 
Comprehensive Human Resources Integrated System (GSA/PPFM-8) in the 
personnel security module and associated equipment.

Retrievability:
    Records are retrieved by name and Social Security Number.

Safeguards:
    Personnel security file records are stored in a secured office in 
cabinets with access limited to authorized employees. A password system 
protects access to computer records. Access to the records is limited 
to those employees who have a need for them in the performance of their 
official duties.

[[Page 60710]]

Retention and disposal:
    These records are retained and disposed of in accordance with 
General Records Schedule 18, item 22, approved by the National Archives 
and Records Administration (NARA). Records are destroyed by burning, 
pulping, or shredding, as scheduled in the HB GSA Records Maintenance 
and Disposition System (OAD P 1820.2A).

System manager and address:
    The official responsible for personnel security files in the system 
is the Director, Personnel Security Requirements Division (CPR), 1800 F 
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20405.

Notification procedure:
    Inquiries by individuals as to whether the system contains a record 
pertaining to themselves should be addressed to the system manager.

Record access procedures:
    Requests from individuals for access to records should be addressed 
to the system manager and should include full name (maiden name where 
appropriate), address, and date and place of birth. General inquiries 
may be made by telephone.

Procedures for contesting records:
    GSA rules for accessing records, contesting their content, and 
appealing initial decisions appear in 41 CFR part 105-64.

Record sources:
    Individuals, employees, informants, law enforcement agencies, other 
Government agencies, employees' references, co-workers, neighbors, 
educational institutions, and intelligence sources. Security violation 
information is obtained from a variety of sources, such as security 
guard's reports, security inspections, witnesses, supervisor's reports, 
and audit reports.

Files exempted from parts of the act:
    Under 5 U.S.C. 552a(k)(5), the personnel security case files in the 
system of records are exempt from subsections (c)(3); (d); (e)(1); 
(e)(4)(G), (H), and (I); and (f) of the act. Information will be 
withheld to the extent it identifies witnesses promised confidentiality 
as a condition of providing information during the course of the 
background investigation.

 [FR Doc. E6-17070 Filed 10-13-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-34-P