What’s different in ICS 705-02, released in early 2022
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) rolled out changes to the Intelligence Community Standard (ICS) 705-02 policy on March 28, 2022. This policy dictates the standards for accreditation and use of SCIFs and SAPFs. While the ICD 705 Technical Specifications, or Tech Spec, undergoes changes approximately every 18 months, changes to these standards are less frequent, with the last change taking effect in December 2016.
One of the more significant changes is the addition of a requirement that the accreditation of a space now has to include an expiration date when applicable. SCIFs will need a new letter of accreditation if they intend to continue in operation past the accreditation expiration date. If you require an extension of your accreditation, you’ll have to submit the accreditation request to the AO at least 30 days prior to the expiration date. This date is tied to the estimated completion date of the contract This change is likely fueled by a desire to decrease the number of accredited facilities and make a concerted effort to ensure there are not more SCIFs accredited than are currently needed.
There is also new guidance when it comes to SCIFs seeking to be re-accredited. Previously, a space could only be re-accredited if they were operated at the secret level, as specified by the Tech Spec, for less than a year. Now, they have added that AOs can evaluate SCIFs that have been de-accredited and controlled at the secret level for more than a year and decide if they can be re-accredited on a case-by-case basis.
In this update, there have also been changes to the language of the document, like the addition of the term Accrediting Official (AO) designee throughout the document when the AO is mentioned. This is likely to show the AO and AO designee can be used interchangeably and both have authority. The AO designee is also added alongside the Cognizant Security Authority (CSA), which means the policy is specifying a lower authority can now ensure periodic re-evaluations of SCIFs are performed at least every five years.
The update also added the term “reciprocal use” to be used interchangeably with co-use and co-utilization. This is likely because the two are already used interchangeably in the field, so this formalizes them as equivalent terms.
The updated document changes one section from “SAPF Accreditation” into “Conversion of SAPFs into SCIFs.” This may be related to the industry-wide push toward reciprocity of standards and terminology.
Beyond these updates, there are more minor changes, like the addition of language that clarifies but doesn’t alter the meaning of the policy and the renumbering of some sections.
If you’re struggling to navigate these changes or any other aspects of the ICS 705 or Tech Spec, Adamo can help. Not only do the Adamo experts have decades of experience working with these documents, but they also provide the personal touch to make sure our clients are taken care of every step of the way. Whether you’re looking for a contractor or a consultant, Adamo is your high-security partner.
