Single Scope Background Investigation
{{Short description|Type of US security clearance check}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2008}}
A Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI), now called a Tier 5 (T5){{cite web |title=Understanding U.S. Government Background Investigations & Reinvestigations |url=https://ors.od.nih.gov/ser/dpsac/administrators/onboarding-new-staff/Pages/understanding-background-investigations.aspx |website=Office of Research Services |publisher=National Institutes of Health}} investigation, is a type of United States security clearance investigation.{{cite web |title=A Primer on Congressional Staff Clearances |url=https://www.pogo.org/report/2020/02/a-primer-on-congressional-staff-clearances/ |publisher=Project On Government Oversight |access-date=28 June 2021}} It involves investigators or agents interviewing past employers, coworkers and other individuals associated with the subject of the SSBI. It is governed by the U.S. Intelligence Community Policy Guidance Number 704.1.
The Tier 5 investigation is required in order to receive a Top Secret or Q clearance.{{cite web |title=NRC Regulations Title 10 § 25.5 Definitions |url=https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/cfr/part025/part025-0005.html |website=§ 25.5 Definitions. |publisher=United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission |access-date=7 February 2024}} It is required for positions designated as High Risk.
Standard elements include background checks of employment, education, organization affiliations and any local agency where the subject has lived, worked, traveled or attended school. These checks lead to interviews with persons who know the subject both personally and professionally.{{cite conference |last1=Peck |first1=Jeremy F. |title=Personnel Security Investigations: Improving the Quality of Subject and Workplace Interviews |book-title=45th Annual Conference of the International Military Testing Association |pages=278–296 |citeseerx=10.1.1.115.772}} The investigation may include a National Agency Check with Local Agency Check and Credit Check (NACLC) of the subject's spouse or cohabitant. Previous background investigations conducted on the subject may also be reviewed to corroborate the information obtained or disclosed within the new SSBI.{{cite web|url=https://www.dni.gov/files/documents/ICPG/icpg_704_1.pdf|title=INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY POLICY GUIDANCE NUMBER 704.1, PERSONNEL SECURITY INVESTIGATIVE STANDARD AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING ELIGIBILITY FOR ACCESS TO SENSITIVE COMPARTMENTED INFORMATION AND OTHER CONTROLLED ACCESS PROGRAM INFORMATION|date=October 2, 2008|website=DNI.gov|access-date=September 6, 2019}}
The Standard Form 86 (SF86) is required to begin the background check process.{{cite web|title=Questionnaire for National Security Positions|url=http://www.opm.gov/Forms/pdf_fill/sf86.pdf|website=OPM.GOV}}{{cite news |last1=Graff |first1=Garrett M. |title=Five myths about security clearances |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/five-myths/five-myths-about-security-clearances/2018/07/27/46f065a6-90e7-11e8-bcd5-9d911c784c38_story.html |access-date=28 June 2021 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=27 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215073258if_/https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/five-myths/five-myths-about-security-clearances/2018/07/27/46f065a6-90e7-11e8-bcd5-9d911c784c38_story.html |archive-date=15 February 2021 |url-status=live}} SF86 is now an electronic form known as e-QIP.