Force protection regulations set standards for contractor employees

By Installation Management Command Public Affairs OfficeDecember 4, 2009

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Contract employees serve many roles on Army installations. You name it, they do it.

And while they are valuable members of the military community; they don't work directly for the government, but for private firms selected to perform specific tasks.

But contractors, just like federal employees, when working on an installation fall under antiterrorism regulations that provide safeguards in protecting people and property - including themselves.

Specifically, Army Regulation 525-13 tasks commanders to include antiterrorism measures as they write, seek bids for, award and manage service contracts when they affect the security of the Army population or mission-essential equipment.

Commanders of installations, garrisons and tenant units must ensure a verification process is in place and coordinate with their Army contracting office to incorporate appropriate instructions in such contracts. This could include background checks or other processes in determining the trustworthiness of contractors - whether they be host nation, foreign national or U.S. citizens.

Commanders must also control contractor access to installations, sensitive facilities and classified areas, while also ensuring vehicle checks for hazards before they enter areas close to resources and assets.

Additionally, Installation Management Command force protection policies, outlined in IMCOM Operations Order 09-001, require more specific policies for installations.

Though the senior commander is ultimately responsible for force protection on post, the garrison commander executes the mission on behalf of the senior commander, according to Harry Dimitratos, chief of the IMCOM Antiterrorism/Force Protection Branch.

IMCOM policy specifies minimum requirements and recommended guidelines for authenticating identity for use in both the contracting process and access to the installation, Dimitratos said. "It covers everyone," he explained, "from the casual visitor to the contractor who comes on post every day, what kinds of identification can be accepted, and when background checks are necessary."

Plus commanders establish a verification process through background checks or similar procedures that enable the federal government to attest to the trustworthiness of Department of Defense contractors and sub-contractors. These include both U.S. and host nation citizens, whether they are directly or indirectly involved in the delivery of, or provide services related to, mail, supplies, food, water or other material and equipment for use by DoD personnel, Dimitratos said.

Once a person meets a commander's proof of identity requirements, an installation can issue a credential, such as an identification card, which can restrict access by various criteria: location; days of the week; work hours. "The ID grants access to facilities and, if necessary, computer networks as determined by the issuing commander," Dimitratos noted.

And while a contract might specify force protection screening measures, the installation develops the measures. "Each requiring activity (the IMCOM installation or tenant) sets the requirements for what qualifications and/or certifications they require of the contractors," said Gale Smith of the Army Contracting Command. "Our contracting personnel then place those requirements in the contracts."

Typically, contractor employees must provide proof of identity before they are granted access to an installation, which can require the vendor to authenticate the identity of any employee requiring access to IMCOM facilities. Accordingly, each contractor applicant is photographed, required to complete background information and fingerprinted before being issued an access card.

Many installations review the company's security status as often as every 90 days.

The Army, said IMCOM officials, has taken steps to ensure force protection measures at installations, with measures ensuring the screening of contract employees being part of each installation's operations. Such measures support the Army's effort to enforce safety in caring for Soldiers, their Families and other civilians in the installation community."

Related Links:

IMCOM on Army.mil