5 C.F.R. Subpart B—Designation and Investigative Requirements
Title 5 - Administrative Personnel
(a) For purposes of this part, the head of each agency shall designate, or cause to be designated, any position within the department or agency the occupant of which could bring about, by virtue of the nature of the position, a material adverse effect on the national security as a sensitive position at one of three sensitivity levels: Special-Sensitive, Critical-Sensitive, or Noncritical-Sensitive. (b) Investigative requirements for each sensitivity level are provided in OPM issuances. [56 FR 18654, Apr. 23, 1991, as amended at 66 FR 66711, Dec. 27, 2001] (a) Waivers—(1) General. A waiver of the preappointment investigative requirement contained in section 3(b) of Executive Order 10450 for employment in a sensitive national security position may be made only for a limited period: (i) In case of emergency if the head of the department or agency concerned finds that such action is necessary in the national interest; and (ii) when such finding is made a part of the records of the department or agency. (2) Specific waiver requirements. (i) The preappointment investigative requirement may not be waived for appointment to positions designated Special-Sensitive under this part. (ii) For positions designated Critical-Sensitive under this part, the records of the department or agency required by §732.202(a)(1) of this part shall show what decision was made on obtaining prewaiver checks, as follows: (A) The nature of the emergency precluded obtaining prewaiver checks; or (B) checks were initiated but not all responses were received within 5 days; or (C) checks made and favorably completed are listed. (iii) The waiver restriction is optional for positions designated Noncritical-Sensitive under this part. (iv) When waiver is authorized, the required investigation must be initiated within 14 days of placement of the individual in the position. (b) Exceptions to investigative requirements. (1) Pursuant to section 3(a) of E.O. 10450, the following positions are exempt from the investigative requirements of E.O. 10450, providing that the employing agency conducts such checks as it deems appropriate to insure that the employment or retention of individuals in these positions is clearly consistent with the interests of the national security: (i) Positions that are intermittent, seasonal, per diem, or temporary, not to exceed an aggregate of 180 days in either a single continuous appointment or series of appointments; or (ii) Positions filled by aliens employed outside the United States. (2) Other positions that OPM, in its discretion, deems appropriate may be made exempt based on a written request to OPM by the agency head in whose department or agency the positions are located. The incumbent of each position designated Special-Sensitive or Critical-Sensitive under this part shall be subject to periodic reinvestigation of a scope prescribed by OPM 5 years after placement, and at least once each succeeding 5 years. The employing agency will use the results of such periodic reinvestigation to determine whether the continued employment of the individual in a sensitive position is clearly consistent with the interests of the national security.
Title 5: Administrative Personnel
PART 732—NATIONAL SECURITY POSITIONS
Subpart B—Designation and Investigative Requirements
§ 732.201 Sensitivity level designations and investigative requirements.
§ 732.202 Waivers and exceptions to investigative requirements.
§ 732.203 Periodic reinvestigation requirements.
