2.  Background.

a.  As specified in the clause at 252.247-7027, Riding Gang Member Requirements, the Government approving official must be specified in the contract in order to facilitate the collection and protection of information necessary to conduct a background check. That person is likely to be the program manager, contracting officer, or other designee, depending on the contract and agency.  That Government official will contact COMSC N34 Director of Force Protection or COMSC Antiterrorism Officer at mschq_n34_epic@navy.mil in order to facilitate the collection and protection of information necessary to conduct a background check.

b.  The Military Sealift Command (MSC) will use the procedures contained in COMSC Instruction 5521.1 series, Security Screening of Persons with Access to MSC Ships (FOUO).  Applicable information from that instruction is contained in the procedures at paragraph 3 of this section.  Force Protection for Military Sealift Command (COMSC N3) will act as the executive agent for DoD utilizing the U.S. Government's El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC) to perform required background checks as required by 10 U.S.C. 3504.

c.  All "exempt individuals" under paragraph (c)(1) of the clause at 252.247-7027, Riding Gang Member Requirements, requiring escorted or unescorted access to U.S.- flag vessels under DoD contracts for transportation services require this screening unless the head of the contracting activity waives this requirement if the individual possesses a valid U.S. Merchant Mariner's document issued under 46 U.S.C. chapter 73, or a transportation security card issued under section 70105 of such title.

d.  Successful screening means that no derogatory information has been revealed or that any derogatory information has been determined by MSC (after risk analysis) to have no force protection or law enforcement impact.

e.  In those cases where derogatory information pertaining to an exempted individual is detected after the vessel is in transit, COMSC N3 will coordinate with the DoD program manager or responsible official and the USTRANSCOM Force Protection Division (USTC-IndustrialSecurity@ustranscom.mil) for information and further action and notice.