Trade Safety Assurance Centre - GOV.UK

Overview

The Trade Safety Assurance Centre is answerable for offering related defence contractors with up-to-date safety and enterprise continuity coverage and steerage.

We offer specialist and related recommendation to cut back safety and enterprise continuity dangers and amplify Ministry of Defence (MOD) and authorities safety coverage necessities. These safety companies are offered to DE&S and the defence trade. This contains the availability of go to and customer clearances via the Worldwide Visits Management Workplace (IVCO).

Contact us

For routine safety enquiries please contact the Safety Recommendation Centre: DESPSyA-SecurityAdviceCentre@mod.gov.uk

Trade Safety Assurance centre: ISAC-Group@mod.gov.uk

Trade Safety Assurance Centre obligations

We’re answerable for:

aiding UK firms in acquiring Facility Safety Clearance (FSC) and/or Trade Personnel Safety Assurance (IPSA) standing when contractually required to carry categorised materials at SECRET (Overseas CONFIDENTIAL) or above
serving to UK firms to confirm the safety standing of overseas services and residents via liaison with nationwide safety authorities
approving the hand carriage of categorised materials being taken abroad by informal courier
co-ordinating of all worldwide visits, inward and outward; for safety cleared UK nationals to MOD, abroad authorities and defence trade websites
approving some transportation plans referring to the motion of cumbersome, categorised belongings travelling throughout the UK and abroad
sponsoring personnel safety clearances for main safety controllers and their deputy at an FSC facility and IPSA personnel safety controllers and their deputy, if required.

The ISAC Vault

The ISAC Vault is the web site we use to share safety recommendation and coverage with FSC and IPSA services. The out there documentation is to advertise efficient safety governance.

Nationwide safety vetting and authorities contracting

Entry extra info on safety vetting and clearance

Safety consciousness

Understanding UK menace ranges

The specter of worldwide terrorism comes from a various vary of sources and a menace may present itself from a lone particular person or group. The terrorist menace can take plenty of types, as terrorists could use quite a lot of strategies of assault to attain their goals.

Whereas the UK has confronted quite a lot of terrorist threats previously, a singular mixture of things place the present menace on a scale not beforehand encountered.

The terrorists draw their inspiration from a worldwide message articulated by internationally recognisable figures.

The menace from terrorism when abroad

Info on threats to private security arising from terrorist actions, political unrest, lawlessness, violence, pure disasters, epidemics, anti-British demonstrations and plane/transport security. It’s designed that will help you make knowledgeable selections about whether or not or to not journey to a selected nation.

The specter of espionage

The UK is a excessive precedence espionage goal and plenty of nations are actively looking for UK info and materials to advance their very own navy, technological, political and financial programmes.

The Worldwide Visits Management Workplace

The IVCO is responsibile for:

aiding UK defence contractors in acquiring go to clearance
establishing and sustaining data of the employees cleared for abroad visits
appearing as a focus to determine the permitted ranges of entry to UK categorised materials allowed by overseas nationals
simplifying the procedures for issuing safety assurances and for transmitting them to the suitable authorities

It consists of two sections:

Inward: visits to the UK: visits by all overseas nationals to UK defence contractor websites, MOD (HQ) buildings and MOD companies
Outward: visits from the UK: visits by safety cleared UK nationals to abroad authorities, contractor and navy websites

When contacting us:

solely contact IVCO to hurry up present go to requests whether it is completely important. Precedence is given to processing requests slightly than coping with phone calls, which might delay this
functions for inward and outward visits are handled in strict rotation. Please be sure that your request for go to (RfV) software types are submitted appropriately accomplished and don’t submit go to requests which fall out with the agreed timescales
keep away from emergency go to requests until they are surely circumstances of real emergency
please solely contact the IVCO workplace in emergencies, all different queries could be despatched by electronic mail or fax as listed within the contact us part beneath

Opening hours:

Monday to Thursday: 11am to 4pm
Friday: 10am to 3pm.

Please notice that we’re closed on a regular basis between 12pm and 1pm

Attributable to extreme employees shortages inside IVCO, and a excessive quantity of brief discover visits requests, there could also be delays within the processing of go to requests and responding to queries.

Earlier than submitting a question, please notice:

Pressing queries solely ought to be emailed to despsya-ivco@mod.gov.uk. A traditional service will resume as quickly as attainable and we apologise for any inconvenience brought on.

Outward visits

Personnel who have to journey abroad to entry or talk about categorised materials, together with info or delicate areas in overseas defence institutions and contractor’s services want to concentrate on the IVCO procedures, defined right here.

Request for visits are generally being submitted to IVCO incorrectly which delays the method. As now we have a really strict lead time for all visits it ends in incorrect visits submissions being rejected.

To keep away from this:

please be sure that an updated index card is connected to the go to request, when the guests are new to your organisation or if there are new particulars of their clearance or passport
if the go to is an emergency, connect a justification letter which have to be from the host
for all modification visits please state the IVCO reference in part 1 of the shape and likewise state which modification it’s (Eg. modification 1, modification 2, and so on)
solely full sections 1 to three, and 5 to 13 of the request for go to type, sections 14 and 15 should stay empty
on the positioning to be visited part of the shape (Annex A), you should state a full title, fax and electronic mail particulars
incomplete submissions will lead to rejection of this go to by IVCO
please ensure that the customer has the related clearance to match the required degree of classification (part 11 of the shape) and that their clearance expiry date matches the whole go to dates (part 7 of the shape). If these don’t match then the customer might be faraway from the request for go to type

Completion of non-public index playing cards

Point out whether or not it’s a new report or an modification to a beforehand issued card. A legitimate ‘proof of vetting’ (POV) quantity and date have to be quoted.

Visits the place entry is required at confidential or above

RfVs have to be submitted the place entry is confidential or above (apart from visits between the events to the LoI framework).

Visits the place entry doesn’t exceed restricted:

RfVs have to be submitted to IVCO for any visits to any nation not listed beneath
IVCO don’t require RfVs to be submitted for visits to MOD institutions or defence contractor websites in Belgium, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, LoI nations and US defence contractor websites (notice: all US navy website visits ‘should’ be processed via IVCO)

Amendments to go to requests are restricted to:

go to dates can’t be prolonged if this alteration will outcome within the go to being legitimate for longer than 1 yr
dates can’t be amended to deliver begin date of go to ahead
solely guests could be added. Further websites can’t be added to go to requests (Most of 10 amendments per go to request)

For emergency visits:

10 workings days lead time are wanted for emergency visits. An emergency go to can solely final for a most of 30 days, and a justification letter from the host have to be submitted to IVCO for all emergency requests.

The US

Normal factors to recollect:

the US lead time is 30 working days
a legitimate fax quantity for the purpose of contact (PoC) is crucial, who have to be a US nationwide and nonetheless be in submit on the website to be visited
zip codes (postcodes) have to be provided for all websites

NATO HQ

Normal factors to recollect:

a separate go to request is required for every go to to NATO HQ
an annual move will solely be permitted if a customer requires to go to a minimum of twice a month, each month

Normal

Factors to recollect:

just one (one) topic per go to request
NATO companies (NETMA, NC3A and so on), visits have to be a separate request
the utmost variety of guests per go to is 100 (amendments could be made as and when crucial)

Inward visits

Overseas nationals visiting a UK MOD institution or UK defence contractor website that require entry to categorised info or entry to a senstive space should present official affirmation of their safety clearance within the type of a RfV. The lead time for normal visits is 20 working days discover from the day that the RfV arrives at IVCO.

Guests ought to provoke the go to request and should be sure that it’s authorised by and transmitted via their very own nationwide safety authorities (NSA) who ought to ship the RfV to their embassy/excessive fee in London. The embassy/excessive fee ought to course of the RfV to IVCO.

As soon as an RfV has been acquired by IVCO it is going to be forwarded to the related MOD mission authority. They think about the acceptability of the proposed go to together with the clearance degree required and advise on any info that may/can’t be seen or areas that may/can’t be accessed by the customer.

The present lead time for emergency visits (inwards) is 5 working days. This doesn’t embrace the day the go to is acquired in IVCO or the beginning date of the go to.

All visits and queries could be despatched by despsya-ivco@mod.gov.uk or fax: 0117 9234924.

Opening hours are: Monday to Thursday, 11am to 12pm and 1pm to 4pm; and Friday 10am to 12pm and 1pm to 3pm.

Visits by overseas nationals of MISWG, LoI and NATO member nations, Australia and New Zealand

The place entry doesn’t exceed ‘OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE’, IVCO not require RfVs for visits to MOD institution or defence contractor websites by members of MISWG, LoI and NATO.

Prior association and settlement of such visits have to be made between customer and website to be visited. Ruling is relevant to at least one time and recurring visits of lower than 21 days solely.

Visits by overseas nationals of all different nations

The place entry doesn’t exceed ‘OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE’, RfVs have to be submitted to IVCO for any visits to a MOD institution, or defence contractor websites, by nationals from any nation apart from MISWG, LoI and NATO.

Visits by overseas nationals of all nations

The place entry is SECRET or above RfVs have to be submitted from all nations besides events of the LoI framework settlement.

Recurring visits

If common visits are wanted to a MOD institution or defence contractor website a RfV ought to be submitted for a recurring go to.

A customer can have multiple recurring go to working concurrently for various initiatives and totally different websites. A recurring RfV can solely be legitimate for a interval of 1 yr.

Emergency visits

Emergency visits require 5 working days discover and may solely final for 30 days. A justification letter from the host have to be submitted to IVCO for all emergency requests.

Amendments to go to requests

Go to dates can’t be prolonged if this alteration will outcome within the go to being legitimate for longer than 1 yr. Dates can’t be amended to deliver the beginning date of a go to ahead to an earlier date. Solely guests could be amended. Further websites can’t be added to a RFV.

Ceaselessly requested questions

What’s a safety features letter?

The ‘secret matter’ in an invite to tender (ITT) or contract containing DEFCON 659A have to be outlined to the contractor in writing. The particular obligations laid upon the contractor grow to be legally efficient solely when the MOD has issued a discover in writing, defining which features of the ITT or contract are graded at OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE or above. That is achieved by way of a safety features letter (SAL) written by the contracting authority, or by the inclusion of a safety features clause within the ITT or contract. A SAL supplies a contractual technique of making certain that safety is addressed within the work {that a} Contractor is endeavor. A SAL isn’t required if the Contractor is not going to be uncovered to any categorised materials graded above OFFICIAL. In such circumstances the Contractor should nonetheless learn of their safety obligations by way of DEF CONS included within the contract.

The contractor is required to substantiate in writing that he understands and can implement the phrases of the SAL or clause. The SAL is the authorized instrument beneath which a UK contractor could also be prosecuted beneath the Official Secrets and techniques Act. The SAL should due to this fact be issued to the contractor with the ITT or contract doc. DE&S PSyA’s workplace have to be knowledgeable upfront if this isn’t attainable.

Do I’ve a delegated area adviser?

Usually, DE&S PSyA assurance advisors are assigned by area These areas are: Scotland; England (North); England (East); England (West); England (South East) and London; England (South West) and Wales; and Hampshire. For particulars of your assurance advisor please contact the Safety Recommendation Centre.

What are the timescales concerned for hand carriages and transportation plans?

The required discover durations for hand carriages are:

EU/RoW (exc Australia/US) – 2 working days
US/Australia – 5 working days.

For transportation plans the required discover durations are:

inside UK – 3 working days discover
EU (besides Italy) – 5 days
US/Italy/Australia/remainder of world – 10 days

Please notice that attributable to present useful resource points we could not be capable of approve ‘emergency requests’ with shorter lead instances.

Contact particulars for the Defence Courier Service

The Defence Courier Service (DCS) is predicated at:

Defence Courier Service

West Finish Street

RUISLIP

Middlesex

HA4 6DQ

Phone: 020 8589 3432 or see the British Forces Submit Workplace companies information

How does my firm achieve a Facility Safety Clearance (FSC)?

Facility Safety Clearance (FSC) previously often called ‘Record X’ refers to contractors or subcontractors which have been formally assessed by the related Authorities authority and reached the required commonplace as outlined in GoVS 007 – Safety to carry, course of or manufacture materiel at SECRET (overseas CONFIDENTIAL) or above on the corporate premises. FSC isn’t out there on request, it have to be sponsored by a contracting authority (CA).

The CA could be:

a Ministry of Defence entity: That is extensively, however not invariably, within the type of a mission crew (PT).
one other authorities division: Plenty of UK Authorities departments, might also award a facility FSC standing.
an present FSC holding firm: An enterprise with an present authorities contract could act as a contracting authority to a number of third-party subcontractors who could inherit the duty to carry categorised belongings. Any transfer to nominate a subcontractor have to be authorised by the unique contracting authority.
NATO: The place a contract requires a UK enterprise to carry NATO CONFIDENTIAL (or above) info at their facility, the contracting authority would require assurance from DE&S PSyA’s workplace that the ability is appropriate for FSC standing.
abroad governments and their contractors. Within the occasion that an abroad contracting authority require a UK enterprise to be awarded FSC, the UK authorities could full this on their behalf
Key necessities for FSC standing:
a contract at SECRET (overseas CONFIDENTIAL) or above
a requirement both for the work to be performed on the contractor’s premises or for categorised info to be held on website

Who’s my contact for IT accreditation?

For websites with present accredited techniques please contact Defence Assurance and Info Safety.

NATO go to questions

What’s a Blue Card?

That is the outdated terminology for a private index card (a type accomplished by all UK defence contractors wishing to go to abroad defence websites).

What does proof of vetting (POV) on the non-public index card stand for?

That is the abbreviation for POV. As soon as a person has been vetted by the DBS-NSV a proof of vetting reference quantity is generated. IVCO require the POV for proof of safety vetting.

What are the required lead-times for visits to NATO companies?

The lead time for visits to all NATO companies is 4 weeks.

Which type ought to be used for visits to NATO companies?

For all visits to NATO HQ the NATO HQ move software type have to be used. For visits to all different NATO companies, the conventional request for a go to type have to be used.

Can I submit a go to request for a number of NATO companies?

No. Just one company could be submitted per go to request.

When can I apply for an annual move for NATO HQ?

To be eligible for an annual move you should go to NATO HQ a minimum of twice a month, each month for a yr.

When do I obtain my NATO HQ move?

On arrival at NATO HQ there might be a move ready on your assortment.

When does my annual NATO HQ move expire?

All annual passes expire on the 31 October.

What number of people could be positioned on a go to request?

New go to requests shouldn’t have any greater than 100 names listed (nonetheless, 10 Amendments could be made through the visits period once more with a most of 100 names every time).

What number of amendments could be made to a go to request?

A most of 10 amendments could be made per go to request.

Inward visits questions

How a lot discover is required for a overseas nationwide to go to a UK defence or FSC website?

IVCO require 20 working days discover (4 weeks) for all visits.

What’s a RfV?

RfV is the abbreviation for the request for go to type (which have to be accomplished for go to requests). The UK host firm ought to advise guests of the IVCO procedures and if crucial present a duplicate of the RfV. The shape ought to be accomplished by the overseas nationwide (though firms are permitted to finish the shape and electronic mail/fax a duplicate abroad for the signatures in Part 10 of the shape).

How a lot discover is required for an emergency go to?

IVCO should have a minimal of 5 full working days discover.

Who ought to full the justification for an emergency go to?

All emergency go to requests have to be supported by a letter of justification. It’s the duty of the UK host to offer written justification (on headed paper).

What number of people could be positioned on a go to request?

New go to requests shouldn’t have any greater than 100 names listed (nonetheless, 10 amendments could be made through the go to period, once more with a most of 100 names every time).

What number of amendments could be made to a go to request?

A most of 10 amendments could be made per go to request.

Can I amend the positioning particulars on a go to request?

No. Amendments are restricted to guests and go to dates solely.

Can I lengthen a present visits expiry date?

If the go to is recurring, has not already expired and has not exceeded 12 months then sure a go to could be prolonged (however please keep in mind the utmost interval for a recurring go to is 12 months).