Provision of Security Vetting Services

The Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) requires suitably qualified contractors to process personal security applications to augment AGSVAs security vetting capability and capacity. The additional capacity and capability provided through the panel provides the AGSVA with the ability to meet required clearance timeframes and avoid delays in the process.

The vetting is conducted under AGSVA policies and directives within the Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF).The AGSVA has a continued requirement for the services of suitably qualified contractors to process security clearance requirements, with the IVP panel conducting between 40% and 60% of the security clearances conducted by AGSVA each year. In 2013/14 the AGSVA conducted 33,276 security clearances.

On 1 Dec 09 the Australian Government announced the establishment of a single vetting agency in the Department of Defence (Defence) for Commonwealth security clearances. Following this Defence established the Australian Government Vetting Agency (AGSVA) within the Defence Security Authority (DSA) and Intelligence and Security Group (ISG) to conduct the security clearances for all Commonwealth agencies, except for five exempt agencies.

From the 1st October 2010 the AGSVA has been responsible for conducting national security clearances for Government employees, contractors and industry personnel accessing Commonwealth information resources and facilities. As with all areas within Defence, the AGSVA operates within a tight budget and full time equivalent (FTE) environment.

The AGSVA operates its business through several Directorates that support vetting operations through the establishment and maintenance of operational, governance and quality management practices, procedures and processes. The AGSVA operations are delivered in a number of locations across Australia, with a central office at Campbell Park in Canberra, two large regional offices in Adelaide and Brisbane and smaller regional offices in Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Darwin.