The administrative determination that, from a security viewpoint, an entity is eligible for access to classified information is called a

• A. Facility Clearance (FCL)
• B. Security Agreement
• C. Personnel Security Clearance (PCL)
• D. Security Authorization

Answer: (A)

When an organization is recognized as eligible to handle or access classified information, that official determination is called a facility clearance. This focuses on the entity itself—its security program, safeguards, and ability to protect classified material—so the organization can work on classified government contracts. Individual clearances exist for people, not for the organization, which is why a personnel security clearance isn’t the right fit here. A security agreement is a contract outlining duties, not the eligibility status. And a security authorization describes approval to operate a system, not whether an entity as a whole is cleared to handle classified information. So the facility clearance is the correct concept.