SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, OPM is soliciting comments for this collection. The information collection (OMB No. 3206-0005) was published in the Federal Register on July 9, 2026, at 91 FR 42565, allowing for a 60-day public comment period. OPM received five public comments during the 60-day comment period. No changes were required in response to the commenters and no commenter specifically challenged OPM's numerical burden estimate or provided an alternative burden estimate or methodology.

Several commenters addressed the continued necessity of the SF 86 collection, including whether OPM should instead proceed directly to full implementation of the Personnel Vetting Questionnaire (PVQ). The Federal government, under Trusted Workforce 2.0 reform, is already working towards full implementation of the PVQ, which will be complete once developed and implemented in the National Background Investigation Services (NBIS). One commenter also recommended changes to the manner in which personnel vetting information is collected, including the use of incremental updates and pre-population of information, to enhance the quality and utility of the information collected and reduce respondent burden.

The recommendations concerning modernization of the personnel vetting information collection process relate primarily to the broader technological and operational framework for personnel vetting. OPM is transitioning toward the PVQ, which is currently approved and in development. Until the PVQ is implemented and the associated information systems are ready for use, the SF 86 remains necessary to support personnel vetting activities. While OPM appreciates the comments on the broader technological and operational framework, it has determined that no changes to the SF 86 are warranted as part of this renewal.

The Office of Management and Budget is particularly interested in comments that:

1. Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;

2. Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

4. Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submissions of responses.

Background

The Questionnaire for National Security Positions, Standard Form 86 (SF 86), is currently used to collect information completed by applicants for, or incumbents of, Federal Government civilian or military positions, or positions in private entities performing work for the Federal Government under contract. The information collected is used as the basis for background investigations to determine whether individuals in national security positions are suitable or fit for employment or retention; fit to ( printed page 72928) perform work on behalf of the Federal Government pursuant to a contract; and eligible for physical and logical access to federally controlled facilities or information systems. For applicants for civilian Federal employment, the SF 86 is used only after a conditional offer of employment has been made.

The National Background Investigation Services (NBIS) electronic application (eApp) is the primary system used to collect this information. The electronic format incorporates branching logic that tailors questions based on an individual's responses, thereby reducing respondent burden by limiting questions to those relevant to the individual's personal history. The eApp system contains the investigative Standard Forms used by Federal applicants and employees to submit information required for personnel background investigations. Because the electronic application uses tailored questions and instructions, the estimated burden varies depending on the relevance of questions to an individual's personal history.

This information collection is currently approved by OMB, and OPM is seeking renewal without substantive change. OPM received approval in February of 2024 for non-substantive revisions to this collection which was previously approved in November of 2023. Pursuant to the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (Pub. L. 115-174), security freezes do not restrict access to credit reports for employment, tenant, or background screening purposes; therefore, individuals are no longer required to lift a credit freeze during a background investigation and the instructions within the form were updated accordingly. Additionally, de minimis changes were made in May of 2025 to align with Executive Order 14168, Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government, January 20, 2025. These updates have already been incorporated into the eApp system.

A copy of the proposed information collection and the associated instructions are available at: www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain. Use the search function to enter either the title of the collection (Questionnaire for National Security Positions) or the OMB Control Number (3206-0005). OPM is not proposing any revisions to the form at this time. OPM recommends renewal of the form without any proposed changes due to the forthcoming plan to replace the SF 86 with the Personnel Vetting Questionnaire (87 FR 71700 and 88 FR 12703), which is currently approved and in development.

Analysis

Agency: Suitability Executive Agent Program, Office of Personnel Management.

Title: Questionnaire for National Security Positions, Standard Form 86 (SF 86).

OMB Control Number: 3206-0005.

Frequency: On occasion.

Affected Public: Individuals or Households.

Number of Respondents: 495,924.

Estimated Time per Respondent: 150 minutes.

Total Burden Hours: 1,239,810.

91 FR 72927