The DOD has placed the responsibility on the British Embassy (BDS in particular) to ensure that visits which the embassy sponsor to DOD and its contractors are undertaken by suitably vetted individuals who have a need to know the information or technology in question, and that such visits are not frivolous or inappropriate.

The Visits Center (VC) ensures that visitors’ clearance levels are certified by an MOD security office and that the information and purpose on a visit application is complete and valid. When these conditions have been satisfied for MOD and OGD visits, the VC requests the relevant BDS staff to sponsor the visit.

Visits by UK Industry are sent through MOD, IVCO for scrutiny and security clearance, and then sponsored by the VC. Click here for link to IVCO Web page. MOD visitors should consult the current DCI on Procedures for Visiting DoD and its Contractors for full details.

PROCESS

All conforming and sponsored visits are processed by the VC through DOD’s Foreign Visits System (FVS). DOD requires a minimum 30 day lead-time to research foreign disclosure aspects of the visit and make their decision by a week before the start date of the visit.

It is imperative that visitors confirm with their US host, at least three working days before the start date of their visit, that the visit has been approved by DOD through the FVS for the appropriate classification level. If there are problems at this stage, UK industry visitors should consult IVCO and government visitors should consult their BDS VC POC.

VISITS UNDER THE UK/US 1958 MUTUAL DEFENCE AGREEMENT

Visits to   the US Department of Defense ( DoD )  and US Department of Energy (DoE) offices, or to DoD and DoE contractor facilities by MoD staff and contractors on defence nuclear matters, require special treatment and are conducted in accordance with the administrative arrangements of the UK/US 1958 Mutual Defence Agreement.

These arrangements cover procedures for approval of the visit, transmission of information  and  security clearances and are coordinated between the Atomic Control Office (London)   ( ACO (L) )  and the Nuclear and Strategic   Deterrent  (NSD) Office , British Defence Staff- United States (BDS-US),   British Embassy ,  in Washington.

Visit requests should be made through ACO(L)   (Tel: +44 20 7218 6230/7385, Fax: +44 20 7218 1769, E-mail:  Pauline.Mason387@mod.uk),   with the exception of AWE staff who should contact the International Liaison Office (Aldermaston) in the first instance on   +44 ( 0 ) 118 982 6414 , E-mail: ilo@awe.co.uk .

For   Visits sponsored by NSD to DoE please  contact the NSD Office   Tel:  (Mil) 94170   6713 /6747/6710  or (Civ) 001 202 588 6713 /6747/6710  Fax: 001 202 588 6714 Email:   nsdvisits@bdsus.mod.uk

Visitors to DoD facilities or DoD contractors under the UK/US 1958 Mutual Defence Agreement must also be coordinated by NSD, who will be responsible for the submission of the visit clearance request to the BDS-US Visits Centre. Visitors should be aware of the minimum 5 weeks’ notice required for such visits.

MoD Form 1907 should be used for these visits.