Dear OPM FAQ Staff: Question 25b on the SF-86 states, “To your knowledge, have you EVER had a clearance or access authorization denied, suspended, or revoked; or been debarred from government employment? If "Yes," give the action(s), date(s) of action(s), agency(ies), and circumstances.” My question is the following: If a person is notified by the FBI that they “did not successfully complete the preliminary processing stage in order to initiate a background investigation” and that “you may not be suitable for employment with the FBI”; based solely on that one letter, does that mean the person has officially (i.e. according to the SF-86, Q25b) “been debarred from government employment” as stated/meant in Q25b of the SF-86? Respectfully,
Questions about an agency’s action or whether that action is required to be reported on an investigative form should be referred to the agency that took the action.
In the context of the question on the Standard Form (SF) 86, a debarment refers to a suitability action that denies an individual examination for, or appointment to, a covered position. A covered position, as defined in title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, part 731 is one in the competitive service or one in the excepted service where the incumbent can be non-competitively converted to the competitive service, or a career appointment to a position in the Senior Executive Service.
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