Which entity includes a personal services contractor within its scope?

• A. Cleared Contractor (CC).
• B. Cleared Defense Contractor (CDC).
• C. Closed area.
• D. Cognizant Security Office.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is how personnel security responsibilities apply when a contractor provides services that resemble those of government employees. A personal services contractor is treated as part of the defense contractor’s security program because they’re working on defense-related, classified tasks and must be governed by the same safeguards, access controls, investigations, and training that apply to government-like personnel. The Cleared Defense Contractor thus encompasses these personnel under its scope, ensuring that personal services staff handling sensitive information are integrated into the contractor’s security posture. A Cleared Contractor is more general and could refer to non-defense programs, so it doesn’t specifically capture the defense-focused PSC relationship. A closed area is just a physical space, not about who is covered by security oversight. The Cognizant Security Office is the body that oversees security for a contractor, not the entity whose scope includes the personal services staff themselves.