Which term describes an industrial, educational, or other entity that has an eligibility determination granted by a Cognizant Security Agency, including licensees or grantees and certificate holders?

• A. Contractor
• B. Subcontractor
• C. Licensee
• D. Beneficiary

Answer: (A)

Eligibility determinations from a Cognizant Security Agency are issued to organizations that will handle classified information under the industrial security program. The broad term for these entities, which includes licensees, grantees, and certificate holders, is contractor. This reflects how the security framework centers on organizations that hold a contract or program relationship with the government to process classified material. Subcontractors may access information, but their eligibility is tied to the prime contractor, not granted as a standalone status. The terms licensee, grantee, and certificate holder describe specific forms of contractor roles, not separate categories. Beneficiary isn’t the standard term used in this context.