Under the National Industrial Security Program, what is the standard retention period for copies of U.S. government classified information after contract completion, unless the Government Contracting Activity instructs otherwise?

Under the National Industrial Security Program, what is the standard retention period for copies of U.S. government classified information after contract completion, unless the Government Contracting Activity instructs otherwise?

• A. One year
• B. Two years
• C. Three years
• D. Five years

Answer: (B)

Two years after contract completion is the standard retention for copies of U.S. government classified information under the National Industrial Security Program. This window provides a practical period to accommodate potential security reviews, audits, or declassification actions while avoiding unnecessary long-term storage burdens. The Government Contracting Activity can override this default with explicit instructions, and those directions would apply. Shorter durations like one year wouldn’t cover typical post-contract oversight, while longer periods such as three or five years exceed the standard requirement.

Two years after contract completion is the standard retention for copies of U.S. government classified information under the National Industrial Security Program. This window provides a practical period to accommodate potential security reviews, audits, or declassification actions while avoiding unnecessary long-term storage burdens. The Government Contracting Activity can override this default with explicit instructions, and those directions would apply. Shorter durations like one year wouldn’t cover typical post-contract oversight, while longer periods such as three or five years exceed the standard requirement.