The SF 86 is an information collection completed by applicants for, or incumbents of, Federal Government civilian or military positions, or positions in private entities performing work for the Federal Government under contract. The collection is used as the basis of information by the Federal Government in conducting background investigations, reinvestigations, and continuous evaluations, as appropriate, of persons under consideration for or retention in national security sensitive positions, positions requiring eligibility for access to classified information, and by agencies in determining whether a person performing work for or on behalf of the Federal Government under a contract should be deemed eligible for logical or physical access when the nature of the work is sensitive and could bring about a material adverse effect on national security. For applicants for civilian Federal employment, the SF 86 is to be used only after a conditional offer of employment has been made. The agency addressed the 60 Day FRN comments on proposed changes by reverting to the 2016 request with a "No Change" submission in 2019 , as they ran counter to The First Step Act.
The latest form for Personnel Vetting Questionnaire Request expires 2023-02-28 and can be found here.