ICD 705 Introduction

The ICD 705 Introduction course provides a foundational overview of the Intelligence Community Directive (ICD) 705 and its role in the planning, design, construction, and accreditation of Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities (SCIFs) and Special Access Program Facilities (SAPFs). This course is designed for individuals who are new to ICD 705 or who support secure facility projects in administrative, security, facilities, or project management roles. Students will gain a working understanding of how ICD 705 came to be (from the 1947 National Security Act through the 2004 IRTPA reforms to the 2010 publication of ICD 705), what the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Cognizant Security Agencies actually do, and how ICD 705, ICS 705-1, ICS 705-2, and the IC Tech Spec fit together. The course covers reciprocity and why it matters, the chief of mission environment for overseas SCIFs, the SCIF and SAPF relationship under DoDM 5205.07, and the realities of waivers with practical scenarios. It also addresses where projects most commonly stall, including the moment when a stakeholder’s prior experience gets treated as a hard requirement that the standard does not actually demand. By the end of the course, participants will be better prepared to engage in ICD 705-related discussions, navigate the layered policy framework, understand compliance expectations, and support SCIF projects effectively without imposing requirements that the directive does not require. Ideal for: • New security professionals • Facilities and project managers • Designers, contractors, and support staff • Anyone seeking a high-level understanding of ICD 705 and SCIF requirements