ICD 705 RFIs: Why They Matter More Than You Think in Secure Construction
- Phil
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
When pursuing an ICD 705 project, an RFI is not just a clarification tool.
It is a risk management decision.
In SCIF and SAPF construction, the quality of your RFIs directly impacts:
Accreditation readiness
Construction security compliance
Cost containment
Schedule stability
Competitive positioning
Secure construction operates under a different standard. Small ambiguities can become major accreditation failures.
RFIs Reduce Risk in ICD 705 Construction
ICD 705 projects are performance driven environments.
They require:
Six-sided secure perimeter integrity
Verified acoustic and TEMPEST performance (STC compliance and RF mitigations)
Controlled penetrations
Clearly defined Free Zone and Construction Secure Area (CSA) conditions
Alignment between design, policy, and execution
Drawings and specifications do not always fully reconcile:
ICD 705 requirements
UFC 4-010-05 provisions
Construction security language
Operational constraints
If those inconsistencies are not identified early, they typically surface during inspection, testing, or AO review and that's when correction is most expensive.
Strategic RFIs reduce:
Tear-outs after concealment
Acoustic test failures
Security non-concurrence
Change order disputes
Unrecoverable cost exposure
In secure construction, early clarification is a form of insurance.
RFIs Protect Assumed Costs on SCIF and SAPF Projects
One of the most overlooked risks in ICD 705 work is unpriced scope.
Security-driven requirements often hide in:
Ambiguous perimeter details
Undefined construction security responsibilities
Incomplete acoustic assemblies
Conflicts between drawings and specification language
Policy overlaps between ICD 705 and UFC or DoD standards
If an issue is not clarified before pricing or execution, it becomes an assumption.
And assumptions in secure construction tend to migrate to the contractor.
Well crafted RFIs serve as documentation of interpretation protecting both cost and liability.
The Quality of Your RFIs Signals Secure Construction Expertise
In federal source selection, risk perception matters.
On secure projects, evaluators can quickly identify whether a contractor understands:
Accreditation level performance
Construction security sequencing
Policy integration
Design vulnerability
Specific RFIs in ICD 705 environments typically surface around:
Design gaps
Construction security definition
Policy conflicts
The depth and precision of those questions often distinguish firms that simply “build what’s drawn” from firms that understand what must pass inspection.
In many cases, the RFI log itself becomes an indicator of technical competence.
RFIs Are a Competitive Strategy, Not Just a Contract Tool
In SCIF and SAPF construction, reducing perceived risk is critical.
When a contractor demonstrates awareness of:
Secure perimeter integrity
Acoustic performance implications
Free Zone coordination
Accreditation sequencing
…it lowers the Government’s risk exposure.
And in secure construction, lower perceived risk can help determine award decisions.
Secure Construction Requires More Than Construction Experience
ICD 705 facilities are not typical projects. They are regulated environments with policy integration, accreditation oversight, and zero tolerance for performance failure.
RFIs are one of the earliest indicators of whether a team truly understands that.
If your team is pursuing an ICD 705, SCIF, or SAPF project and wants to reduce technical and accreditation risk early, don’t rely on assumptions.
Get a focused secure construction review before award or mobilization.
Precision Security Consulting provides:
ICD 705 design and specification review
Construction security definition analysis
Pre-award risk assessment
Accreditation aligned construction validation
Secure facilities rarely fail at inspection. They fail in assumptions.
If you're serious about reducing risk, Talk to an Expert Today or Get a Quote
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