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32 CFR § 157.3 - Definitions.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t32/s157.3"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "32 CFR § 157.3 - Definitions."
title_number: 32
title_name: "National Defense"
section_number: "157.3"
section_name: "Definitions."
chapter_name: "OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE"
subchapter_number: "F"
subchapter_name: "SECURITY"
part_number: "157"
part_name: "DOD INVESTIGATIVE AND ADJUDICATIVE GUIDANCE FOR ISSUING THE COMMON ACCESS CARD (CAC)"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "HSPD-12, E.O 13467, E.O. 13488, FIPS 201-2, and OPM Memorandum."
regulatory_source: "79 FR 55624, Sept. 17, 2014, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "157"
---

# 157.3 Definitions.

These terms and their definitions are for the purpose of this part.

*Actionable information.* Information that potentially justifies an unfavorable credentialing determination.

*CAC.* The DoD Federal PIV card.

*Contractor.* Defined in Executive Order 13467, “Reforming Processes Related to Sustainability for Government Employment, Fitness for Contractor Employees, and Eligibility for Access to Classified National Security Information”.

*Contractor employee fitness.* Defined in E.O. 13467.

*Debarment.* A prohibition from taking a competitive service examination or from being hired (or retained in) a covered position for a specific time period..

*Drugs.* Mood and behavior-altering substances, including drugs, materials, and other chemical compounds identified and listed in 21 U.S.C. 801-830 (also known as “The Controlled Substances Act of 1970, as amended”) (e.g., marijuana or cannabis, depressants, narcotics, stimulants, hallucinogens), and inhalants and other similar substances.

*Drug abuse.* The illegal use of a drug or use of a legal drug in a manner that deviates from approved medical direction.

*Employee.* Defined in E.O. 12968, “Access to Classified Information”.

*Fitness.* Defined in E.O. 13488, “Granting Reciprocity on Excepted Service and Federal Contractor Employee Fitness and Reinvestigating Individuals in Positions of Public Trust”.

*Fitness determination.* Defined in E.O. 13488.

*Logical and physical access.* Defined in E.O. 13467.

*Material.* Defined in 5 CFR part 731.

*Reasonable basis.* A reasonable basis to believe occurs when a disinterested observer, with knowledge of the same facts and circumstances, would reasonably reach the same conclusion.

*Terrorism.* Defined in 19 U.S.C. 2331.

*Unacceptable risk.* A threat to the life, safety, or health of employees, contractors, vendors, or visitors; to the U.S. Government physical assets or information systems; to personal property; to records, including classified, privileged, proprietary, financial, and medical records; or to the privacy rights established by The Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, or other law that is deemed unacceptable when making risk management determinations.

*U.S. National.* Defined in U.S. OPM Memorandum, “Final Credentialing Standards for Issuing Personal Identity Verification Cards Under HSPD-12” (available at *http://www.opm.gov/investigate/resources/final_credentialing_standards.pdf*).