In the four-level Federal Personnel Vetting Policy Framework, where are the Investigative Standards located relative to the Appendices?

• A. Both located at the Operational level
• B. Appendices located at the Operational level, Standards at the Tactical level
• C. Standards located at the Operational level, Appendices at the Tactical level
• D. Both located at the Strategic level

Answer: (C)

In this four-level framework, guidance that defines what must be done is placed at the Operational level, while the practical tools used to carry it out are kept at the Tactical level. The Investigative Standards set the criteria, requirements, and evaluation thresholds for how investigations should be conducted across programs—policy-level direction that governs process and consistency. That kind of overarching guidance belongs with operational coordination and governance, not the hands-on execution. The Appendices, on the other hand, provide the actual forms, checklists, templates, and step-by-step procedures investigators use in the field. These are concrete tools meant for frontline work, so they reside at the Tactical level. Therefore, the Standards are located at the Operational level, and the Appendices are located at the Tactical level.