Protection Strategies Incorporated (PSI), under subcontract to Security Assistance Corporation (SAC), provides technical and administrative support services to assist the U.S. Coast Guard in screening, evaluating and processing applications for Merchant Mariner credentials. PSI has been a prime contractor to the USCG National Maritime center since 2002. PSI established and mentor protégé relationship and a Prime- Subcontractor arrangement prior to SAC becoming the Prime contractor on this effort. Security Assistance Corporation and PSI teamed together for this effort to offer the USCG and proven and establish partnership and the best value to continue support this critical national security program.

PSI provides technically trained personnel who screen electronic credential vetting requests in accordance with Coast Guard rules, regulations, and policies to ensure performance of a thorough and complete background information analysis. Out Technical personnel evaluate all information received in the screening process against all safety and suitability standards including regulations, policies and other requirements in order to render a recommendation to the Government regarding a Mariner’s safety and suitability compliance.

Initial technical screenings are inclusive of evaluating the results of the FBI background check, conducting a National Drivers Register check, conducting a Local Agency Check (LAC)/Records checks, verifying the applicant’s personal information with information in other complex databases, law enforcement checks, court record checks, commercial data base checks.

If warranted by the initial technical screening, additional safety/suitability investigations of applicants will be conducted and may include: conduct personal and criminal records reviews of credential applicants, including specialized and technical work associated with background checks primarily using electronic data and telephone interviews.

After initial screening background checks are conducted and other information is collected from various local, state and federal databases, complex commercial databases, and appropriate official records sources, such as state and local court houses, other government agencies, probation officers, medical review officers, employers or other references provided by applicant, etc. on occasion, interviews with law enforcement and/or other government agencies are required to determine the applicant’s general character, integrity, trustworthiness, loyalty to the United States, and overall suitability for employment as a Merchant Mariner.

Additionally, PSI provides administrative, clerical, and data entry services updating pertinent personal information regarding an applicant’s identity, criminal history, citizenship, national driver’s record history, fingerprint results, and other pieces of information as necessary.