Navigating the new era of SCIF construction

The U.S. aerospace and defense industry is growing rapidly. Between a heightened global threat environment and ongoing government initiatives to modernize military capabilities, demand for Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities, also known as SCIFs, is on the rise.

At the same time, new requirements and standards for SCIFs are being issued in 2025. Defense contractors and government agencies need to evaluate and upgrade existing SCIFs, as well as incorporate the updated specifications as they construct new ones — which can be a complex, time-consuming process. Sooner rather than later, these organizations need to develop proactive strategies for assessing and addressing their SCIF needs to achieve compliance.

New rules for SCIFs demand proactive approach from contractors

Espionage, intelligence leaks and increasingly sophisticated adversaries have created a heightened threat environment, increasing activity in the aerospace and defense sector. As a result, demand for the secure spaces known as SCIFs is exploding.

A SCIF is a secure room or data center that guards against electronic surveillance and suppresses data leakage of sensitive security and military information. SCIFs support office-based work like intelligence analytics as well as technical manufacturing and hardware assembly. They can be as small as a shipping container or encompass an entire floor or building. The cost per square foot of a SCIF can average anywhere between $350 and $1,000.

SCIFs are governed by ICD-705, a strict set of standards issued by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). In 2025, the ODNI is updating ICD-705 for the first time since May 2010. The new policy is expected to further incorporate TEMPEST countermeasures and radio frequency (RF) protections.

By the end of 2025, all defense contractors must establish plans for complying with the new ICD-705 standards. The deadline by which they must implement plans and achieve compliance varies across different government agencies, but the window is generally four to five years.

The volume of work that needs to be performed during this timeframe translates to a significant first-mover advantage for defense contractors that are prepared to hit the ground running in response to the new standards. In some cases, compliance will entail full demolition of SCIF spaces to shell condition for RF remediations. The new requirements are likely to create pressure on supply chains for SCIF materials like vault doors and specialized hardware, increasing lead times if manufacturers cannot keep up with the surge in demand. Competition for labor, materials, and consultants will increase as well, so taking a proactive stance will save contractors time and money.

In addition, depending on size and program, current SCIF spaces typically take 12-18 months to accredit. That length of time could double to 24-36 months, emphasizing the need for defense contractors to move swiftly. To navigate these changes and mitigate potential operational impacts, government agencies and prime contractors need a proactive strategy for assessing SCIF needs and implementing solutions in a timely and cost-effective way.

Strategic planning and prioritization are crucial

As a best practice, contractors may want to form an internal task force dedicated to ICD-705 compliance. Key members of this group should include security, real estate and IT professionals, as well as those who serve as owners of relationships with customer agencies.

Once government contractors have the updated ICD-705 specifications in hand, they will need to establish their approach to achieving compliance in the required timeframe — and the first step is identifying all programs or spaces that include SCIFs. At minimum, this should involve a survey of all secure spaces and confirmation of the dates when they were constructed, as well as a review of contractual lease requirements to determine future SCIF needs. Creating a centralized database of all SCIFs and their specifications is a best practice for managing the compliance process effectively.

Contractors also need to understand the standard to which current spaces are built, identify their accrediting agencies and initiate dialogue with contracting officers and agency representatives early in the process. Contractors may also look for opportunities to collaborate with industry peers to address common issues.

For contractors that need to update SCIFs housing active programs and cannot stop work, rentable SCIF space (sometimes referred to as SCIF-as-a-Service), is available. Contractors may also rent SCIFs on a temporary basis during the proposal phase of a government project.

SCIF-as-a-Service arrangements can solve the problem of updating space to meet new ICD-705 requirements while a project is ongoing, and in other cases offer scalability and risk mitigation associated with future upgrade costs. However, aerospace and defense contractors should bear in mind that each government agency has its own nuanced restrictions, and some do not allow contractors to rent SCIF space. Additionally, providers of these spaces are limited, and the cost tends to be high.

Finally, due to the high likelihood of extended lead times for necessary materials, contractors must fast-track ICD-705 compliance planning for their most critical government programs by developing a risk-based approach to prioritization that balances security needs of each SCIF with practical constraints. Adopting a phased approach to minimize disruption to ongoing operations is critical to maintaining business continuity and meeting contractual obligations.

Experts can help contractors navigate a complex process

Creating and implementing a plan to achieve compliance with the new ICD-705 specifications is a complex process. Partnering with experienced consultants can help ensure an efficient approach, as well as help aerospace and defense contractors stay abreast of evolving interpretations of ICD-705 requirements.