# 504.475 Return of classified information.

(a) Contracting officers must recover classified information, unless it has been destroyed as provided in Section 7 of Chapter 5 of the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM). Information on NISPOM can be found at https://fas.org/sgp/index.html.

(b) Contracting officers must ensure that classified information provided by the government is returned immediately after any of the following events:

(1) Bid opening or closing date for receipt of proposals by non-responding offerors.

(2) Contract award by unsuccessful offerors.

(3) Termination or completion of the contract.

(4) Notification that authorization to release classified information has been withdrawn.

(5) Notification that a facility:

(i) Does not have adequate means to safeguard classified information; or

(ii) Has had its security clearance revoked or inactivated.

(6) Whenever otherwise instructed by the authority responsible for the security classification.

(c) The Government agency that provided classified information to a GSA contractor is responsible for the return of the information.