Under the National Industrial Security Program, what is the standard retention period for copies of U.S. government classified information after contract completion, unless the Government Contracting Activity instructs otherwise?

• A. One year
• B. Two years
• C. Three years
• D. Five years

Answer: (B)

Two years after contract completion is the standard retention for copies of U.S. government classified information under the National Industrial Security Program. This window provides a practical period to accommodate potential security reviews, audits, or declassification actions while avoiding unnecessary long-term storage burdens. The Government Contracting Activity can override this default with explicit instructions, and those directions would apply. Shorter durations like one year wouldn’t cover typical post-contract oversight, while longer periods such as three or five years exceed the standard requirement.