DAO 207-11 prescribes a uniform Official Credential for the Department of Commerce for:

• Law and regulatory enforcement units and offices authorized to conduct official law enforcement and non-law enforcement investigations;
• Official badges used by special agents, enforcement officers, and other personnel performing law enforcement and non-law enforcement duties;
• The standardization of policies and procedures for the issuance and use of official credentials and badges.

In those cases where the Director for Security has assurance that the requestor of the specific credentials has current clearances and training to effectively execute the requisite duties of the occupied position, the Director for Security shall sign all Form CD-277s (Credential Blanks) authorizing the bearer to carry out official law enforcement duties in the Office of Export Enforcement, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Office of the Secretary, and the Office of Security. 

The Director for Security shall also sign Form CD-277s for non-law enforcement positions, as well as retired law enforcement officer credentials. 

Note: The Inspector General shall sign all Form CD-277s in the Office of Inspector General, including retired law enforcement officer credentials.

Official Credential & Badge Requests:

1. All requests for credentials and badges will be submitted on OSY’s Credential Request Form (Commerce personnel only), routed through the applicable Bureau POC to the Plans, Programs and Compliance Division (PPCD).  PPCD serves as the Departmental Issuing Official on behalf of the Director for Security. 
2. All retirement credential requests for applicable Law Enforcement positions will first be submitted for acknowledgment that no serious disciplinary problems exist, on the Certification Regarding Issuance of Retired Credentials Form (Commerce personnel only). Upon the satisfactory review and acknowledgment from the above mentioned offices, a credential request form for retirement credentials can then be submitted by the Bureau POCs to PPCD for routing through OSY to verify that there are no ongoing investigations, serious disciplinary problems that have occurred during his/her service, and that all applicable NSI/SCI de-briefs have occurred.  Upon the satisfactory review and acknowledgment from OSY, the retirement credential request can proceed for processing.

PPCD maintains an accountability register that includes the bearer's name, Form CD-277 and/or badge number, date of issuance, geographic area where the bearer is assigned, and final disposition of returned forms and badges.  An inventory of all issuances shall be conducted semi-annually and an inventory report provided to the Director for Security annually by December 31.