You need a sponsor, or you must be employed with a company that has an established "FSO" Facility Security Officer and is eligible to file all Contract Security Classification Specifications with the government. The FSO can help facilitate the processing of your security clearance application or renewal application. The FSO is aware of the access requirements for government and corresponding documents required. They will ensure that their company's employees request for clearance applications or renewals have been submitted and processed through one of the on-line Government Clearance sites. However, you must make sure that you get the renewal submitted before the expiration date or there may be a chance that your renewal application might not be processed and instead, you will have to reapply and fill out new application for clearance. The renewal process usually takes about 3 months from the time it is submitted for the renewal investigation and your clearance status will not expire during the investigation.

Hi John: Happy to help! You can't do this yourself; your employer has to do it for you. I found a little more info about it: http://govcentral.monster.com/security-clearance-jobs/articles/413-how-to-obtain-a-security-clearance