DPSAC News
A bi-weekly newsletter from the Division of Personnel Security and Access Control
Providing timely information to help keep NIH safe and secure.
March 9, 2022 Issue of DPSAC News
In this issue:
  • Upcoming NED Release 5.7 Changes to Be Aware Of!
  • NIH Badge Smoothing Initiative and Statistics
  • Badge Processing Times
  • FAQs – Why do I not see any badge history from three years ago about an individual’s badge when I know it was issued three years ago?
  • Helpful Tips: Avoiding Additional Delays in Processing New Hires
  • AOs Who Wish to Obtain Sponsor Authority
  • Provide Your Feedback to the DPSAC Office
Upcoming NED Release 5.7 Changes to Be Aware Of!
NED Release 5.7 has gone live on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Meanwhile, we would like to share a few of these important functionality changes to the NED Portal as well as several minor enhancements. For full information about these NED Release 5.7 updates, please look here. Feel free to look at this previously recorded training video and some additional job aids.

NED Change #1: New NED data field capturing the reason of deactivation to assist in badge deactivation reporting

Rather than simply deactivating an individual’s NED record, the NED team has now added a new field where AOs must choose a reason from a drop-down list to explain why the record needs to be deactivated.
NED Change #2: DPSAC will receive notifications regarding inter-IC transfers

As a reminder, an inter-IC transfer is when an individual leaves their current IC as they accept a new position at another IC. When an individual transfers to a new IC, NED will now send a notification to DPSAC so they can verify the individual does not retain access to any offices specifically related to the old IC.  If new access is required for the person’s new position, his/her AO must email facilityaccesscontrol@mail.nih.gov to request access.  
NED Change #3: Walter Reed rotation exception factor

When an AO is creating or updating an individual’s NED record, there will now be an added Exception Factor on the Position Information page indicating whether this individual will be doing a rotation at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC). If checked, this exception factor will trigger a notification for DPSAC to check if this individual has the appropriate background investigation on file to perform rotational duties at the WRNMMC, as a higher-level investigation is required in order to access the WRNMMC base. If the individual does not have the proper investigation on file, DPSAC will initiate one. 
If you have any further questions, please contact the NED Team at nedteam@mail.nih.gov.

NIH Badge Smoothing
Initiative and Statistics
To fully understand the purpose behind the NIH badge smoothing initiative and the mechanics behind it, please read this article. The overall success of this effort is dependent on AOs completing badge renewal tasks as they appear in their NED inboxes. Individuals are not notified to schedule an appointment with DPSAC until the badge renewal task is complete in NED.

Here are the most recent NIH badge smoothing statistics provided by DPSAC as of March 7, 2022.  

Number of individuals submitted to NED to start the process (Initiated): 1750
Number of individuals sponsored in NED (Sponsored): 644
Number of individuals issued a new badge (Issued): 668
Badge Processing Times
For the DEC/JAN/FEB time frame, the average processing time for issuing an ID badge is 22.83 calendar days.
Q: Why do I not see any badge history from three years ago about an individual’s badge when I know it was issued three years ago?

A: To help ensure the NED system runs smoothly, NED does not display any badge history older than two years. The badge history page in NED will now display a note reminding individuals that the data only shows the most recent two years of information.
Avoiding Additional
Delays in Processing
New Hires

Processing times are often delayed due to reasons outside of DPSAC control, which include, but are not limited to:

  • Incomplete or not submitted OF-306
  • Candidate response time
  • Issues requiring clarification by the candidate
  • Untimely submission of initial e-QIP or corrected e-QIP

How the AO and HR communities can assist:

  • By ensuring all required documents have been uploaded into HR's 'Onboarding Manager' prior to establishing a NED account
  • By entering candidates as early as possible but no later than 8 weeks prior to their Entry on Duty (EOD) date
  • By working with DPSAC to ensure candidates respond in a timely manner to inquiries

ALT cards -- should be returned to the IC ALT card coordinator - NOT to DPSAC.
Administrative Officers (AOs) who wish to obtain sponsor authority must complete the sponsor training. To access the training module, click on: Sponsor.

Upon completion, the AO should sign and email a copy of the certificate found at the end of the training module to Alex Salah at: salaha@ors.od.nih.gov.

Upon receipt of the certificate, Mr. Salah will authorize the AO as a Sponsor. 

Note: ONLY individuals with an Administrative Officer role in NED are eligible to be HHS ID Badge/PIV Card Sponsors. 
Are there topics you would like to read more about in future issues of DPSAC News?

Please send your suggestions to: Judie.Kuo@nih.gov. Your input is greatly appreciated.
Want to share some feedback?

We at DPSAC would love to hear from you regarding any feedback you may have for our office and how we can continue to improve. As part of your feedback, please answer the following survey questions here. This should not take more than two (2) minutes. Thank you for taking the time to provide such feedback, as your thoughts are very valuable to us. 


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A biweekly e-newsletter from the National Institutes of Health, Office of Research Services, Division of Personnel Security and Access Control (ORS/DPSAC) to keep its readers informed of personnel security and access control policies and practices designed to safeguard the NIH and its workforce. DPSAC is responsible for verifying personal identity, validating suitability, reviewing background checks, authorizing facility access and issuing ID badges for NIH personnel. 

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