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.

June 16, 2021 Issue of DPSAC News In this issue: Provide Your Feedback for the DPSAC Office  Updated FAQ Page on Our Division of Personnel Security and Access Control Website NIH Clinical Center Food Service Locations Reopen to Everyone FAQs - We hire a lot of contract staff who have the same duties and type of access to NIH resources. Can they all use the same PDT?  Badge Processing Times Helpful Tips: Avoiding Additional Delays in Processing New Hires AOs Who Wish to Obtain Sponsor Authority

Provide Your Feedback for the DPSAC Office

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. 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.

Updated FAQ Page on Our Division of Personnel Security and Access Control Website

We have recently updated our FAQs page on the DPSAC website to help answer common questions you may have and ensure your experience with us go smoothly. We have now divided up our questions into specific topics to help you find the information you are looking for more easily.

If you have any further questions that you would like us to answer that weren't on the website, please let us know by emailing DPSACNews@mail.nih.gov. Thank you!

NIH Clinical Center Food Service Locations Reopen to Everyone

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the NIH Clinical Center limited access to Building 10 for Clinical Center staff only. This restriction has been lifted since the beginning of this month on Tuesday, June 1. All individuals are now eligible to use the food service locations at the CRC Coffee Bar, 10/B1 Concession Stand and the ACRF Cafeteria. While some restrictions remain necessary for everyone's health and safety, we hope this will increase convenience to those individuals reporting to the physical workspace. All individuals entering Building 10 will continue to be screened, receive a sticker and a mask, and be required to comply with Clinical Center COVID-19 safety guidelines. Please continue to limit your time in Building 10 -- ideally, choosing to "grab and go" with your food and beverages, rather than remaining in the building, as the dining room seating areas remain closed. Please refer to and follow the NIH Safety Guidance for Working Onsite During the Coronavirus Pandemic (especially the Food Services and Cafeterias guidelines on pages 23 & 24) here.   If you have any questions about food service options, please contact the Food Services Team at 301-827-3248 or ORSWEPB@ors.od.nih.gov. If you have questions regarding the safety guidance, please contact your assigned IC Safety and Health Specialist at https://go.usa.gov/x7YxK or call 301-496-2960.

Q: We hire a lot of contract staff for the same position. They have the same duties and type of access to NIH resources (facilities and computer systems). Can they all use the same Position Designation Tool (PDT)?    A: Yes. The final output of the PDT is a PDF file that shows the required background investigation for a given position. It does not include an individual’s name or other personal information. If you are hiring multiple people for the same position, you can use the same PDT file for each person. You can simply save the PDF file of the PDT to your computer or network drive and upload it to the NED record of each person.

Badge Processing Times For the MAR/APR/MAY time frame, the average processing time for issuing an ID badge is 21.3 calendar days.

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.

Know someone who should be reading DPSAC News? Have them send a message to DPSACNews@mail.nih.gov to start receiving our newsletter!

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.  Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health Office of Management Office of Research Services Division of Personnel Security and Access Control

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