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
July 15, 2020 Issue of DPSAC News

In this issue:
  • DCSA Publishes Revised Background Investigation Product Pricing for FY'21 & FY'22
  • Marijuana Still Considered a Controlled Substance under Schedule I of the Controlled Substance Act
  • Update on NIH Shuttle, Parking and Transhare Services as Select Groups of the NIH Workforce Begin to Return to their Physical Work Spaces
  • FAQs: Changes in the Prescreening Process for Tier 3/Tier 5 positions; Badge Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • AOs Who Wish to Obtain Sponsor Authority
DCSA Publishes Revised Background Investigation Product Pricing for FY'21 & FY’22
The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) has released revised background investigation product pricing for FY 2021 as well as pricing for FY 2022 per Federal Investigation Notice (FIN) No.20-04 .  Also, starting in FY 2021, DCSA will be implementing a new Trusted Workforce (TW) 1.25 Service, which will be DCSA’s first continuous vetting program designed to meet the future TW 2.0 policy available to all federal agencies.

Effective October 1, 2020, DCSA will reduce FY 2021 background investigation product prices by a composite 3% from the currently implemented prices. The revised FY 2021 prices supersede any previously published prices for FY 2021. Furthermore, effective October 1 , 2021, DCSA will implement FY 2022 prices, which will be an inflation-driven 2% composite increase over the revised FY 2021 prices.

According to William Lietzau, Director, DCSA, “since the transfer of the background investigation mission to DCSA on October 1, 2019 , DCSA has been working diligently to implement the guidelines and policies of TW 2.0. By offering t he interim TW 1.25 Service to all federal agencies outside the DoD, DCSA will be addressing the enterprise - wide demand for an interim TW capability and begin to incrementally achieve a full, continuous vetting service.”

Below are two tables from FIN No. 20-04 that show FY 2021 and FY 2022 Investigations Reimbursable Base Rates with Optional and Expanded Coverage. To read the full Notice, including comprehensive FY 2021 and FY 2022 pricing information for the DCSA background investigation products, including the new TW 1.25 service, please click on the following link: Federal Investigation Notice (FIN) No.20-04.

Please note that these rates are also posted on the DPSAC website at: https://www.ors.od.nih.gov/ser/dpsac/resources/Pages/DCSA-investigation-billing-rates.aspx.
Marijuana Still Considered a Controlled Substance Under Schedule I of the Controlled Substance Act
With summer here, DPSAC reports seeing an influx of new Fellows, Contractors, FTEs, etc. who have been found ineligible for federal employment due to drug use, mainly marijuana. DPSAC News regularly runs a version of this article to remind the administrative community that marijuana is still considered a Controlled Substance and to counsel their customers about the consequences of having a history of illicit drug use when applying for a federal position. 
 
In recent years, several states and the District of Columbia have decriminalized the use of marijuana, allowing the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes and/or for limited recreational use.
 
These changes to state law have raised questions about whether federal employees in these jurisdictions may use marijuana as provided for in state law. 
 
Federal law on marijuana remains unchanged. Marijuana is categorized as a controlled substance under Schedule I of the Controlled Substance Act. Under the scheduling system, the Federal Government classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug, meaning it is perceived to have no medical value and a high potential for abuse.
 
The use of marijuana can still impact the ability for someone to be found suitable for federal employment. 
 
* The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 is the federal U.S. drug policy under which the manufacture, importation, possession, use and distribution of certain narcotics, stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, anabolic steroids and other chemicals is regulated under federal law. 
Update on NIH Shuttle, Parking and Transhare Services as NIH Begins to Return Group A to their Physical Work Spaces
In a June 19, 2020 email to NIH staff in the DC area via the ORS Information Line, ORS provided the following update on NIH Shuttle, Parking and Transhare services: 
 
With the return of Group A (which began on June 22), it is important to note that some of our normal parking and shuttle operations still remain closed. Restoration of services will continue to be reassessed with each returning group based on safety and need. The Office of Research Services (ORS) will alert staff to any return of service in advance. 
 
Here is the current state of some transportation services:
·     On-campus shuttle continue to operate as normal, but face coverings are required at all times
·     Off-campus shuttles are not operating except for NCI-Shady Grove (managed by NCI) and Fishers Lane.  
·     No stack parking will be available in any garages or parking lots on the main campus
·     Staff should strive to spread out parking around campus to assist in maintaining physical distancing (to view
parking on the main campus, please visit: https://www.ors.od.nih.gov/maps/Pages/Employee-Access-
Map.aspx )  
·     Transhare participants who cannot or do not want to take public transportation can continue to drive to campus.
Each month, while this policy remains in effect, Transhare participants receive an email offering the ability to
print off a parking placard and place it on the dashboard.
·     Please do not park in the NIH parking lots and garages if you do not have a parking hanger or appropriate
parking placard. NIH Police will continue to monitor and ticket illegally parked vehicles.
 
For parking and Transhare questions, contact the Employee Transportation Services Office (NIH Parking Office) at 301-496-5050 or nihparkingoffice@ors.od.nih.gov . For shuttle questions, contact the ORS Information Line at orsinfo@mail.nih.gov or 301-594-6677. TTY is available at 301-435-1908.
Q. What has changed in the prescreening process for Tier 3 and Tier 5 positions?

A. DSPAC) is now required to collect official position documentation from individuals in non-Critical Sensitive and Critical Sensitive Positions at NIH (Tier 3 and Tier 5) during the Personnel Security prescreening process.

ONS requires the collection of these documents prior to allowing individuals in Tier 3 and Tier 5 positions to Enter on Duty or receive prescreening clearance authorization, and before requesting a background investigation or accepting a prior background investigation from another agency.

Therefore, DPSAC cannot initiate for a background investigation, provide Prescreening Clearance for Entry on Duty or Authorize Badge Issuance for individuals in Tier 3 or Tier 5 Positions until these documents are collected. 


Q. How do I go about renewing my PIV Card (HHS ID Badge) during the COVID-19 pandemic? 

A. DPSAC offers its badging services by appointment only on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday between the hours of 8 AM and 5 PM. 

If you need to contact DPSAC to schedule an appointment, please email ORSPersonnelSecurity@mail.nih.gov or call 301-402-9755. DPSAC staff will be available to answer email and phone inquiries Monday – Friday between the hours of 8 AM and 5 PM.
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: Lanny.Newman@nih.gov . Your input is greatly appreciated.
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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