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 23, 2022 Issue of DPSAC News
In this issue:
  • Process Overview Before an Individual Can Pick Up Their Badge
  • NIH Badge Smoothing Initiative and Statistics
  • Badge Processing Times
  • FAQs – What are the approved forms of identification that applicants must bring to their DPSAC appointment?
  • Helpful Tips: Avoiding Additional Delays in Processing New Hires
  • AOs Who Wish to Obtain Sponsor Authority
  • Provide Your Feedback to the DPSAC Office
Process Overview Before
an Individual Can Pick
Up Their Badge
Before an individual can start a new position at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), there are requirements that must be completed before receiving access to NIH resources. A customer must work closely with the Division of Personnel Security and Access Control (DPSAC) to satisfy all the federally mandated requirements for obtaining access to NIH facilities or information systems, obtaining a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) or other NIH ID badge, or completing the background investigation required for their position with the U.S. Government. To complete the DPSAC prescreening process, it takes on average 30 business days from administrative sponsorship in NED to badge issuance, not including additional time incurred due to non-responsiveness of applicant, and suitability/security issues on prescreening paperwork.

To view the complete process overview for AOs, please read the Process Overview for AOs here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/cu/8llYm9G.

If you would like to share this with any of the applicants you are in contact with, please feel free to send them the Process Overview specifically for applicants here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/cu/Yj3gmsH.

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 21, 2022.  

Number of individuals submitted to NED to start the process (Initiated): 2251
Number of individuals sponsored in NED (Sponsored): 732
Number of individuals issued a new badge (Issued): 991
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: What are the approved forms of identification that applicants must bring to their DPSAC appointment?

A: There are requirements that must be completed before any applicant can start their new position or be granted access to NIH resources. This includes the requirement of bringing two forms of valid government identification to their appointment, one of which must contain a picture. Visit the FIPS 201-2 PDF to view a complete list of approved identification documents. For more information on the DPSAC process overview, please look at our website here.
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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