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.
February 9, 2022 Issue of DPSAC News
In this issue:
  • NIH Badge Smoothing Initiative and Statistics
  • Marijuana Still Considered a Controlled Substance Under Schedule I of the Controlled Substance Act
  • Badge Processing Times 
  • FAQs – Do I need to enter a new PIN if I forget my old PIN, or can I re-use my old PIN?
  • Helpful Tips: Avoiding Additional Delays in Processing New Hires
  • AOs Who Wish to Obtain Sponsor Authority
  • Provide Your Feedback to the DPSAC Office

NIH Badge Smoothing
Initiative and Statistics
In CY 2023, the NIH will experience a sustained spike in badge renewals, well-beyond DPSAC's operational capacity to process the 19,000+ renewals in a timely manner, which may potentially lead to long wait times for PIV and RLA card holders. Therefore, through a combination of badge smoothing as well as several tools at its disposal, DPSAC will be positioned to mitigate the impact of negative operational impacts. Badge Smoothing entails ‘force renewing’ badges in advance of their natural expiration, allowing DPSAC to issue badges during periods of lesser volume. In this case, DPSAC is shifting large swaths of CY23 expiring badge holders to CY22.

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 February 7, 2022.  

Number of individuals submitted to NED to start the process (Initiated): 800
Number of individuals sponsored in NED (Sponsored): 306
Number of individuals issued a new badge (Issued): 215
Marijuana Still Considered a Controlled Substance Under Schedule I of the Controlled Substance Act
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.
Badge Processing Times
For the NOV/DEC/JAN time frame, the average processing time for issuing an ID badge is 23.8 calendar days.
Q: Do I need to enter a new PIN if I forget my old PIN, or can I re-use my old PIN?
A. There is no limit to the number of times one can use the same PIN. PINs never expire. You can reset your PIN using the same sequence of digits every time you do a reset. If you have trouble remembering your PIN, you may want to use it as your code for retrieving your voice mails. This way, every time you retrieve your voice mails you will be using your PIN and will be less likely to forget it when the time comes to use it to update your HHS ID Badge.
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. 


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
Keep up with the latest NIH updates!