Important Notice to All NIH Employees, Contractors, and Affiliates Regarding Possible Badge Deactivation

Dear NIH Community,

To meet the requirements set forth in Executive Order 10450 and Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), the NIH must ensure that background investigations are completed for all employees, contractors and affiliates who require access to NIH facilities and/or information systems.

To date, these background investigations have been limited to individuals who occupy positions with elevated sensitivity levels, those whose badges have expired, and those who arrive at NIH as new hires. Eventually all employees, contractors and affiliates will undergo the required background investigation based on the sensitivity level of their position, regardless of their badge expiration date.

As part of the background investigation process, the Division of Personnel Security and Access Control (DPSAC), Office of Research Services, notifies individuals via e-mail outlining what forms they will need to complete and how much time they have to complete the forms. Key documents that each individual MUST complete are transmitted via the "Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing" or "e-QIP."

Beginning January 1, 2009, individuals who were requested to complete and submit forms for a required background investigation but failed to do so, will have their ID badges deactivated. These individuals will be required to enter campus daily as visitors via the Gateway Center. Access rights will not be restored until the required forms are completed and submitted to DPSAC.

Important: This notice only pertains to those employees who have been requested to complete a background investigation.

Please note: Individuals should not attempt to complete the background investigation forms until receiving an official e-mail notice from DPSAC.
Individuals will be allotted ample time to complete the required forms prior to their ID badge being deactivated. Every effort will be made to help individuals requiring assistance in completing the necessary forms.

If you have any questions or need assistance in completing the forms required for your background investigation, please contact DPSAC at 301-402-9755 or ORSPersonnelSecurity@mail.nih.gov.   

Alfred C. Johnson, Ph.D.
Chief Security Officer, NIH
Director, Office of Research Services