Protecting your Privacy
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Protecting personnel privacy and maintaining applicant rights are of utmost importance to NIH. Background investigation records are subject to the Privacy Act of 1974. It is important to remember that the people investigating your background have themselves received clearance to review sensitive information. The OPM e-QIP application also is subject to Federal law governing records maintained on individuals. Upon leaving the federal government, your information is retained according to the “schedule of records retention” and then it is destroyed.
NIH will ensure that all applicant records are:
- Secured against unauthorized access
- Accessed by only those whose official duties require such access
- Stored in secure facilities
Protecting personal privacy of all individuals is a requirement of the new HHS ID badge (PIV card) system, which will be implemented in accordance with the spirit and letter of all privacy controls specified in Federal Information Processing Standard 201-1: Personal Identity Verification (PIV) of Federal Employees and Contractors (PDF, 91 Pages) as well as those specified in Federal privacy laws and policies, including but not limited to, the E-Government Act of 2002 (PDF, 72 Pages), the Privacy Act of 1974, and OMB Memorandum M-03-22: OMB Guidance for Implementing the Privacy Provisions of the E-Government Act of 2002, as applicable.
