General:
Why does the NIH have a fence?
In response to the federal mandates and regulations in the aftermath of the tragic
events of September 11, 2001, the NIH was required by the DHHS Office of the Inspector
General to enhance physical security protection for the Bethesda campus.
In response, the perimeter security at the NIH, to include the fence, gates, central
commercial vehicle inspection facility, and Gateway Visitor center were approved as
part of the NIH Security Program by the NIH Director in early 2003.
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Is the fence electrified?
No. The fence is a standard, metal picket fence and incorporates elements associated with
electronic security systems such as access control, closed-circuit surveillance cameras and
emergency call boxes.
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What do I do if my ID badge does not work at an entrance?
At vehicle entrances, guard and/or NIH Police personnel will be present to assist anyone
who has an issue with their NIH ID badge.
At pedestrian entrances, call boxes are available for use. Calls come into the NIH
Emergency Communications Center. Personnel will actively monitor the pedestrian
entrances 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Personnel will be immediately dispatched to
assist anyone experiencing a problem at one of these entrances.
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Will I be required to use my badge when I exit campus?
You will not be required to use your badge to exit in your vehicle.
However, pedestrians will be required to badge out of the campus, both at the pedestrian
portals and the pedestrian turnstiles located at the vehicle entrances.
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Will there be less security guards on campus after the perimeter security is operational?
Yes. For the most part, guards will move away from the building entrances to the perimeter.
The movement of guards from the building level to the campus perimeter achieves two goals — 1)
visitor screening and processing is no longer done at the building and 2) during the business
day, most buildings on campus will return to an open internal campus environment to the
greatest extent possible while maintaining the necessary safety and security for the NIH
people and assets.
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Will vehicle inspections still be conducted at the perimeter of campus? Underground parking garages?
Yes. Vehicle inspections will still be conducted at the perimeter of campus after the
implementation of the PSS. Visitor vehicles and any other vehicle without an NIH
parking hangar will go through security screening as they do today. Commercial deliveries
to the campus will continue to undergo security screening at the Old Georgetown Road and
Center Drive entrance until the central Commercial Vehicle Inspection (CVI) facility currently
under construction on Rockville Pike is completed and in operation. There will be no change
to the employee vehicle inspection process, with the guards checking to confirm the presence
of both a valid NIH ID and parking hanger.
All vehicles going into underground garages will still undergo security screening as they do
today.
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What is the process for facilitating large groups of people entering campus for conferences or special events?
For visitors to large events there is really little change in the process from what is
done today. The real change is the location of the screening and badging at the perimeter
versus the buildings.
For visitors entering in a vehicle after August 29, the individuals will get screened and
badged at the perimeter while their car is being inspected.
For pedestrians coming from the Metro after August 29, they will be screened and badged at the
Gateway Visitor Center instead of the building entrance.
At the Gateway Center, the NIH will have the ability and capacity to add extra screeners
for large events.
The NIH Police will also continue to customize screening for large events by going offsite to
hotels and pre-screening the shuttle bus and the passengers to expedite the process.
Conferences, large groups of visitors, and special events are being coordinated through the
NIH Division of Police Special Events Coordinator and NIH Events Management.
For more information, contact the NIH Division of Police Special Events Coordinator,
Lt. Udon Cheek at 301-496-2387.
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How will traffic control on and off the campus be managed, particularly during peak hours?
Pedestrian and vehicle traffic safety issues are a top priority for the NIH. The NIH
Police provide traffic control if the need presents itself. The NIH has worked to identify
key issues related to traffic on the campus and continue to develop strategies to best
manage situations that may arise.
All pedestrians are reminded to use sidewalks and designated pedestrian crosswalks
when crossing roadways on the campus. Vehicle drivers are reminded to observe the posted
speed limit signs and to be cautious at all times. Further, drivers are reminded to stay in
their respective lane of traffic, especially at the vehicle entrance and exits to the campus and
to obey posted signage.
The NIH maintains an ongoing collaboration with Montgomery County Police and Maryland State
Highway transportation authorities to address traffic flow issues surrounding the NIH campus.
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Will other U.S. Federal agency IDs work at the card readers?
No. The Perimeter Security System card readers do not electronically recognize other U.S.
Federal Department or Agency ID badges at this time. Only NIH-issued ID badges have the
capability to be electronically verified.
All DHHS agencies (i.e. CDC, FDA, IHS, CMS, etc.) badges will be recognized as an acceptable
form of employee identification at visitor centers.
For a DHHS employee entering campus as a pedestrian, he/she will not be able to enter the
campus through a pedestrian turnstile or portal as the card reader will not recognize their ID.
However, the DHHS employee can enter through one of the visitor centers and they will not be
screened and not required to obtain a visitor pass.
For a DHHS employee in an NIH employee vehicle, they will not have to through the screening
process, only their ID will be checked.
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Will neighbors in the community around the NIH get a special ID badge to walk across the campus?
The NIH prides itself on creating a safe and secure environment for its employees,
contractors, visitors, patients and patient visitors that fosters accessibility to promote
the biomedical research mission of the NIH. Further, the NIH strives to be a “good neighbor” to
the residents living around the NIH campus. Residents in the bordering communities to the
NIH campus may access the campus as a visitor through one of two visitor centers—one on
the west side of campus at Old Georgetown Road and South Drive and the other at the Metro
entrance (Rockville Pike and South Drive). The West Visitor Center will be open M-F,
5:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. except federal holidays and the Gateway Center at Metro is available
24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
In addition, the NIH offers a shuttle bus that runs outside the campus perimeter. This
‘Campus Perimeter’ shuttle is open to anyone, including neighbors and runs during normal
business hours around the exterior roadways of the campus including a stop at the Medical
Center Metro station. The Campus Perimeter route can be found at:
http://dtts.ors.od.nih.gov/NIHShuttle/scripts/new_shuttle_frameset_live.asp?route='Route_5'.
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Building Level Security:
Do I still have to show my ID badge when I enter a building?
No. However, it is still important that employees and visitors continue to wear their identification prominently at all times while on campus. Due to the checking of IDs at the perimeter, employees and visitors will not be required to show their ID again to gain access to the majority of buildings on the NIH Bethesda campus during the normal business day. For those buildings where a guard is present, employees and visitors will display their badge to gain access as they do today. After-hours building access will require the use of an employee ID at electronic access card readers at building entrances and certain internal areas.
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Will guards still be at the buildings?
For the most part, guards will be moved away from the entrances to the buildings on campus. The movement of guards from the buildings to the campus perimeter achieves two goals—1) visitor screening and processing is no longer done at the building level and 2) during the business day, buildings on campus will to return to an open internal campus environment to the greatest extent possible while maintaining the necessary safety and security for the NIH people and assets.
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Why do I still need to show my ID at certain buildings?
Guards will remain at certain buildings to address specific program requirements such as sensitive research and safety concerns. Additionally, there are some buildings on campus where customers/building tenants have decided to retain guard services in the building at their own cost.
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Will I have access to all entrances at my building?
If you currently have access to a building entrance during normal business hours, you should continue to have access.
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Pedestrian Entrances:
Will guards be at the pedestrian entrances?
Guards will not be stationed at the pedestrian entrances except for the Metro entrance and the new West Visitor Center. However, each pedestrian entrance is equipped with call boxes that employees can use to call the NIH Emergency Communications Center (ECC) in case of need. These entrances are monitored 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by ECC personnel. Finally, NIH Police officers will maintain their patrol activities around campus and are available to be dispatched immediately to assist as necessary.
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How can I get help if I have a problem using a pedestrian entrance/exit or portal?
At pedestrian entrances around the campus, call boxes are available for use in the event that you have a problem with accessibility through the entrances. Calls come into the NIH Emergency Communications Center and monitoring personnel will be actively monitoring the pedestrian entrances 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. NIH Police personnel will be dispatched immediately to assist anyone experiencing a problem at one of these entrances.
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Will my bicycle fit through a pedestrian entrance? Wheelchairs? Umbrellas?
Yes. The pedestrian entrances are all designed to be accessible for employees with bicycles, wheelchairs and typical umbrellas.
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What are the hours of operation for pedestrian entrances?
Pedestrian portals – those pedestrian entrances not associated with a vehicular entrance -- will be accessible to holders of valid NIH ID badges 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The pedestrian turnstiles associated with vehicle gates will be open during vehicle gate hours of operation.
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Can pedestrians enter at vehicular entrances?
Yes. Pedestrians can utilize the pedestrian entrances at vehicle gates during vehicle gate hours of operation.
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I ride a moped/scooter to work? Can I use a pedestrian entrance?
Yes. If it will fit through the pedestrian gate or turnstile, it will be permitted. However, motorcycles are still required to go through the vehicular entrances.
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Bicycles:
I ride my bicycle to work. Where do I enter the campus?
To ensure the safety of bicyclists entering campus, bicyclists are strongly encouraged to enter campus through a pedestrian portal or pedestrian turnstile adjacent to a vehicle entrance.
However, bicyclists may enter campus via any employee vehicle entrance as long as the employee has a valid NIH ID badge. All bicyclists must queue in line along with the motorized vehicles and cannot bypass any line of motorized vehicles. Employees should have their ID badge ready and must stop for badge verification before proceeding on to campus.
As with motorized vehicles, there may be some situations where traffic patterns need to be adjusted and bicyclists may be asked to enter at a different entrance.
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I ride my bicycle to work. Where do I exit the campus?
To ensure the safety of bicyclists entering campus, bicyclists are strongly encouraged to exit campus through a pedestrian portal or pedestrian turnstile adjacent to a vehicle entrance.
However, bicyclists may exit campus through any employee vehicle entrance. When leaving campus through a vehicle exit, bicyclists must stay within the traffic flow and not bypass motorized vehicles.
As with motorized vehicles, there may be some situations where traffic patterns may need to be adjusted and bicyclists may be asked to exit at a different location.
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Vehicle Entrances:
Will the hours of operation for vehicular entrances change?
No. The vehicle gate hours of operation will remain largely unchanged from the current schedule. Current vehicle hours of operation can be found at: http://dtts.ors.od.nih.gov/employee_access_map.htm
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Will guards be at vehicle entrances?
Yes. Guards will staff vehicle entrances during vehicle gate hours of operation as they do currently. Additionally, NIH Police officers will maintain an active presence at vehicle gate entrances in order to assist as necessary.
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I am an employee/contractor with a parking hanger working at the Bethesda campus. Will my vehicle be inspected when I enter campus?
No. As they do today, guards will confirm your valid NIH ID and parking hanger when you enter campus. However, at elevated alert levels, employee vehicles may be subject to increased levels of inspection.
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I am an employee/contractor working at an off-campus facility. Will my vehicle be inspected when I enter campus?
If you have a valid NIH ID badge and your vehicle has an NIH parking hangar (off campus, satellite, etc.) your vehicle will not be inspected in order to enter campus. However, all NIH employees and contractors will need both a valid NIH ID and a parking hangar to avoid inspection.
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Will all the occupants of a vehicle need to have an NIH ID badge?
All employees/contractors of a vehicle entering campus will need to display an NIH/DHHS ID badge. Those occupants without an NIH/DHHS ID badge will need a valid visitor’s pass or they will be required to go to a visitor center to be issued a visitor’s pass prior to entering campus.
Employees with visitors in their vehicle can also apply in advance for an ‘Advance Accompanied Visitor’s Pass’ (AAVP). NIH employees will be able to access a web-based tool from a NIH computer or VPN account in order to request a visitor’s pass to the NIH campus in advance. This application for the AAVP must take place a minimum of 24 hour prior to the visitor arrival. For more details on how to request an AAVP for a visitor, go to www.security.nih.gov.
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Visitors:
Where will visitors enter the campus?
Visitors may access the campus through one of two visitor centers—the NIH Gateway Center at the Metro entrance (Rockville Pike and South Drive) or the West Visitor Center at Old Georgetown Road and South Drive. The Gateway Center is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The West Visitor Center will be open M-F, 5:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. except for federal holidays and is available for pedestrians only.
Visitor vehicles will undergo security screening at the Metro entrance as they do currently.
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What are acceptable forms of identification for visitors?
Valid government-issued photo identification will be accepted in order to receive a visitor’s pass. Examples of acceptable identification include: driver’s license, passport, military ID, other government agency IDs, green cards.
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What are the hours of operation for the visitor centers?
The West Visitor Center will be open M-F, 5:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. except federal holidays and the Gateway Center at Metro is open 24 hours a day.
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I have a visitor in my vehicle—where do I take him/her?
Any visitor without a valid NIH/DHHS issued ID will need to obtain a visitor pass at the NIH Gateway Center prior to entering campus. Visitors accompanying an NIH employee in a vehicle with a NIH parking hanger can obtain their visitor pass by having the employee drive through the visitor vehicle inspection lanes at the NIH Gateway Center at Metro, or leave the vehicle and visit one of the visitor centers to get a visitor pass, or applying in advance for an ‘Advance Accompanied Visitor’s Pass’ (AAVP).
To obtain an AAVP, NIH employees will be able to access a web-based tool from a NIH computer or VPN account in order to request a visitor’s pass to the NIH campus in advance. This application for the AAVP must take place a minimum of 24 hours prior to the visitor arrival. For more details on how to request an AAVP for a visitor, go to www.security.nih.gov.
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Will children need an ID to enter campus unescorted? Is there an age restriction for children not accompanied by an adult?
- If under 16, the individual must be accompanied by an adult while on the NIH main campus.
- If over 16 and not a credentialed NIH/DHHS employee/contractor, the individual will be required to be processed as a visitor at the perimeter (including if they are in a vehicle with the parent.)
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Are any provisions being made for parents that are not NIH employees dropping off or picking up children at the child care centers?
Yes. For those individuals who are not NIH employees but need access to campus in order to drop-off and pick-up a child at the child care centers, the NIH is offering a special type of badge and vehicle permit. The designation for those individuals, whether they are parents, partners, caretakers, carpoolers, etc., will be ‘Transportation Visitor.’ This designation will allow access to pedestrian and vehicle gates at most times. In the case of heightened security levels, all employees and visitors may be required to meet additional conditions.
We encourage application for the Transportation Visitor badge and permit for persons who regularly pick up or drop off a child or walk to and from METRO via the campus.
For other family members or friends who only occasionally access the campus, screening at the NIH Visitors entrance at South Drive will be required, just as it is now.
In order to receive the new Transportation Visitor badge, you will be required to complete a form which provides authorization to the NIH to conduct a background check strictly for the purpose of the issuance of an NIH access badge. The form is available at the day care centers.
If you have children in both child care programs only one badge and vehicle hanger is required. When your child is no longer enrolled in the NIH Child Care Programs, your Transportation Visitor identification badge will be automatically de-activated.
All vehicles will still be required to display the “Special Child Care Drop-Off and Pick-Up Permit” when parked in front of the center. These permits will continue to be issued annually at the child care centers by the Division of Employee Services.
If you have any questions about this service please contact Joy Postell or Mary Ellen Savarese at 301-402-8180.
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Are any provisions being made for spouse and partners who drop off and pick up employees?
Yes. For the spouse or partner who regularly drops off or accompanies an NIH employee, a request can be made to obtain an Extended Visitor ID Badge. This badge allows access to the NIH campus for a period of up to one year. The badge is eligible for renewal.
To request an extended visitor ID, please contact: Kennice Mason at extendedvisitor@mail.nih.gov or 301-496-0421 in the Division of Police. The spouse/partner will be required to submit the following information for a short background check: 1) Full name of non-NIH employee, 2) Social security number of non-NIH employee and 3) Birth date of person.
The vehicle entering campus will still need a valid NIH parking hangar. Approval of all Extended Visitor IDs is determined on a ‘case by case’ basis. Those spouse/partners who only visit campus on a sporadic basis are asked to go through the normal visitor inspection procedures to enter campus.
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Where do patients / patient visitors enter the campus?
Patients and patient visitors are welcome to enter campus at the NIH Patient Entrance located at West and Cedar Drives during its hours of operation, 7am – 3pm, Monday - Friday. Clinical Center hospitality staff are present to assist patients and their visitors. Additionally, patients and patient visitors can access the NIH campus at the NIH Gateway Center at Metro 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
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Will there be a process to obtain a visitor’s pass in advance of visiting the campus?
Only if the visitor is accompanied by the NIH employee sponsoring the visitor. NIH employees will be able to access a web-based tool from a NIH computer or VPN account in order to request a visitor’s pass to the NIH campus in advance. This 'Advance Accompanied Visitor's Pass' (AAVP) application must take place a minimum of 24 hours prior to the visitor arrival. Details on how to request an AAVP for a visitor will be available shortly at www.security.nih.gov.
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Will there still be visitor vehicle parking inside the campus?
Yes. Limited visitor vehicle parking will remain available inside the NIH campus. However, visitors will be encouraged to utilize the visitor parking garage structure at the NIH Gateway Center at Metro after its completion in 2007.
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Carpool/Vanpools:
I have riders in a carpool/vanpool who are not NIH/DHHS employees. What do they do?
Individuals wishing to enter the NIH campus without a NIH/DHHS ID will need to obtain a visitor ID badge at one of the two visitor centers. In addition, they can apply for an Extended Visitor ID badge.
An Extended Visitor ID badge allows access to the NIH campus for a period of up to one year. The badge is eligible for renewal.
To request an extended visitor ID, please contact: Kennice Mason at extendedvisitor@mail.nih.gov or 301-496-0421 in the Division of Police. The spouse/partner will be required to submit the following information for a short background check: 1) Full name of non-NIH employee, 2) Social security number of non-NIH employee and 3) Birth date of person.
The vehicle entering campus will still need a valid NIH parking hangar. Approval of all Extended Visitor IDs is determined on a ‘case by case’ basis.
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Shuttles:
Where do I pick up the Campus Shuttle or Campus Limited once the perimeter fence is in operation?
The shuttle routes will remain largely unchanged. The only change is the Campus Shuttle and the Campus Limited Shuttle metro stop will occur on the inside of the perimeter fence at the new internal shuttle loop next to the temporary Gateway Visitor Center.
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Will I be required to have an NIH/DHHS ID badge to enter the campus in an off-campus shuttle?
Yes. Shuttles will be stopped at the NIH perimeter and all passengers will need to display a valid NIH/DHHS ID badge prior to the shuttle entering the NIH campus. Those without an NIH/DHHS ID will need to disembark and proceed to the NIH Gateway Center at Metro to obtain a visitor pass. Once inside the fence, internal shuttles will be present at the NIH Gateway Center at Metro to transport people to the buildings on campus.
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Deliveries:
I am expecting a delivery. Where should I direct them to enter/exit campus?
Commercial vehicle deliveries must undergo security screening at the perimeter of the campus. These vehicles should enter through the Commercial Vehicle Inspection Facility (CVIF – Building 67) off of Rockville Pike, between North Drive and Wilson Drive. The CVIF is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For more information, please see our Visitor Map at: http://parking.nih.gov/visitor_access_map.htm
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Off-Campus:
Will security change at off campus buildings?
No. The NIH will maintain the same security services that are in place today. The NIH will continue to assess security needs of all NIH facilities in order to provide the best level of service possible to NIH employees.
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