NIH Visitors and Security
The National Institutes of Health, like all Federal Government facilities, has instituted security measures to ensure the safety of our patients, employees, guests and facilities. The national threat advisory level, determined by the Department of Homeland Security (http://www.whitehouse.gov/homeland/), is Yellow (elevated). All visitors must enter through the NIH Gateway Center. You will be asked to submit to a vehicle or personal inspection. Visitors over 15 years of age must provide a form of government-issued ID such as a driver's license or passport. Visitors under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Please be aware: Federal law prohibits the following items on Federal property: firearms, explosives, archery equipment, dangerous weapons, knives with blades over 2 ½ inches, alcoholic beverages and open containers of alcohol. Visitors are encouraged to use public transportation such as the Metrorail subway system which has a convenient stop (Medical Center) on the NIH campus. Visit the "Metro" site for information on fares and schedules http://www.wmata.com/. A list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Perimeter Security System, including information about pedestrian entrances, is available at http://www.security.nih.gov/PSSFAQ.htm. Visitor Gateway CenterVisitors will be required to show one (1) form of identification (a government-issued photo ID—driver's license, passport, green card, etc.) and to state the purpose of their visit. Patients and patient visitors should continue to enter campus at the West Drive/Cedar Lane entrance during the hours of 7am - 7pm, Monday - Friday. PedestriansGateway Center (for Pedestrians) - Building 66: Open 24 hours VehiclesFor visitors arriving in vehicles, on motorcycles or bicycles, the Gateway Vehicle Inspection Station (Building 66A), provides multiple inspection lanes and allows visitors to go through inspection and get a visitor badge in one centralized, efficient process. Vehicles enter the Gateway Center complex through a new roadway, "NIH Gateway Drive," just south of the intersection of the previous visitor entrance at South Drive and Rockville Pike. Vehicles that choose to bypass parking in MLP-11 will go through inspection and enter campus at Center Drive near the National Library of Medicine. (See Gateway Map: http://parking.nih.gov/Gateway.htm)Gateway Center Vehicle Inspection (Building 66A):Monday - Friday, 5am - 10pm Saturday - Sunday, 6am - 6pm After 10pm on weekdays and 6pm on weekends, visitors in vehicles should enter via the Commercial Vehicle Inspection Facility (CVIF) — Building 67 (on Rockville Pike between North Drive and Wilson Drive) Taxies may enter campus via the Gateway Center Vehicle Inspection Center (or CVIF), and must use the CVIF when the Gateway Center Vehicle Inspection Center is closed. ParkingPlease note: visitor parking is limited at NIH. Visitors are encouraged to use public transportation such as the Metrorail subway system which has a convenient stop (Medical Center) on the NIH campus. Visit the "Metro" site for information on fares and schedules http://www.wmata.com/. The Gateway complex also includes MLP-11, a 342-space, multi-level underground parking garage. This 'visitor-only' lot will be the primary visitor parking for the NIH main campus. We strongly encourage all visitors to park in this garage as there will be limited visitor parking on campus, other than for patients and visitors to the Clinical Center. Vehicles parking in MLP-11 are outside of the perimeter security and will not go through vehicle inspection, reducing the amount of time it takes to get on campus. MLP-11 Hours of Operation: Saturday-Sunday: Closed * Visitors parking in MLP-11 should proceed to the Gateway Center to get a visitor badge and either walk or take a shuttle bus to their destination. Commercial Vehicle Inspection Facility (CVIF)Commercial vehicle deliveries must undergo security screening at the Commercial Vehicle Inspection Facility (CVIF). It is located on Rockville Pike—between North Drive and Wilson Drive, and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (inbound traffic only). Commercial food and catering delivery vehicles should enter via the CVIF. Food deliveries made in private vehicles without commercial signage may use either the CVIF or the Gateway Center. Vendors and contractors with frequent official business at NIH can be issued special temporary IDs. You must provide an original letter on company letter head or a memo from your NIH Project Officer justifying your need for a temporary ID. The letter/memo must contain your full name and date of birth and must be presented in person with a valid photo ID at the NIH Parking Office in Building 31C, B3 level, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (phone 301-496-6851). Meetings and Special EventsMission-related activities are allowed during normal business hours but require special permission for groups of 50 or more. Mission related activities during evenings and weekends for all groups require special permission. NIH conferences and special events are governed and approved by the policy "Conditions for Access to and Use of NIH Facilities for Group Functions, Activities, and Special Events." (PDF - 6.01 MB) Contact NIH Special Events for guidance at 301-496-9966. Special Information for Clinical Center PatientsFor information about planning your visit to the NIH Clinical Center, please visit the Clinical Center web site at http://www.cc.nih.gov/about/visitor.shtml. BicyclesInformation for bicyclists is available at http://www.security.nih.gov/bicycleFacts.htm. Traffic AdvisoriesTune your radios to 1660 AM for further NIH traffic, parking and security advisories. For questions, please contact the ORS Information Line at orsinfo@mail.nih.gov or 301-594-6677, TTY 301-435-1908. Visitor Parking and TransportationVisitors must park in designated visitor parking lots. Patients may park 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the Clinical Center garage, P-1 level. Vehicles will be inspected prior to parking in underground or multi-level garages. Campus Shuttle ScheduleThe NIH Campus Shuttle is free of charge and runs daily, both on and around campus and from campus to various off-campus NIH buildings. Shuttle schedule (for Blackberry)The URL for BlackBerry devices is http://shuttle.nih.gov. This application is suitable for BlackBerry models 6710 and 6510. It is not suitable for models 850, 950, and 957 due to memory limitation. This feature requires that the BlackBerry subscriber has Wireless Internet access. If you have questions, please contact grante@ors.od.nih.gov. We will be glad to test other devices that you have. Employee Campus AccessWeekdaysAll employees must present a Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) photo ID badge (for example, your NIH-issued ID badge) and valid parking tag.
Weekends
Building SecurityDue 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. Employees and visitors should continue to wear their identification prominently at all times while on campus. Guards will remain at certain buildings to address specific program requirements such as sensitive research and safety concerns. At building entrances where guards are posted:
After-hours building access will require the use of an employee ID at electronic access card readers at building entrances and certain internal areas. Similar, appropriate security adjustments will be made at off-campus facilities. Employees are encouraged to be vigilant and report anyone using unauthorized entrances or suspicious activity to the NIH Police at 301-496-5685. Emergency PreparednessInformation regarding emergency planning and preparedness at the NIH is available in the NIH Emergency Preparedness Handbook http://ser.ors.od.nih.gov/documents/HandbookFinal.pdf (PDF - 547 KB). This page was last reviewed on
January 21, 2009
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