The HSPD-12 Program Office offers NED courses to meet the needs of both novice and veteran NED users. Mastering NED will become increasingly important as NIH expands HHS ID Badge functionality to include logical access in addition to physical access as part of the continued implementation of HSPD-12 across the federal government.  

The Program Office sponsors these free courses to help you improve your NED skills and manage the anticipated increase in administrative responsibilities and tasks appearing in your NED inbox as a result of this transition.

NED (NIH Enterprise Directory) Basics for Beginners
This course provides basic NED training including how NED supports the HSPD-12 initiative and the badging process. This introductory class is designed to inform the administrative community how to be most efficient when using NED to serve customers.  

Topics covered include an overview of the system's layout, setting task preferences, registering/activating a new person, finding saved tasks, reviewing modify/update functions and deactivating a badge. This course is intended for people new or just beginning on the NED system.

NED & the PIV Process - Advanced NED Users
This course goes beyond the basic functions of the system. This course covers the PIV Process used to issue ID badges at NIH and addresses NED features such as managing AD accounts, renewing a badge, transfers, and 'zombie' tasks. This course is intended for experienced NED users. Attendees are encouraged to bring existing "problem" cases for a live Q&A session.  

What do fishing licenses, non-NIH hospital staff ID cards, bank cards with photos and contract-company IDs have in common? All of these credentials are UNACCEPTABLE as proof of identity for purposes of badge enrollment and badge issuance when obtaining a PIV Card (HHS ID Badge).

When an individual is sponsored for a new PIV Card (HHS ID Badge), s/he will receive an e-mail with instructions to schedule an Enrollment appointment with the Division of Personnel Security and Access Control (DPSAC).  

The e-mail will advise the individual to bring two forms of acceptable identification.  One must be a Federal or State-issued photo ID and both must be unexpired.  

A table of acceptable identification documents as provided on the Federal I-9 form can be found at: http://www.ors.od.nih.gov/ser/dpsac/Documents/Table.pdf . 

Please be aware that both forms of ID must show your Full Legal Name. Full Legal Name consists of Full First Name, Full Last Name; Middle Name or Initial is preferred but not required.  

IMPORTANT: The names on the two IDs MUST MATCH.    

A: No. Once you are completely logged in, your computer will NOT log you off if you take your PIV Card (HHS ID Badge) out of the smart card reader. In fact, once you have logged in, removing your PIV Card from your card reader and returning it to your card holder is good practice. That way, you avoid forgetting your credential at the end of the day.  

Q: What do I do when I need to leave my desk for a short period of time?

A: Remove your PIV Card (HHS ID Badge) from your smart card reader after you have finished logging in and replace it in your badge holder. If you need to leave your desk, lock your computer (e.g., hit the Windows key+L on a Windows computer) and take your HHS ID Badge with you. You should have it with you at all times. If your computer has not timed out, you can get back to your work using your Username and Password. If your computer has timed out, you'll need to log back on with your PIV Card and PIN.  

A fire safety awareness article prepared by the Division of the Fire Marshal, ORS, NIH

Each year at this time, questions arise concerning the use of space heaters at NIH owned facilities. The guidelines that follow below do not pertain to NIH leased facilities.  

Please be aware that if you work in a leased facility, there may be more stringent requirements from the building owner and/or local fire-safety "Authority Having Jurisdiction."  

Please check with your Office of Research Facilities (ORF) Facility Manager (http://orf2.od.nih.gov/AboutORF/BuildingsandFacilityManagers.asp ) before purchasing or using a space heater in any NIH leased facility.

Before a space heater can be considered for an NIH owned facility, any difficulties in regulating or maintaining a comfortable temperature must first be directed to ORF to have a building engineer attempt to make mechanical adjustments to the heating system.  

If it is determined by ORF that an area cannot be adequately heated, written approval will be provided by the ORF Facility Manager assigned to the building to support the purchase and use of a space heater in designated areas only.

Space heaters are not permitted, under any circumstances, in laboratories, patient care units, or clinics.

Prior to installing any space heater, ORF must also verify that the electrical service to the area is adequate to safely accommodate the heater. Space heaters can easily overload electrical circuits in a building, therefore, additional circuits may need to be installed. If electrical work is required, the occupant's IC should initiate a work request.  

If ORF has available funds and it is clear the building is not capable of providing reasonable levels of heat (70 degrees) in that particular room, ORF will fund the electrical work.

The Division of the Fire Marshal, Office of Research Services, does not endorse any particular brand or manufacturer of space heaters; however, a convection-type heater is preferable. Convection models slowly warm the air around them and pose less of a burn hazard since their surface temperatures are generally lower.  

Prior to purchasing the heater, be sure that the unit has been tested by an approved testing laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratory (UL) and is equipped with ALL of the following features to minimize fire hazards typically associated with these devices:

• A multi-directional tip-over switch - space heaters can easily tip over. This switch automatically turns off the unit regardless of which way it may fall.

• An overheat sensor - this sensor limits the heat output of the space heater and automatically turns off the unit if it becomes too hot.

• A visible on/off indicating switch and light.

Never leave the heater in operation when an area is unattended/unoccupied.

If you have questions concerning the selection and use of space heaters, please contact the Division of the Fire Marshal, Office of Research Services at 301-496-0487.