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June 10, 2015 issue of the DPSAC NEWS
In This Issue
Summer Students are NOT Extended Visitors
On Becoming an e-QIP Genius
DPSAC Expands Badging Services for Incoming Summer Students
NED Training Schedule: June - September, 2015
New Briefs - Cybersecurity Incident Information
NIH Badging Policy for Individuals with No Social Security Number
Helpful Tips
OPM Reference Guide Offers e-QIP Helpful Tips
HHS ID Badge Scorecard

   

 

Contact Us

 

Division of Personnel Security and Access Control (DPSAC),  

Office of Research Services  

 

Personnel Security 

Helpdesk: 301-402-9755

e-QIP: 301-402-9735

Appointment Line: 301-496-0051

E-mail: orspersonnelsecurity@ 

mail.nih.gov

 

Access Control

Helpdesk: 301-451-4766

E-mail: facilityaccesscontrol@ 

mail.nih.gov

 

       

        HHS logo small Logo Mark NIH Logo Mark    

Summer Students are NOT Extended Visitors


DPSAC recently learned that some individuals accepted into the NIH Summer Student program are being advised by their AOs to fill out Extended Visitor forms. This is not advisable. Summer students are required to have a Restricted Local Access (RLA) badge which is issued by DPSAC, not the NIH Police.

 

Unfortunately these students are showing up at the NIH Police or DPSAC carrying an incomplete Extended Visitor forms and expecting to be issued their ID badges. Regrettably DPSAC (or the Police) have to turn them away because they have not been entered into NED. Some of these individuals learn that they can't get a badge only after they have spent considerable time waiting in line to get enrolled.

 

Before a summer student can be issued a badge -- all summer students are issued an RLA badge -- their AO needs to enter them into NED. Once they are entered into NED, they will receive notification from DPSAC to come in to be identity proofed, fingerprinted and photographed. Soon after this process is completed, the individual will again be notified advising them to come to DPSAC to pick up their RLA badge.

 

DPSAC strives to provide outstanding service to each of its customers, including making the badging experience as efficient and convenient as possible. But surprises sometimes do occur that will delay the badge issuance process. DPSAC wants to remind the administrative community that they can help their arriving students (and DPSAC) expedite the badging process and avoid such unwanted surprises by entering the students into NED. They can do this even before the student arrives at NIH. 

 

In anticipation of the influx of new arrivals (nearly 1300 students are expected to arrive over a two to three week period in June) and the added demands on DPSAC's enrollment and badging staffs, DPSAC has temporarily expanded its enrollment and badging staffs (see "DPSAC Expands Badging Services for Incoming Summer Students" below).   

 

On Becoming an e-QIP Genius

Completing the Forms for Your Background Check: The 'e-QIP' Questionnaire
As part of the Personal Identify Verification (PIV) process to determine an individual's suitability for federal employment, each applicant must complete a questionnaire through the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) secure online system: Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (e-QIP).

e-QIP is a secure web-based system designed to facilitate the processing of standard investigative forms used when conducting background investigations.  It allows NIH applicants and staff to electronically enter, update, and transmit his or her personal investigative data over a secure internet connection and submit it to DPSAC.

DPSAC will then review the individual's submission for completeness and accuracy prior to being electronically transmitted to OPM. Please be advised, for new employees and contractors DPSAC cannot issue an ID badge until the individual's e-QIP documents are sent to OPM.

There are three different background questionnaires, but the applicant will complete only the one that is appropriate for his or her position.  DPSAC
will advise the applicant which questionnaire to complete.

The steps to achieving 'e-QIP genius' status

After your AO requests an ID badge in NED, you will be sent an e-mail notification with the subject line: **IMPORTANT** RE: Background Investigation Forms. This e-mail provides a link that allows you to log onto the secure online system to complete e-QIP. You will be given seven business days to complete your e-QIP questionnaire.

Instructions on how to complete e-QIP as well as a number of helpful frequently asked questions and answers are provided in OPM's "A Quick Reference Guide for e-QIP Applicants" which is posted at: http://www.opm.gov/investigations/e-qip-application/#url=Quick-Reference-Guide).

You do not have to complete your application in one session. You can save your work and finish later.

In addition to your login and password, you will be asked to create three security questions (these are referred to as 'Golden Questions') in case you forget your password.

To reset your Golden Questions, contact DPSAC at: orspersonnelsecurity@mail.nih.gov; 301-402-9755; or in person at Building 31, Room 1B03 (on the main NIH campus). Those working in Hamilton (MT), Research Triangle Park (NC) or other remote NIH locations should contact their local security office for assistance.

Helpful tip: It is recommended that you collect the required information in advance of logging on to e-QIP to avoid interruptions and to save time. You will need employment, education and residence history as well as personal references.

IMPORTANT: Make sure that once you have completed the questionnaire you click the "Release Request/Transmit to Agency" button.  If you do not complete and release the e-QIP questionnaire and any accompanying documents, you will not be issued an HHS ID Badge (PIV Card). DPSAC is able to issue you a badge only after you have released these materials and DPSAC has reviewed and submitted your e-QIP documentation to OPM.  

The DPSAC News article 'OPM Reference Guide Offers e-QIP Helpful Tips' (see below) covers many frequently asked questions about the e-QIP process.

 

DPSAC Expands Badging Services for Incoming Summer Students  

 

New Badging Policy Requires All Summer Students Be Issued RLA Badges  

 

With the arrival of the 2015 class of summer students here at the NIH campus, DPSAC has temporarily expanded its enrollment and issuance stations in Building 10 and Building 31.

This expanded service is necessary not only to accommodate the new arrivals, but also to meet the demands of issuing RLA badges to this population for the first time. RLA badges, unlike legacy badges, provide both physical and logical access.

To receive an RLA badge, summer students will need both enrollment (20 minutes) and issuance (15 minutes) appointments. In the past, students were issued legacy badges, which only required one appointment and took about 5 minutes.

NED Training Schedule: July - September, 2015

   
Whether you are new to NED or an advanced NED user who needs to hone your NED skills, the HSPD-12 Program Office has a training program for you. These classes are designed to help beginners and advanced users quickly master NED in a hands-on computer lab environment. All classes are FREE!    

   

       

How to Enroll

The NED courses are posted on the CIT Training site where visitors can view availability for any class and receive a confirmation immediately after registering. The catalog of NED classes is posted at: http://training.cit.nih.gov/coursecatalog.aspx under "General Seminars." 

 

When you see a course you want to take, just click on the course name (listed in the right column of the table). You will be taken to the HHS Learning Management System (LMS) where you can register for the course online.

 

To log on to the HHS Learning Management System, you can use either your PIV card and PIN or your NIH credentials. If you experience any difficulties accessing the LMS, please contact the CIT Training Program at 301-594-6248 or send an e-mail to: cittraining@mail.nih.gov.   

         

News Briefs - Cybersecurity Incident Information

HHS Employee Data Potentially Compromised

The following e-mail from the Office of Personnel Management, dated June 4, 2015, has been distributed via HHS News to the HHS listserv.

Dear Colleagues,

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) recently became aware of a cybersecurity incident affecting its systems and data that may have exposed the personal information of current and former Federal employees. I have been informed by OPM that U.S. Department of Health and Human Services employee data has potentially been compromised in this incident and I wanted to share more information with you right away.

Since the incident was identified, OPM has partnered with the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine the impact to federal personnel. As a result of this investigation, OPM is notifying approximately 4 million individuals whose Personally Identifiable Information may have been compromised. The notifications will be sent beginning June 8 and continuing through June 19 by e-mail and U.S. mail.

In order to mitigate the risk of fraud and identity theft, OPM will offer affected individuals credit monitoring services and identity theft insurance through CSID, a company that specializes in identity theft protection and fraud resolution. This comprehensive, 18-month membership includes credit report access, credit monitoring, identity theft insurance and recovery services and is available immediately at no cost to affected individuals identified by OPM.

Employees whose information was affected will receive a notification directly from CSID. If you have any questions about the impact of this incident to your data or if you receive a notice and have questions about the services being offered, contact CSID directly beginning at 8 a.m. CST on June 8, 2015. The company's website is www.csid.com/opm, and its toll free number is 844-222-2743 (International callers: Call collect 512-327-0700).

Following this incident, OPM took immediate action to implement additional security measures in order to protect the sensitive personnel data it manages. I would like to take the opportunity to remind you of the seriousness of cyber threats and of the importance of vigilance in protecting our systems and data.

Mary K. Wakefield
Acting Deputy Secretary

Steps for Monitoring Your Identity and Financial Information
  • Monitor financial account statements and immediately report any suspicious or unusual activity to financial institutions. 
  • Request a free credit report at www.AnnualCreditReport.com or by calling 1-877-322-8228. Consumers are entitled by law to one free credit report per year from each of the three major credit bureaus - Equifax®, Experian®, and TransUnion® - for a total of three reports every year. Contact information for the credit bureaus can be found on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) website, www.ftc.gov.
  • Review resources provided on the FTC identity theft website, www.Identitytheft.gov. The FTC maintains a variety of consumer publications providing comprehensive information on computer intrusions and identity theft.
  • You may place a fraud alert on your credit file to let creditors know to contact you before opening a new account in your name. Simply call TransUnion® at 1-800-680-7289 to place this alert. TransUnion® will then notify the other two credit bureaus on your behalf.
Precautions to Help You Avoid Becoming a Victim
  • Be suspicious of unsolicited phone calls, visits, or e-mail messages from individuals asking about you, your employees, your colleagues or any other internal information. If an unknown individual claims to be from a legitimate organization, try to verify his or her identity directly with the company.
  • Do not provide personal information or information about your organization, including its structure or networks, unless you are certain of a person's authority to have the information.
  • Do not reveal personal or financial information in e-mail, and do not respond to e-mail solicitations for this information. This includes following links sent in e-mail.
  • Do not send sensitive information over the Internet before checking a website's security (for more information, see Protecting Your Privacy, http://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/tips/ST04-013). 
  • Pay attention to the URL of a website. Malicious websites may look identical to a legitimate site, but the URL may use a variation in spelling or a different domain (e.g., .com vs. .net). 
  • If you are unsure whether an e-mail request is legitimate, try to verify it by contacting the company directly. Do not use contact information provided on a website connected to the request; instead, check previous statements for contact information. Information about known phishing attacks is also available online from groups such as the Anti-Phishing Working Group (http://www.antiphishing.org).
  • Install and maintain anti-virus software, firewalls, and e-mail filters to reduce some of this traffic (for more information, see Understanding Firewalls, http://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/tips/ST04-004; Understanding Anti-Virus Software, http://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/tips/ST04-005; and Reducing Spam, http://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/tips/ST04-007).
  • Take advantage of any anti-phishing features offered by your e-mail client and web browser.
  • Employees should take steps to monitor their personally identifiable information and report any suspected instances of identity theft to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov. 
  • Additional information about preventative steps by consulting the Federal Trade Commission's website, www.consumer.gov/idtheft. The FTC also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with the commission using the contact information below.
Identity Theft Clearinghouse
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20580
www.consumer.gov/idtheft
1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338)
TDD: 1-202-326-2502

Update: On June 5, NIH distributed a set of FAQs regarding the data breach including steps everyone can take to protect themselves. Click here to read these FAQs.

Clarifying the NIH Badging Policy for Individuals with No Social Security Number

Currently, individuals who will be working at NIH less than six months (180 days) who do not have a Social Security Number (by definition, only foreign nationals would fall into this category) will receive a Restricted Local Access (RLA) or legacy badge depending upon their designation in NED.

Issuance of the RLA badge in these cases is based on a Special Agreement Check (SAC) which is a limited investigation (or series of checks) done only through special agreement between OPM and an agency. The Social Security Number (SSN) is not required to conduct a SAC check, so DPSAC can process the badge request.

Foreign nationals without an SSN are advised to apply for one before or when they come on board at NIH.

Individuals who will be working at NIH longer than six months without an SSN will not be processed for an RLA badge unless they get an SSN.  The reason is that DPSAC needs the SSN for e-QIP.

For foreign nationals who will be working at NIH longer than six months, but have been in the US for less than three years, DPSAC will conduct a National Agency Check (NAC) as a minimum investigative requirement. Once the person hits the three-year mark, he or she will undergo a background investigation (e.g., NACI, MBI, etc.) based on their position sensitivity level.
 
Helpful Tips

Understanding the HHS ID badging process or other badge-related issues is a click away? -- you can get many of your questions answered by searching the DPSAC website: www.ors.od.nih.gov/ser/dpsac/Pages/Home.aspx (a.k.a., www.idbadge.nih.gov).

This site provides comprehensive information about Getting a Badge, Background Checks, HSPD-12, Resources and Forms, and Training. The main page also features updates and helpful tools, including videos on 'Using your PIV Card to Enter the NIH Campus' and 'Getting an HHS ID Badge.'
   
AOs who wish to obtain sponsor authority -- must complete the sponsor training (available at: http://www.ors.od.nih.gov/ser/dpsac/Training/Pages/administrators.aspx) and e-mail a copy of your signed certificate to the NIH HSPD-12 Program Office at hspd12@od.nih.gov. Upon receipt of the certificate, the Program Office will authorize the AO as a sponsor. 
 
OPM Reference Guide Offers e-QIP Helpful Tips

The OPM Quick Reference Guide is designed to assist applicants who are completing the Questionnaires for National Security, Public Trust and Non-sensitive positions using the Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (e-QIP) system. 

The Guide contains step-by-step guidance as well as a number of FAQs to ensure that e-QIP is completed properly. In addition to the selection of common questions listed here, readers can visit the OPM website at http://www.opm.gov/investigations/e-qip-application/#url=Quick-Reference -Guide where the entire Quick Reference Guide is posted.   

whyWhy am I being required to have a background investigation? The scope and type of background investigation varies depending on the duties and access requirements for the position, as does the amount of time it takes to be completed. The employing or sponsoring agency is responsible for determining the appropriate level of investigation to be conducted based on current rules and procedures.

isIs completing the form mandatory in order to get a position in the Federal Government? Providing the information requested on the form is voluntary. However, if you do not provide the information requested, you will not meet the requirements of the job and therefore will not be considered further. If you are already employed by the Federal Government, your appointment will be terminated.

Be completely honest and forthright when answering all questions on the form. If necessary, provide clarification or explanation for how you answered a particular question in the Optional Comment section provided in e-QIP.

howHow much time do I have to complete the form? Be as timely as possible in completing your investigation request. You should earnestly try to meet the deadline your agency has established for you to complete this form.

whatWhat happens to all the personal information I enter into e-QIP? Is it safe? Security is of major concern whenever you're dealing with personal information. This concern has been addressed by specific Federal guidelines implemented to safeguard Personally Identifiable Information (PII). PII is defined as information that can be used to discern or trace a person's identity; and alone, or combined with other information, can be used to compromise the integrity of records relating to a person by permitting unauthorized access to or unauthorized disclosure of these records.

Several security measures have been built into e-QIP to help minimize unauthorized access to your information:
  • e-QIP uses layered security to stop hackers and limit access to personal data. Transport Layer Security (TLS) and its predecessor, Secure Socket Layer (SSL), are cryptographic protocols that provide security for communications over networks such as the Internet. TLS and SSL encrypt the segments of network connections at the application layer to ensure secure end-to-end transit at the transport layer.
  • All internet-based data transmissions are encrypted using 128-bit encryption provided through common browser SSL technology.
  • e-QIP requires that TLS 1.0 be enabled in the user's browser. Without this setting, users get a "Page Cannot be Displayed" error.
  • To log into e-QIP, each user must answer a series of unique questions, referred to as Golden Questions.
  • Only persons with active investigation requests can log into e-QIP.
  • e-QIP has been tested through the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Certification and Accreditation process and is compliant with all requirements.
  • It is OPM policy to ensure that all information technology (IT) systems that collect, maintain, or disseminate information in an identifiable form have Federally mandated controls in place to protect and prevent the breach of PII.  Learn more about OPM's privacy policies.
needWhat do I need in order to complete the form? To complete your e-QIP investigation request form you will need access to a computer with an internet connection and a web browser. You should also gather the following information:

Proof of citizenship, if applicable, such as: passport, Citizenship Certificate, Naturalization Certificate, or Alien Registration Number.  You may be able to obtain assistance with lost or unknown information at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website. 

Employment history
     - Current and previous work location addresses
     - Supervisor names, addresses, and contact information
     - Personal residence(s)
     - Name, address, and phone number of a person who knew you at
        each address.

Note: All contact information must include a physical address. PO Boxes are unacceptable. APO/FPO is allowed. For assistance in locating address information refer to Google Maps.

    - Three personal references
    - Relatives' citizenship information, aliases, employer, and foreign
      activities
    - Selective Service ID number, if applicable. If you need your
      Service Number call 1-847-688-6888 or visit the Selective Service
      System website.

configureConfiguring Your Browser -- e-QIP is designed to be accessible from any computer, anywhere in the world. You can use your personal computer at home or at the office.  e-QIP is compatible with most well-known browsers including Microsoft's Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari. The procedures outlined in the Guide will help you configure your browser to work with e-QIP.
 
eqipLog into e-QIP -- Once you have accessed the e-QIP login screen, follow the steps below to log into e-QIP:
  •  Type your Social Security Number (SSN) into the Social Security
     Number field
  •  Press the [Tab] key to move to the next SSN field
  •  Click 'Submit'
answerAnswer the Golden Questions -- If you entered your SSN correctly, you will next see a screen that asks you to answer three "Golden Questions" 

If this is your first time logging into e-QIP, the "default" Golden Questions display.  These ask for your last name, city of birth, and four digit year of birth.  Once you answer these correctly, the system will prompt you to create three new Golden Questions and Answers. If you have logged into e-QIP at some other time, your previously created personal Golden Questions will display.

Note: If questions other than the "defaults" (listed above) are displayed, you have either entered your SSN incorrectly, not yet been initiated in e-QIP, or exceeded the time frame for logging in after your request was initiated.  Please try again.  If you continue to experience an issue, you must contact DPSAC for assistance.

To answer the Golden Questions -- Type the answer to each question in the 'Answer' field. To see the responses as you type, click the checkbox above the questions labeled 'Allow me to see my Golden Answers as I type them.'
  • Click 'Submit'
Create a New Set of Golden Questions (First Login Only) -- The first time you log into e-QIP, the three default Golden Questions display. Once you answer these correctly, the system will prompt you to create a set of three new Golden Questions and Answers.

Golden Questions are one of several security measures that have been built into e-QIP to help minimize unauthorized access to your information.  Golden Questions enable e-QIP to verify your identity.  Create a combination of Golden Questions for which only you will know the correct answers.  It is best to use a one word answer to minimize login error.

To create a new set of Golden Questions -- Select a set of questions that only you know the answers to.  Keep in mind these guidelines:
  •  Do not repeat any of the defaults
  •  Questions can be phrases
  •  Answers must have at least three characters
  •  Capitalization does not matter
    • Spelling and punctuation must match exactly
  •  Each answer must be unique
  •  You cannot leave a question or answer area blank
Remember! It may be several years before you return to the e-QIP system to complete a reinvestigation, so it is recommended that you use responses that you will remember in the distant future.

If you wish, click the checkbox above the questions labeled 'Allow me to see my Golden Answers as I type them' to see the responses as you type.

Note: Do not allow anyone to see your computer screen while your answers are on the screen.
  • Type each question into the 'Question' field
  • Type the corresponding answer into each 'Answer' field
  • Click 'Submit'
It is your responsibility to remember your Golden Questions.  It is also important to protect the answers to your Golden Questions.  These are your "password" to the e-QIP system.

Note: If you cannot remember the responses to your Golden Questions, or if you encounter any other issues with logging in, you must contact DPSAC to have them reset your Golden Questions.

After you have successfully logged into e-QIP by entering your SSN and answering the Golden Questions, you'll see the "Complete an Investigation Request" screen.
  • Verify your personal data displayed at the top of the 'Select Investigation Request' screen.
  • When you are ready to begin completing the form, click the link that says "Enter Your Data."
Note: If you have been sponsored by multiple agencies within e-QIP at the same time, you may have multiple e-QIP request numbers here. Make sure that you select the correct link for the request you want to complete.

dataReviewing the Form Completion Instructions -- Prior to entering data for the first time, you must read the instructions on the "Form Completion Instructions" screen.
  • Confirm that you have read and understand the form completion instructions and disclaimer by clicking 'Continue.'
You will also be shown a disclaimer screen that provides additional instructions required by Executive Order 12968.
  • You must indicate that you have read and understand the additional instructions by clicking the corresponding button at the bottom of the page in order to proceed.
You are now ready to complete your questionnaire.

sfTips for Completing the Questionnaire (Standard Form 85, 85P, or 86) -- If you are filling out the Standard Form 86, a more detailed guide is available: e-QIP Guide for National Security Positions - SF 86 (PDF file) [1.35 MB].

Read the entire form thoroughly and answer the questions truthfully.

Use the [Tab] key to navigate through fields and complete the questions. Do not use the browser's Forward or Back buttons or the system will log you out as a security precaution.

Click the 'Reset this Screen' button at any time prior to clicking the 'Save' button if you make a mistake and want to start over on a screen. This clears all of the information you entered on that page.
  • Click 'Save' or 'Save/Continue' at the bottom of each page to move forward when you are finished and ready to proceed.

Your information will be submitted and the next screen will appear. Continue until all information screens have been completed.


You may also use the Navigation drop-down menu located at the top of the screen to go to any section of the form in any order.
  • Select the section and click 'Go.' Then navigate to the specific subsection desired.
  • Click the 'Add Optional Comment' button when it appears to provide additional comments if desired.
You can review a copy of the form at any time by clicking the 'Display' link in the upper left corner.

warnHandling Error Messages and Warnings -- In order to ensure the completeness of your data, a validation routine runs each time you click 'Save' or 'Save/Continue.' The validation routine will point out any errors or warnings and provide detailed instructions on how to satisfy each missing item. You will only receive validation messages if you have not answered a question appropriately.

confirmValidating, Reviewing, and Certifying -- When you are satisfied that your form is complete and no validation errors are present, you have the option of reviewing a display copy of your form before certifying it. You can also review the Display copy at any time as you complete the form.

To review the form before certifying:
  • Click 'Display' in the upper left corner of the next screen to view the document. An html document will open in a separate browser window.  When you have finished reviewing the form, close the window.
You may navigate back to previous sections of the form at this time if you need to make any changes.
  • If you do not have any changes, click 'Continue.'
  • Again, if you do not have any changes to the information you previously provided, click 'Certify Investigation Request' button to complete your form.
Important: Once you certify the form, your answers will be locked and the form will become unavailable for editing. You will be unable to make any further changes.

A pop-up dialog box displays informing you that the process will take 20-30 seconds.
  • Click 'OK.'
Note: Do not click the 'Certify Investigation Request' button more than once.

Follow the instructions provided carefully below in the order they are provided. Once you certify your form, there are a few additional steps before you can release the information to your sponsoring agency.

finishCompleting the Signature Release Forms -- The final release of your request is completed in several steps.
  • Print or save an Archival Copy of the entire form
  • Print the signature forms that you will sign and send to your
    sponsoring agency (DPSAC)
  • Add attachments
  • Release and transmit the investigation request to the requesting agency
Step One: Instruction for Signature Pages, Attachments, and Archival Copy -- Review the instructions for printing the signature pages, attaching files and printing a copy for your records.

Step Two: Archival Copy -- Print and/or save an electronic copy of the information you provided on the form for your records. If you do not have printer access, log out of e-QIP and go to a computer with printer access. Then log back into e-QIP to print the forms.

To save an electronic .pdf version of this Archival Copy, you may right-click on the link shown 'Display the Archival Copy of the Investigation Request for Printing' and follow the steps to save the document in an appropriate location.
  • To print, click 'Display the Archival Copy of this Investigative Request for Printing.' The archival copy will open in Adobe Reader.
Note: The archival copy and signature pages display as PDF files. You must have the free Adobe Reader to view them. You can download Adobe Reader from the Adobe website.
  • In the Adobe Reader software, click the "print" icon.
  • Close the Acrobat Reader window by clicking the 'X' button in the upper right corner.
You may also save an electronic copy of this .pdf file for your records.
  • You must print and/or save the Archival Copy at this point, as you will not be able to access it at a later time once you release the form.
Step Three: Signature Forms -- Signature Forms are a required part of an investigation as they authorize your Investigation Service Provider (ISP) to obtain necessary information. These are the forms you must sign and then send to your sponsoring agency (DPSAC) by fax, mail or uploading via e-QIP. You must follow instructions provided to you by your sponsoring agency as to which option to choose to transmit these signature forms to them.

Note: The Fair Credit Report is a release form that must be submitted with all SF 86 forms to allow requests for credit checks and other financial data.

Click the 'Signature Forms' link displayed under 'Step Two Signature Forms for Printing.' This will open the signature pages in a separate window. If you do not have printer access, logout of e-QIP and go to a computer with printer access. Then log back into e-QIP to print the forms.

In the Adobe Reader software, click the print icon.
  • Sign and date the release forms and certification statement:
    • Use black ink
    • Sign your name exactly as it appears in e-QIP (e.g., "John David Smith")
    • Sign and date inside the signature box
Any corrections or overwrites must be completed using a new signature form or by drawing a single line through the error and initialing the correction
  • Close the Acrobat Reader window by clicking the 'X' button in the upper right corner
Step Four: Upload or Fax Attachments -- The attachments are the Signature Forms and any other information, such as a resume, that you would like to provide your sponsoring agency as a part of your investigation. 

Refer to the Guide for descriptions of the various options for transmitting attachments. Because there are multiple options for including attachments, you must follow instructions provided to you by your sponsoring agency as to which option to choose to submit these attachments to them.

Note: Contact your sponsoring agency if you have any questions or need fax numbers or mailing addresses. 
  • Click 'Next'
Step Five: Release and Transmit  -- Important! You will not be able to access your investigation forms after you click 'Release Request/Transmit to Agency.' Be sure you have printed and/or attached all required forms, including signature forms, before clicking 'Release Request/Transmit to Agency.'
  • Click 'Release Request/Transmit to Agency.' If a confirmation screen appears, you are logged out of e-QIP and your information has been transmitted to your sponsoring agency.
Congratulations! You have completed and submitted your investigation request.

If you have any questions about your investigation status, please follow up directly with your contact at your sponsoring agency.
 

 

 

 

NIH badging statistics from HHS as of May 29, 2015 


Sponsored: 37,532  Enrolled: 36,727  Issued: 35,796*

 

*This figure represents 95% of individuals who have been sponsored.

 

Note: the Department reports weekly on the number of individuals who have been sponsored, enrolled and issued new HHS ID Badges for each OPDIV.

DPSAC News reports the latest Departmental figures for NIH in the first issue published for that month. 

A biweekly e-newsletter from the Office of Research Services, Division of Personnel Security and Access Control (ORS/DPSAC) to keep you informed as NIH rolls out "Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12" (HSPD-12) establishing a common identification standard to better safeguard NIH and its workforce.