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Lost and Found

NIH Lost & Found Procedures — At a Glance​


1. Submitting Lost or Found Items

On Main Campus:
  • Items may be kept locally (building, Institute, or Center) for up to 30 days.
  • After 30 days—or if no local custodian exists—items must be turned over to the NIH Division of Police (DP).
  • Found money should be reported and turned in to the DP immediately.
  • Contact: 301-496-5685 (ECC) or 301-496-2387 (Police Front Desk) o​​r visit Building 31, Room B3B17.
Rocky Mountain Laboratories:
  • There is a lost and found located in the Visitor’s Center at the main guard post.
  • ​Contact: 301-496-5685 (ECC) or 406-363-9441 (Visitor’s Center).
Off-Campus (Non-GSA Facilities):
  • Follow your facility's local lost and found procedures if available.
  • If no procedures exist, contact your Contract Security Officer or call the Emergency Communications Center (ECC) at 301-496-5685 for assistance.
GSA-Leased Facilities:
  • Lost and found items are managed by Federal Protective Services (FPS).
  • Contact the FPS office at your facility for guidance.


2. Claiming Lost Items or Money

On Campus:
  • Check with your building or Institute/Center first.
  • If the item has been turned in to the DP, visit Building 31, Room B3B17, or call 301-496-5685.
  • Bring a photo ID (such as a driver's license or government badge) for verification.
Off-Campus (Non-GSA Facilities):
  • Claim items according to local procedures or through the Contract Security Office (within 30 days).
  • After 30 days, unclaimed items are transferred to the NIH Division of Police for retrieval.
  • Lost money can be claimed on-site the day it's lost; after that, contact the DP.
GSA-Leased Facilities:
  • Contact your facility's FPS office for instructions on claiming items.


3. Retention and Disposal

On Campus:
  • Items are held for up to 180 days. Unclaimed property is disposed of following GSA regulations (41 CFR 102-41/410).
  • Money is held for 7 days; after that, it is transferred to the NIH Cashier's Office and deposited to the U.S. Treasury.
  • Claims cannot be made after funds are transferred.
Off-Campus (Non-GSA Facilities):
  • Items unclaimed after 30 days are sent to the DP at Bethesda, then held for up to 180 days.
  • Money follows the same 7-day rule before being sent to the NIH Cashier's Office.
GSA-Leased Facilities:
  • FPS manages the collection, retention, and disposal of lost and found property.


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