Once candidates finish Prescreening and the investigation requirements have been determined, candidates must wait until DPSAC sends a notification via email to the candidate to make an appointment to complete the Badge Enrollment process.
What is PIV/RLA Badge Enrollment?
Badge Enrollment is the process of Identity Proofing, Photographing and Fingerprinting for the PIV/RLA Badge. In summary, the purpose of Badge Enrollment is to tie an individual's biometrics and photograph to their PIV/RLA badge.
All applicants who need access to NIH facilities, information systems, and networks will need to complete the Badge Enrollment Process in order to obtain an NIH PIV/RLA Badge. As part of the Badge Enrollment process, applicants must make an in-person appointment at one of NIH's PIV Card Issuance Facilities (PCIF) to get officially enrolled and added into our system. You may find PCIFs located at the NIH Main Office Location in Building 31 and at Other DPSAC Locations (PCIFs).
The directive that governs the requirement to obtain a PIV/RLA Badge is Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) -Policy for a Common Identification Standard for Federal Employees and Contractors.
When will candidates be notified to complete PIV/RLA Badge Enrollment?
Once the candidate's Administrative Officer (AO) completes and sponsors the Badge Request in the NED system, the request will be sent to DPSAC to begin the Prescreening and Badging Process. DPSAC will first determine investigation requirements. Once that has been determined, candidates will receive a notice to schedule their Badge Enrollment appointment from DPSACScheduler@mail.nih.gov.
- For new-hire candidates who do not have a prior investigation on file that DPSAC can use: DPSAC will initiate them for a new investigation, and they will receive the notification to complete PIV/RLA Badge Enrollment within 1-4 days of AO Badge Sponsorship in NED.
- For new-hire candidates who have a prior suitable investigation that DPSAC is attempting to use for their NIH position: DPSAC will first collect Prescreening in order to determine the candidate's eligibility for a PIV/RLA Badge and employment at NIH. Once this has been determined, then the candidate will receive the notice to complete Badge Enrollment (7-25 days after AO Badge Sponsorship in NED).
What does the candidate need to bring to his/her Badge Enrollment appointment?
Candidates must bring two (2) forms of valid, unexpired, government-issued identification to their appointment; one of which must contain a photo. The names on the ID's must match exactly, and the ID's must be an original document (photocopies are not accepted). DPSAC will not enroll any individual without the correct forms of ID. Please see FIPS 201-3 form for a full list of acceptable forms of ID. Please note:
- It is illegal to use a photograph of any government ID badge. Section 701 of Chapter 33 of Title 18 of the United States Code (USC) covers the unauthorized creation of engravings, photographs, prints, or impressions of official badges, identification cards, and other insignia.
- A mobile ID or a Mobile Driver's License (mDL) is NOT an acceptable form of ID for identity proofing/enrollment purposes under HSPD-12. Mobile IDs/mDLs are companions to the physical driver’s license; therefore, mobile IDs/mDLs are NOT replacements of the physical ID card nor counted as an original version of ID, so it is NOT an acceptable form of ID at DPSAC appointments.
Some common examples of acceptable identification include:
- Driver's License
- Passport
- Military ID
- State ID card
- Social Security card
- Birth Certificate
- Native American tribal document
- Voter's registration card
Where can individuals go to complete his/her NIH Badge Enrollment?
Individuals may visit our NIH Bethesda Main Campus or Other DPSAC Locations (PCIFs) page under our Contact tab for a list of locations where individuals can complete their Badge Enrollment appointment. Before scheduling a Badge Enrollment appointment, individuals must ensure they have received the email from DPSACScheduler@mail.nih.gov instructing the individual to complete their Badge Enrollment. Individuals must also ensure they will have the two (2) forms of ID available, as mentioned above. Please also let individuals know to set aside enough time to travel to the campus and to go through security at the campus entrance.
What if the individual cannot travel to an NIH PIV Card Issuance Facility (PCIF) for his/her Badge Enrollment appointment?
Individuals who cannot travel to an NIH PCIF can at least complete the fingerprinting for their Prescreening at a Fieldprint location until they are able to travel to an NIH PCIF for their Badge Enrollment. Please read the Fieldprint page under our Fingerprint Services for more information.
What's the difference between 'Badge Enrollment' and 'Crossmatch/Prescreening Fingerprints'?
In summary:
- Badge Enrollment includes Identity Proofing, Fingerprinting/Biometric Collection and Photograph for the PIV/RLA Badge at an NIH PCIF only, and on an Enrollment Workstation.
- Crossmatch Fingerprinting, also known as 'Prescreening Fingerprinting', is a collection of fingerprints only, for the purpose of running an FBI fingerprint check/criminal history repository check. This is not Enrollment, as Crossmatch Fingerprinting is not conducted on an Enrollment Workstation.
Because DPSAC needs to tie the individual's fingerprints and photograph to their PIV/RLA badge, their fingerprints will be captured during their Badge Enrollment appointment. The fingerprinting process for Badge Enrollment is different from the fingerprints they submit for Prescreening. Fingerprints collected during Prescreening are known as “Crossmatch fingerprints", as Crossmatch fingerprints only capture fingerprints needed for the criminal history repository check. Crossmatch fingerprints are typically required as part of the Prescreening process before Badge Enrollment is authorized.
Helpful Tip:
Because applicants are required to complete Badge Enrollment and Badge Authorization/Issuance at an NIH PCIF, applicants may be able to schedule their Badge Authorization/Issuance appointment on the same day as their Badge Enrollment appointment on or after their Entry on Duty (EOD) date. This can be done for most cases, but only if the applicant has:
1. Submitted Crossmatch fingerprints in advance during the Prescreening phase,
2. Submitted all of their case documents,
3. And completed any needed corrections and must have completed the DPSAC Prescreening requirements favorably.
This will allow us time to run the FBI fingerprint check portion required for Prescreening and give the approval/clearance that the applicant needs to get their ID badge if their background investigation checks out.
