What is the purpose of a background investigation?
DPSAC processes are governed by federal regulations. The U.S. Government conducts background investigations to determine if applicants or employees meet the suitability/fitness requirements for employment, or are eligible for access to federal facilities, automated systems, or classified information.
How is it done?
An individual's investigative requirement is determined by the duties and responsibilities of their position and the associated degree of potential damage to the efficiency or integrity of the service or adverse effect on the national security from the misconduct of an incumbent of a position. This establishes the risk and sensitivity level of the position. DPSAC uses the OPM Position Designation Tool (PDAT) to ensure positions across NIH are properly designated. The PDAT tool ensures the correct investigative tier is selected for the individual based on their position description. Please visit our Position Designation Tool page for more information.
A badge holder can be one of the following tiers:
- Tier 1 (Formerly NACI or level 1) – non-sensitive position.
- Tier 2 (Formerly MBI or level 5B) – public trust position.
- Tier 3 (Formerly ANACI or level 2) – non-critical sensitive national security position. This investigation makes the staff member eligible for a secret clearance.
- Tier 4 (Formally BI or Level 6) – public trust position.
- Tier 5 (Former SSBI or Level 3) – critical sensitive national security position. This investigation makes the staff member eligible for a top-secret clearance.
- Tier 5+ (Formerly level 4) – a select designation for staff needing TS/SCI security clearances. Only a very select few positions are within this scope.
From these tiers, a Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 4 would only require a background check, while a Tier 3 and a Tier 5 would require a background investigation and may require a security clearance. If a security clearance is needed, the position duties would reflect the need to access classified materials in the position description. Feel free to read more about security clearances here.
| Positive Sensitivity Designation | Position Risk Designation | Type of Investigation | Form Type |
|---|
| Special Sensitive | High Risk | Tier5+SCI | SF 86 |
| Critical Sensitive | High Risk | Tier5 | SF 86 |
| Non-Critical Sensitive | High Risk | Tier5 | SF 86 |
| Moderate Risk | Tier3 | SF 86 |
| Non-Sensitive Public Trust | High Risk | Tier4 | SF 85P |
| Moderate Risk | Tier2 | SF 85P |
| Non-Sensitive | Low Risk | Tier1 | SF 85 |
For published Background Investigation Billing rates, please visit our OPM Investigation Billing Rates page.
Additional Notes on Background Investigations:
When issuing any badge that provides the subject with unescorted access, the badge holder must go through some level of background investigation. Please note that if the appointment is for under six (6) months, then the person will only need to get a Special Agreement Check (SAC) which is a fingerprint check.
However, if the badge holder’s appointment is longer than six (6) months, then the level of investigation will need to be determined by their program office based on their job duties and where the work is performed.
Background investigations from other agencies can be used reciprocally if they meet all of the following criteria: it’s in-scope, if it meets the position requirements, and if the break in service from the agency that ran the investigation is less than twenty-four (24) months. However, our office will still collect new fingerprints, an OF-306 form and a resume or C.V. to make a pre-screening determination.
For more information, you may find the chart for the general background investigation process (step-by-step), as shared on the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) website.
Summary of Why We Do What We Do:
- It is vital for us to keep NIH personnel, vendors, visitors, facilities, records, and resources safe by ensuring personnel are properly vetted and are suitable or fit to occupy the positions they are appointed to.
- It meets Federal Regulations, Authorities and Directives from the Executive Office, Code of Federal Regulations, Homeland Security Presidential Directives, Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA).
