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DPSAC > Applicants/Employees > DPS Process Overview > Badge Enrollment
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​For Applicants & Employees​ - DPS Process Overview​

Badge Enrollment
DPS Process Overview

You must wait until the Division of Personnel Security (DPS) sends a notification via email to you to make a Badge Enrollment appointment.


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 your biometrics and photograph to your PIV/RLA badge.​ 

All individuals 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, individuals 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 DPS 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 I be notified to complete PIV/RLA Badge Enrollment?

Once your Administrative Officer (AO) completes and sponsors the Badge Request in the NED system, the request will be sent to DPS to begin the Prescreening and Badging Process. DPS will first determine investigation requirements. Once that has been determined, you will receive a notice to schedule your Badge Enrollment appointment from DPSACScheduler@mail.nih.gov.

  • For new-hire individuals who do not have a prior investigation on file that DPS can use: DPS 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 individuals who have a prior suitable investigation that DPS is attempting to use for their NIH position: DPS will first collect Prescreening in order to determine the individual's eligibility for a PIV/RLA Badge and employment at NIH. Once this has been determined, then the individual will receive the notice to complete Badge Enrollment (7-25 days after AO Badge Sponsorship in NED). 

 

What do I need to bring to my Badge Enrollment appointment?

This is very important! Please remember to bring two (2) forms of valid, unexpired, government-issued identification (ID) with you to your appointment; one of which must contain a photo. The names on the IDs must match exactly, and the IDs must be an original document (photocopies are not accepted). DPS will not enroll you 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 DPS appointments.

Some common examples of acceptable identification include:

  • REAL ID Driver's License
  • Passport
  • Military ID
  • State ID card
  • Social Security card
  • Birth Certificate
  • Native American tribal document
  • Voter's registration card

 

Where can I go to complete my NIH Badge Enrollment?

In accordance with Federal regulation, individuals are required to visit an NIH PIV Card Issuance Facility (PCIF) to complete Badge Enrollment. PCIFs include the NIH Main Office Location in Building 31, or you may see Other DPS Locations (PCIFs). 

Before scheduling your Badge Enrollment appointment, you must ensure you have received the email from DPSACScheduler@mail.nih.gov instructing you to complete your Badge Enrollment, and also ensure you will have the two (2) forms of ID available as mentioned above. Make sure you also set aside enough time to travel to the campus and to go through security at the campus entrance. 

Please note: Non-U.S. person visitors who do not possess an unexpired NIH-issued HHS ID badge will need to go through the Visitor Access Management Initiative (VAMI) VisitNIH process​ as well. For further information regarding the VisitNIH process, please reach out to your visit host.  


What if I cannot travel to an NIH PIV Card Issuance Facility (PCIF) immediately for Badge Enrollment?

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. 

For awareness, individuals are still required to eventually go to an NIH PCIF to complete Badge Enrollment and Badge Issuance. Completing fingerprints during Prescreening in advance at a Fieldprint location will allow time to let the FBI fingerprint results come in. As a reminder, the FBI fingerprint check is one of the Prescreening requirements that must be done before DPS can issue you your badge. Once you are ready to go to an NIH PCIF and if the FBI fingerprint results are clear, then you can complete both Badge Enrollment and Badge Issuance.


What's the difference between 'Badge Enrollment' and 'Fieldprint'?

In summary:

  • Badge Enrollment includes the proess of Identity Proofing, the capture of a photograph and the collection of fingerprints, which are all tied to the individual's badge, and can only be done at an NIH PCIF. Fingerprints collected at Badge Enrollment are also used for running an FBI criminal history check required for the individual's Prescreening process.
  • Fieldprint is a third party used to capture fingerprints required for the sole purpose of running an FBI criminal history check before getting cleared for a badge. Individuals located more than 50 miles from an NIH PCIF can utilize Fieldprint to complete fingerprints for their Prescreening process in advance. Fieldprint is NOT Badge Enrollment. Individuals using Fieldprint will still need to complete Badge Enrollment at an NIH PCIF when they are able to travel to one. Individuals located more than 50 miles from an NIH PCIF who have completed ALL their Prescreening requirements ahead of time may qualify for completing both Badge Enrollment and Badge Issuance on the same day on or after their Entry-on-Duty (EOD) date listed in the NED system.
You may view a side-by-side comparison and understand the differences between these two on our Fingerprint Services page.


Why do some people get their Badge Enrollment and Badge Issuance appointments completed in one day, but others have to do separate appointments?

Applicants cannot get their Badge Enrollment and Badge Issuance appointment completed on the same day UNLESS the applicant previously completed all Prescreening and fingerprinting requirements. 

If an individual is located further than 50 miles from an NIH PCIF and:

  • Utilized Fieldprint in advance to submit fingerprints to run an FBI criminal history check for their Prescreening/background investigation, 
  • Completed all case documents, Prescreening requirements and any needed corrections favorably ahead of time, and 
  • Is determined eligible by DPS to be issued a badge favorably at the NIH,

Then the individual may be qualified to complete Badge Enrollment and Badge Issuance on the same day on or after their Entry-on-Duty (EOD) date listed in the NED system. 

Fieldprint will allow DPS time to run the FBI criminal history check required for Prescreening and give the approval/clearance that the applicant needs to get their NIH badge if their background investigation checks out. 

Otherwise, individuals located within 50 miles of an NIH PCIF must travel to an NIH PCIF to complete fingerprinting for their Prescreening as part of their Badge Enrollment appointment. The individual's badge will not be issued until the fingerprint results have been returned from the FBI (which may take several days) and all Prescreening requirements have been completed favorably. Individuals can find NIH PCIFs located at the NIH Main Office Location in Building 31 and at Other DPS Locations (PCIFs).