Once you have been sponsored and initiated for a background investigation, you can access the e-QIP questionnaire by visiting the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) website. 

You will have seven (7) business days to complete your online e-QIP and the additional forms that were sent to you. 

Failure to complete these requirements will result in your ineligibility for access to NIH facilities. You will not be allowed to begin or continue your work without completing these requirements. Those who already have an HHS PIV badge will have their badge revoked if they fail to complete these requirements.​

You may find assistance and some tips under our webpage on the left, "Be Aware of the Following When Completing Your eApp", as the guidance is similar for your e-QIP questionnaire. 

DCSA also offers helpful guides and instructions for completing your investigation requirements at the e-QIP login screen, which you can find on their website at the bottom of the page here. DPSAC Helpdesk specialists are also available to assist you through the e-QIP process. If you need any further​ assistance, feel free to contact our office.

Proceed to the “Attachments Summary" in e-QIP (one of the last five steps).  Here, you will answer “Yes" to having “Additional documents associated with this request", and then follow the instructions to upload your OF-306 Declaration for Federal Employment and other forms you have completed. 

A new OF-306 is required from all applicants, including new federal hires, regardless of the determined investigation. It is crucial that the personally identifiable information (PII) on the applicant's OF-306 must match any and all other systems and documents being provided by the applicants. Errors on the OF-306 form will lead your case to be requestioned by the NIH and to be deemed unacceptable. Errors may include ineligible information, incomplete information, missing headers and footers, and additional handwritten information without any certification with the applicant's initials and dates. Please note any amendments to your documents will require your initials and date (i.e. cross-outs and hand-written corrections).

Once all steps above have been completed, please click the “Release/Transmit Your Questionnaire to the Agency" button.

We strongly encourage you to upload your forms directly to e-QIP. If you are unable to upload your forms, you may hand-carry or fax them to our office at:

National Institutes of Health
Division of Personnel Security and Access Control, ORS
31 Center Drive, Room 1B03, MSC 2143
Bethesda, MD 20892-2143
Fax: 301-480-0108