DPSAC News
A bi-weekly newsletter from the Division of Personnel Security and Access Control
Providing timely information to help keep NIH safe and secure.

June 5, 2019 Issue of DPSAC News
 In this issue:
  • DPSAC Customers Should Expect Continued Processing and Service Delays for Now
  • Marijuana Still Considered a Controlled Substance Under Schedule I of the Controlled Substance Act
  • FAQs
  • Helpful Tips -- Reducing Processing Time for New Hires
DPSAC Customers Should Expect Continued Processing and Service Delays for Now
 
Also, DPSAC is advising new hires that the time to complete enrollment and be issued a PIV badge has increased (on average) from 4 weeks to 6 weeks, with the process being highly contingent upon the applicant’s timely completion of all required actions.

To avoid additional delays in processing, DPSAC urges administrators to sponsor badge requests at least six (6) weeks prior to start date/Entry on Duty. This will help ensure that these individuals have time to complete the necessary steps (fingerprints, photograph, e-QIP, etc.) so they can be eligible for a PIV/RLA badge and be able to access NIH resources on their start date.

DPSAC has outlined on its website homepage additional information that customers can use to help expedite the various enrollment and badge-related tasks.
 
Important policy change: DPSAC News reported recently that, moving forward, people who need IT network access will require an ID badge. This means that Administrators should request both an ID badge and an NIH network account for their customers when completing a 'Register/Activate' task in NED. The NIH Center for Information Technology (CIT) has cautioned administrators to no longer select ‘NIH network account' only, as this task will not request a PIV/RLA badge. 

Marijuana Still Considered a Controlled Substance under Schedule I of the Controlled Substance Act.
In recent years, several states and the District of Columbia have decriminalized the use of marijuana, allowing the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes and/or for limited recreational use.

These changes to state law have raised questions about whether federal employees in these jurisdictions may use marijuana as provided for in state law. 

Federal law on marijuana remains unchanged. Marijuana is categorized as a controlled substance under Schedule I of the Controlled Substance Act. Under the scheduling system, the Federal Government classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug, meaning it is perceived to have no medical value and a high potential for abuse.

The use of marijuana can still impact the ability for someone to be found suitable for federal employment. 

* The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 is the federal U.S. drug policy under which the manufacture, importation, possession, use and distribution of certain narcotics, stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, anabolic steroids and other chemicals is regulated under federal law. 

Q. Is it true that new NIH personnel must have a favorable fingerprint check and have their background investigation forms and e-QIP submitted before they can have their network account activated?

A. Yes. Prior to being granted access to any NIH IT systems, all new personnel must have a PIV/RLA badge. This means that each applicant will be required to have a favorable fingerprint check. In addition, they will need to complete their background investigation forms and e-QIP submission prior to being issued a PIV or RLA badge.
Reducing Processing Time for New Hires
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Processing times are often delayed due to reasons outside of DPSAC control, which include, but are not limited to:
  • Incomplete or not submitted OF-306
  • Candidate response time
  • Issues requiring clarification by the candidate
  • Untimely submission of initial e-QIP or corrected e-QIP

How the AO and HR communities can assist:
  • By ensuring all required documents have been uploaded into onboarding prior to establishing a NED account
  • By entering candidates as early as possible but no later than 6 weeks prior to their Entry on Duty (EOD) date
  • By working with DPSAC to ensure candidates respond in a timely manner to inquiries. 

ALT cards -- should be returned to the  IC ALT card coordinator - NOT to DPSAC.
 Administrative Officers (AOs) who wish to obtain sponsor authority must complete the sponsor training. To access the training module, click on: Sponsor .

Upon completion, the AO should sign and e-mail a copy of the certificate found at the end of the training module to Alex Salah at: salaha@ors.od.nih.gov . Upon receipt of the certificate, Mr. Salah will authorize the AO as a Sponsor. 

Note: ONLY individuals with an Administrative Officer role in NED are eligible to be HHS ID Badge/PIV Card Sponsors.  
Return Your Badge When Leaving NIH
If you plan to leave the employ of NIH, whether you’re an employee, contractor or affiliate, you will need to turn in your PIV or RLA badge to your Administrative Officer (AO) so that s/he can deactivate your badge in NED.

The AO will turn over the deactivated badge to the badging office.
A biweekly e-newsletter from the National Institutes of Health, Office of Research Services, Division of Personnel Security and Access Control (ORS/DPSAC) to keep its readers informed of personnel security and access control policies and practices designed to safeguard the NIH and its workforce. DPSAC is responsible for verifying personal identity, validating suitability, reviewing background checks, authorizing facility access and issuing ID badges for NIH personnel. 

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