This article is updated and published periodically as a resource for the NIH administrative community who will be assisting their new hires prepare for and complete the Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (e-QIP).
As part of the HHS PIV process, all NIH employees, contractors and affiliates, must have a completed, favorably adjudicated background investigation on file. Prior to the start of each applicant’s employment with NIH, and periodically throughout their employment, each NIH employee, contractor and affiliate will be required to complete a background investigation which includes the Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (e-QIP) through the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) National Background Investigations Bureau (NBIB) secure online system.
Soon after an applicant's investigation requirements have been determined, s/he will be sent an e-mail notification with the subject line " ACTION REQUIRED for your NIH ID Badge and/or Background Investigation”
This e-mail provides the link to the secure online e-QIP system and instructions for logging in. Applicants will have seven business days to complete the e-QIP questionnaire.
Applicants need to set ample time to complete the questionnaire as it can take a few hours. It also cautions applicants to begin as soon as possible and not to wait until the last minute, reminding applicants that "Your employment offer may be rescinded if all required materials are not received within the time stated in your e-
mail
."
Applicants who need assistance can refer to a tutorial posted on the DPSAC website (
https://www.idbadge.nih.gov
) that provides valuable tips on completing e-QIP. Additional instructions and frequently asked questions are located on the
OPM website
.
The steps in the e-QIP process
The tutorial guides the applicant through all of the steps in the e-QIP process including:
1. Getting to e-QIP (browser compatibility)
2. Registering for e-QIP
3. How to navigate between sections of the form
4. The final steps in the e-QIP process ask the applicant to validate, review and certify
the information that s/he is providing on the questionnaire.
5. At the end of the questionnaire, applicants must digitally sign any signature forms that
appear in e-QIP. Additionally, upload all documents into e-QIP included in the initial e-
QIP invitation e-mail (and include the completed OF-306, HHS Credit Release and
OF-612).
Upon submission of all eQIP materials,
DPSAC will review them to check for completeness and accuracy. If items are missing, DPSAC will send the e-QIP materials back to the applicant with additional instructions.
Failure to complete the e-QIP process will prevent the applicant form being issued an HHS ID Badge.
For those who already have a badge, failure to complete their investigation will result in their ID badge being disabled and confiscated at the perimeter gate when they attempt to enter the NIH campus. The individual will need to contact DPSAC to re-initiate his/her background investigation should this occur.
