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Main Menu - Privacy Information Main Menu Privacy Act PIAs Web Privacy HSPD-12 FISMA Incident Reporting Training Resources Policy and Memoranda

Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) - 12

Overview and Requirements

Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) -12 was released August 27, 2004 in an effort to eliminate wide variations in the quality and security of Federal identification forms, which are used to gain access to secure Federal facilities. The main purpose is to create a uniform identification system that enhances security, increases government efficiency, reduces identity fraud, and protects personal privacy. This "standard" applies to all Federal employees and private contractors and requires implementation in a manner consistent with the constitution and applicable laws, including the Privacy Act and other privacy laws and policies.

Upon implementation of HSPD-12, agencies are to provide a new Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card that:

  • Is issued based on sound criteria for verifying an individual’s identity;
  • Is highly resistant to identity fraud, tampering, counterfeiting, and terrorist exploitation;
  • Can be rapidly authenticated electronically; and
  • Is issued only by providers whose reliability has been established by an official accreditation process.

Policies and Procedures

NIH HSPD-12 Website:
http://enterprisearchitecture.nih.gov/About/Approach/HSPD12TechnicalCoordination.htm

Roles and Responsibilities (e.g., POCs)

Please find information regarding NIH HSPD-12 roles and responsibilities at:
http://enterprisearchitecture.nih.gov/About/NewsEvents/News/HSPD12April07.htm

Education and Outreach

NIH Privacy Awareness Training:
http://irtsectraining.nih.gov

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why not continue with the standard form of identification?

  • A Federal identification standard eliminates differing identification systems amongst Federal agencies, which increases security personnel’s ability to validate Federal employees’ identification;
  • Provides security personnel with one easy to recognize, yet hard to duplicate/counterfeit identification card;
  • Before HSPD-12 each Government agency maintained its own system of identification, making it more difficult for Federal employees to transfer or visit other agencies; and
  • The new system will streamline the Federal identification system and increase security.

2. Will my current form of identification still be valid after I receive my PIV card?

  • No. Former agency identification cards are obsolete once an agency has fully implemented the HSPD-12 program.

3. When can I expect the new NIH HSPD-12 identification card?

  • Phase II of the PIV Process will involve the issuing of new PIV Cards to personnel who have successfully completed the Phase I background investigation process. PIV Card technology is currently being tested by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Until PIV Card approval, the existing NIH ID badges will be used.

4. Does the HSPD-12 identification system grant me access to all Federal Government facilities?

  • No, the PIV card is a baseline requirement for facility admittance. Some agencies, or branches thereof, will require additional security standards beyond those of the PIV card.

Definitions

Personal Identification Verification (PIV) Card: A government-issued identification card used to authenticate individuals for physical access to Federally-controlled facilities and logical access to Federally-controlled information systems. The card contains a microchip, the holder's facial image, and other identifying information and security features. The microchip will store a user's access (Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)) certificate, the card holder's unique identifier, and fingerprint biometric.

Standard: Refers to the commonality characterized by all HSPD-12 cards, meaning that every card will be equipped with the same set of security features to validate an individual's identity.

References

Homeland Security Presidential Directive-12:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/08/20040827-8.html

Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 201-1 (FIPS 201):
http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/fips/fips201-1/FIPS-201-1-chng1.pdf

NIH HSPD-12 Website:
http://enterprisearchitecture.nih.gov/About/Approach/HSPD12TechnicalCoordination.htm http://enterprisearchitecture.nih.gov/About/NewsEvents/News/HSPD12April07.htm

Office of Research Services - Division of Personnel Security and Access Control:
http://ser.ors.od.nih.gov/div_personnelAccess.htm

Office of Research Services - Division of Physical Security Management:
http://ser.ors.od.nih.gov/physical_security.htm

Personal Identification Verification Process:
http://security.nih.gov/PIV/index.htm

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March 24, 2009

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