Instructions and Tips for completing BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS

1
Instructions and Tipsfor completingBACKGRO
UND INVESTIGATIONS
2
HISTORY

• All Federal employees are required to undergo a
  background investigation.
• Western added the requirement for all contractor
  employees to undergo a background investigation
  in 2002.
• In 2007 Westerns Senior Managers implemented a
  review process of all Federal positions to
  determine the appropriate risk level.

3
The Background Investigation

• The level of background investigations includes
  low (NACI), moderate (MBI), and high (BI) and is
  based on the designated risk level of the
  competitive service position.
• Low, Moderate and High risk background
  investigations are all completed through OPMs
  automated e-QIP system. http//www.opm.gov/e-QIP/
• The e-QIP system provides detailed instructions
  for accessing and using this automated system for
  all levels of investigations. The e-QIP website
  provides frequently asked questions, a quick
  reference guide and a brochure to assist
  employees in filling out the required forms using
  the system.

4
POSITION RISK AND LEVEL OF REQUIRED BACKGROUND
INVESTIGATION

• POSITION RISK DESIGNATION

• LEVEL OF BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION

• If position has been designated as LOW risk
• Position designated as MODERATE risk
• Position designated as HIGH risk
• Based on the outcome of the position review,
  all employees who hold positions designed as high
  risk are required to undergo a BI. Employees who
  hold a low risk position and are selected for a
  MBI or BI position will undergo an investigation
  commensurate with that position. Employees in
  MBI positions who are selected for a high risk
  position will be required to complete a full BI
  investigation.

• Requires NACI - Low level investigation
• Requires MBI Moderate level investigation
• Requires BI High Level investigation

5
The Background Investigation

• Employees required to complete a high or
  moderate risk background investigation will be
  asked to complete an SF-85P and an in some cases
  an OF-306. The 85P form can be found at
  http//www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF85P.pdf
• Employees required to complete a low risk
  background investigation will complete an SF-85
  and an OF-306. Both forms can be found at
  http//www.int.wapa.gov/HR/forms.htm
• Employees can print out the forms to review
  prior to entering the data in the electronic
  system to understand and gather the information
  necessary to complete the investigation.

6
The Background Investigation

• Employees who are required to complete a
  background investigation are given access to the
  e-QIP system by the CSO Human Resource Office.
• Employees, after logging into the system, will be
  asked to respond to personally identifiable
  questions such as SS and birth date.
• Employees will be asked to create golden
  questions and provide responses. Golden
  responses will be used to log into the system
  from that point forward.

7
The Background Investigation

• Employees must read the instructions prior to
  entering data into the form.
• Employees are encouraged to print out the form(s)
  prior to entering data to ensure they have all
  the required information available.
• Employees have the option of completing the form
  at one sitting or saving their data and going
  back into the system at a later time.

8
The Background Investigation

• Data entered into the system can be displayed and
  printed for the employees personal records.
• Once all the data is entered and all the
  questions answered, the employee will be asked to
  validate, review and certify that the information
  is correct and accurate.
• After validating, reviewing and certifying the
  data, the system will ask the employee to click
  on submit to release the information to the
  agency (CSO HR). The agency then releases the
  information to OPM.

9
The Background Investigation

• Once the data is certified the questionnaire will
  be locked and unavailable for editing
• After the questionnaire is locked if, in the rare
  event an employee feels they made an error and
  must make a change on the form, they may contact
  the CSO HR Office, Kristen Oest (oest_at_wapa.gov)
  or Curtis Sheldon (sheldon_at_wapa.gov) to have the
  form rejected back to the applicant and made
  available for editing.
• After editing the information, the employee must
  again certify and release the information to the
  agency.

10
The Background Investigation

• After completing the required forms on-line, the
  employee will be required to print, sign, and
  return to the CSO HR Office
• 1. Signature form certifying answers are true
  and correct.
• 2. Authorization for Release of Information
• 3. Authorization for Release of Medical
  Information (for applicants completing the SF-85P)

11
The Background Investigation

• These instructions and tips are not meant to be
  all inclusive. It is imperative that employees
  read all instructions, brochures, and forms
  associated with background investigations.
• Employees who have questions after reading
  through the instructions and guidance, should
  contact one of the POCs listed on the next slide.

12
Points of Contact for assistance

• Kristen Oest, Supervisor, EMP, oest_at_wapa.gov
• 720-962-7121 primary contact for federal
  employees
• Curtis Sheldon, HR Specialist, Sheldon_at_wapa.gov
  720-962-7178 primary contact for contractors
• Wayne Davison, HR Specialist, davison_at_wapa.gov ,
  720-962-7105
• Kathi Furnas, Supervisor, WFR, furnas_at_wapa.gov
• 720-962-7107
• You may also contact your regional Human Resource
  Advisor.