NIH Employees Begin Full-Time Return to the Office
Photo: Chia-Chi Charlie Chang
Many employees are beginning the return to in-person work across NIH’s campuses, as mandated by Executive Order. They are joining the many NIH’ers who had continued working on site at least several days a week.
In March, non-bargaining unit employees and bargaining unit employees who have an official duty station within 50 miles of a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) facility will return to in-person work, five days a week. NIH’s leadership—including senior-level employees, supervisors and political appointees—who have an official duty station within 50 miles of an HHS facility returned five days a week beginning Feb. 24.
“We understand that the transition back to a full-time physical workplace will be a shift for many,” said Julie Berko, director, NIH Office of Human Resources. “Across NIH, we have operated successfully as a hybrid organization for some time, and I have no doubt our workforce will remain dedicated to supporting the NIH mission throughout this transition. I look forward to seeing how everyone continues to find new ways to collaborate and connect in our evolving work environment.”
The influx of additional staff will be an adjustment for all. To help facilitate the transition, before returning, employees should review important resources about transportation and campus services.
TRANSPORTATION
Getting Around and Road Safety
Major construction projects continue on the main campus in Bethesda and can impact the commute.
For the next several years, the entrance at Center Drive and Old Georgetown Road will remain closed due to construction of the Clinical Center’s Surgery, Radiology and Laboratory Medicine (SRLM) wing. This closure will include Center Drive from Old Georgetown Rd. to just past the front of the Northwest Child Care Center, as well as Convent Drive north of MLP-9.
Photo: Lydia Polimeni
Several other ongoing projects are in various stages, including Vaccine Research Center (VRC) expansion, an electrical switching station and emergency generators building, and the Center Drive utility tunnel. For the most up-to-date information on construction impacts, visit: https://traffic.nih.gov.
As more cars and pedestrians return to the main campus and drive around construction projects, roadway safety is a top priority. NIH’ers: remain alert and obey all traffic rules. In addition, pedestrians should always use crosswalks and motorists should always yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. On its campuses, the NIH Police will enforce the 25 MPH maximum speed limit, distracted driving laws and parking regulations.
Commuter Benefits
Before applying for commuter benefits, employees must ensure their duty station and current status (non-remote) are correct in the NIH Enterprise Directory (NED) profile at https://ned.nih.gov/search/. They will then be eligible to apply for a parking permit or enroll in the NIH Transhare Program, a commuter subsidy initiative, or enroll in or establish a carpool or vanpool through the Commuting and Parking Services (CAPS) system at https://commuter.ors.od.nih.gov.
Parking
Parking will be extremely challenging on the main campus due to the high volume of staff returning and ongoing construction projects.
All vehicles parking on the main campus, and at 6701 and 6705 Rockledge Drive (for occupants of those buildings only), excluding visitor’s vehicles, must display a valid NIH parking permit. This permit must hang from the vehicle’s rearview mirror, clearly visible through the windshield, while parking in NIH lots and garages. Any vehicle without a valid permit risks receiving a parking ticket.
Before returning to the office, employees should check to ensure their permit has not expired. Parking permits may be requested online through CAPS or by emailing nihparkingoffice@nih.gov. Online permit requests will be mailed to the employee’s specified home address as detailed in CAPS in 5-10 business days. To obtain a permit, a valid NIH identification card and a copy of a valid vehicle registration certificate for each vehicle registered must be submitted.
Several of NIH’s multi-level parking (MLP) garages have undergone or are undergoing repairs and restoration. MLP-6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 all have projects underway. Repairs are taking place in phases to minimize impact to employees.
To accommodate overflow parking, an express shuttle takes employees from surface lots 41 and 42 directly to Bldg. 10’s south entrance. The “Building 10 Express Shuttle” will run in the mornings from 6:30 to 9:50 a.m. and in the afternoons from 4:30 p.m. to 7:48 p.m. Shuttle service is open to all NIH staff. The shuttle’s schedule can be viewed at https://go.nih.gov/bFT5wUz.
For a map of parking locations on the main campus, see: https://ors.od.nih.gov/maps/Pages/Employee-Access-Map.aspx.
NIH Transhare
Due to limited parking, employees are encouraged to take advantage of the NIH Transhare Program, a mass transportation fare subsidy that allows qualified employees to receive up to $325 per month applicable to public transportation. The subsidy can be used to cover travel costs on the WMATA Metrorail, Metrobus, Montgomery County Ride-On buses, VRE, MARC Train or MTA commuter bus. The subsidy cannot be used to pay for parking.
Transhare programs are available to employees who turn in their NIH parking permit. To enroll, visit https://commuter.ors.od.nih.gov. Program benefits are loaded directly onto a SmartTrip card on the 1st of every month.
Some transit providers do not have SmarTrip card readers. For information on how to use transit benefits in these instances, visit: https://go.nih.gov/m2YVyGh.
Before returning to campus, current members should log into the CAPS System to verify their declaration cost is correct. To determine that cost, visit: https://www.wmata.com/schedules/trip-planner/. They should also tap their SmarTrip cards at a Metro fare gate, SmarTrip fare vending machine or SmarTrip reader. Cards that have been inactive for an extended time might be inoperable.
Participating Transhare members are permitted to receive up to six (6) daily parking permits per calendar quarter in the event a member needs to drive to work unexpectedly.
To manage an account, visit: https://commuter.ors.od.nih.gov. For more info about the Transhare Program or parking, email nihparkingoffice@nih.gov or call 301-496-5050.
NIH Rideshare
NIH offers a free carpool and vanpool matching service through the NIH Rideshare Program. It’s open to all employees and contractors with a PIV card who are seeking both temporary and permanent ride-sharing options.
The program allows employees to find others interested in carpooling or establishing vanpools who live and work near them. For those who join a vanpool, members can receive up to 12 daily parking permits per calendar quarter.
Benefits of carpooling or vanpooling include easily accessible, designated carpool spaces reserved until 11:00 am, access to HOV lanes and eligibility for the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government’s Guaranteed Ride Home Program.
Those interested in establishing a carpool or vanpool can email nihparkingoffice@nih.gov for more information.
NIH Shuttles
Shuttle services are provided throughout the day on the main campus for employees, patients and visitors. Additional shuttle services are provided to the following locations: Rockledge, Fishers Lane, White Flint III, and Medical Center. All NIH shuttles are equipped with bike racks.
Additionally, NCI Shady Grove operates free shuttle loops to the Shady Grove Metro Station and Bldg. 31 on NIH’s main campus. To ride the shuttle, employees must show their NIH badge. Visitors need to secure a shuttle pass from their sponsor.
An app called the “AMC Shuttle for NIH” featuring real-time information for transit buses with notifications and schedules is available for download on Apple’s App store and Google Play.
For up-to-date information, including a shuttle route map, visit: https://go.nih.gov/7QEBMfD.
CAMPUS SERVICES
There are many resources available to NIH employees, including dining services, fitness centers, workplace safety and the NIH Library.
Dining Services
There are five cafeterias, four coffee bars and three concession stands across the main campus. For hours of operation, menus and a list of off-campus food locations, visit: https://go.nih.gov/3NHCJT1.
Additionally, the 2025 Food Truck program returned to the 10H parking lot. Starting on March 17, trucks will operate five days a week from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. or until food sells out. A list of food trucks can be found at https://govemployee.com/nih/food-trucks/. And, the popular Community Market will continue on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Bldg. 10 south lawn (or lobby in inclement weather). Vendors feature such offerings as fresh produce, baked goods, jams, honey, soaps, jewelry and more.
Fitness
NIH has two fitness centers on the main campus (in Bldgs. 31 and 53) and one at Rockledge. These locations are offering a Spring into Health membership special that waives the start-up fee (April and May). They also offer scheduled group equipment orientations and some in-person fitness classes will gradually resume. The Bldg. 31 fitness center features new strength equipment.
For more information, see: https://bit.ly/3ETdI54. To learn more about fitness and wellness tips and activities, see: https://go.nih.gov/epfmhzX.
Workplace Safety
Many duty stations have had limited activity over the past few years. To ensure the space is safe and comfortable, supervisors should have already surveyed duty stations to ensure these environments are safe. Contact NIH’s Division of Occupational Health and Safety for more information.
Employees who are injured or experience health issues at NIH facilities should report their symptoms to the Occupational Medical Service (OMS) at their clinic, over the phone or online at myCority (https://bit.ly/3XraqMI). There are five OMS clinics across NIH’s facilities. To find the closest clinic, visit: https://go.nih.gov/uX67qWN.
DOHS also provides free ergonomic evaluations, which can be conducted in different settings including office, laboratory, patient care and industrial workspaces. For self-guided ergonomic adjustments to your workstation, go to myCority, select the “New Questionnaire” button and complete the NIH Computer Workstation Ergonomic Adjustment Guide. For further assistance, email DOHS to schedule a workstation evaluation at NIHErgonomic@mail.nih.gov.
NIH Library
The NIH Library supports NIH programs and select HHS agencies.
Located in the Clinical Center, the NIH Library provides access to over 20,000 electronic journals, 180,000 eBooks and over 50 databases. It also provides services in 3D printing, bibliometrics, bioinformatics, data management and analysis, document delivery, editing, emerging technologies, literature searches, reference questions, specialized librarians, systematic reviews, training and translations. For a list of services, see: https://www.nihlibrary.nih.gov/services.
The NIH Library is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
For the latest transition guidance and resources related to presidential actions, see this site on the employee intranet: https://employees.nih.gov/pages/transition-guidance-nih-staff/index.aspx.