Activation

What do I do once my card has been delivered?

When your card has been delivered, you will receive an e-mail from HSPD12Admin@usaccess.gsa.gov with the Subject Line “USAccess—Credential Ready for Pick Up”, instructing you to make an appointment to pick it up and have it activated. An appointment is not required at SNL-NM for this activity.

The email will contain a password/PIN that you will need to activate your card. Be sure to bring this PIN with you to your appointment so you can successfully activate your card.

The email will also contain a link to the GSA Online Scheduling System to make an appointment at the Center where your card was shipped. It is important that you make your appointment at the same USAccess Center identified in the email, as this is where your card is located. Although it is highly recommended that you make an appointment to pick up your badge, if your badge is ready for pickup at the badge office at IPOC in NM or Building 905 in CA, it is acceptable to just walk in to complete this part of the process.

Once you have made your appointment, you can get driving directions by using the “Find a Center” feature on the USAccess Program website.

What do I need to do to get my credential activated?

There are two important steps associated with activating your badge. One part of the process is encoding the credential into the Sandia Access Control System, which will be completed by the badge clerk. The other part of the process is activating the chip in the credential and ensuring the information is captured in the USAccess system. You will complete this part of the process and you will need the password from the email you received in order to accomplish this part of the process.

Note:

• If there is no password in the email you received, you’ll need an “Attended Activation,” which means you’ll need to schedule an appointment with a Badging Specialist for that purpose.
• The absence of a password means only that the fingerprints provided during the enrollment process did not score high enough to ensure proper identity verification. Thus, identity verification must be performed by a Badging Specialist.

Is assistance available during the activation process?

Although the activation process can be completed without assistance, help is available if needed.

Why is the activation process necessary?

The activation process loads important required data onto the Integrated Circuit Chip (ICC) that stores 128 KB of information. There are four PKI digital security certificates (PIV authentication, card authentication, digital signature, and encryption), two interoperable fingerprint templates, a digital photo, and Cardholder Unique Identifier (CHUID), including organization affiliation, agency affiliation, department affiliation and expiration date.