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Parking FAQs

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Attendant-Assisted Parking (Stacked Parking)
- Do all NIH parking lots have Attendant-assisted Parking?
  - No. There are no plans to make all NIH lots Attendant-assisted parking. The following NIH Employee Parking Garages are attendant-assisted parking: MLP-6, MLP-7, part of MLP-8, MLP-9, Lot 31B/MLP-10 Employee Handicap, and ACRF Garage P2 & P3 Levels.
- I have a temporary disability; how can I get a temporary handicap permit?
  - Employees who would like to request a temporary handicap parking permit should fax a Handicap Parking Application to OMS at (301) 402-0673. Once OMS approves the request, OMS sends approval forms directly to Employee Transportation Services Office/NIH Parking Office for issuance.
    For more details, please see OMS contact information here.
- What is Attendant-assisted Parking?
  - Attendant-assisted parking, unlike valet parking, if self-park spaces are open, employees will park and lock their vehicles. Once the self-parking spaces are full, attendants will direct employees to established parking locations where employees will leave car and ignition key, and receive a claim ticket. Vehicle keys will be secured by attendants using key security locks. As self-park spaces open, attendants will move stacked cars into open spaces. Departing stacked employees will present ticket and attendants will unsecure key and move any blocking vehicles.
- What hours will the attended lots be operational?
  - Projected attendant operating hours for the employee lots are 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM, Monday-Friday. MLP-11 garage entrance booth will remain open until 11PM for keys pick-up (After 11pm keys secured for pickup next business day). Employees can self-park and lock car at any time there are available spaces in the lots (before, during and after operation hours).
- Are the attendant-assisted contractors insured?
  - When you leave your key with Mid Atlantic Parking Services, they are fully responsible for the vehicle as well as any items secured to the car (i.e., radios, telephones, etc.). They are not responsible for personal property left in the car; in fact, they will remind you to remove and/or store any personal belongings before leaving the car. The company is licensed and bonded.
- What should I do in the event of loss/damage/theft from my vehicle while parked in an Attendant-Assisted Parking Facility?
  - In the event a theft from your vehicle occurs, you should contact the NIH Police at 301-496-5685 to file a police report. If you are reporting a crime in progress within a parking facility, "Blue Light Emergency Telephones" are located throughout the various levels or by contacting the NIH Police emergency telephone number 115.
- I am an extended visitor here to drop off someone, how do I obtain a parking permit.
  - As an extended visitor you are not entitled to park on campus. Your Extended Id badge is only good for campus access. Please refer to NIH's Extended visitor policy for more information.
Visitor Parking
- I am a visitor coming to the NIH Campus for meetings, training, conferences, etc. Must I pay for parking?
  - Yes, visiting drivers must park in visitor lots or metered parking areas. Parking meters are strategically placed around campus, and there are two visitor parking lots. Lot 4A is located across from Building 31, and MLP-11 is next to the Gateway Center. The cost to park in a visitor lot is $2.00 per hour for the first 3 hours, and $12 for 4-12 hours. For exact locations of these lots, please refer to the Campus Maps.
- Can employees park in the paid visitor parking?
  - Yes, employees may park in the paid visitor parking at their own expense. No reimbursements will be provided.
- Can IC's get parking vouchers for use at the Paid Visitor Parking?
  - Yes. IC's can purchase vouchers that can then be given to visitors to cover the cost of parking in the paid parking lots. There will be no free visitor parking on the campus, except for handicapped visitors with appropriate tags or hangers. The IC's can purchase pre-validated stamps for their visitors by calling 301-594-7275. The rates are $2.00/hr for the first 3 hours, and $12.00 for 4-12 hrs. Usual Government purchasing mechanisms will be honored (credit card, purchase order, etc.).
- What are the Hours/Days during which the parking meters are to be used?
  - The hours of operation for metered parking spaces is 7:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Likewise, the attendant assisted lots are in operation from 7:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays.
- If I am a patient or visiting a patient at the Clinical Center, where can I park?
  - Patients, patient visitors, and authorized users can park for free in the ACRF-P1 level. Patients with severe mobility issues may utilize valet parking at the Clinical Center's north entrance.
- Is there a difference between the Transportation Desk at the Clinical Center and the NIH Parking Office?
  - Yes. The NIH Parking Office helps employees, contractors, fellows and volunteer with transportation needs.
    
    The Transportation Desk (301) 496-1161 at the Clinical Center helps patients and their family arrange for cabs and shuttles to appointments and Airports.
- I am a visitor with a state Issued handicap placard, where do I park?
  - Visitors with a state issued handicap placard may park in visitor parking areas and "red topped" meter parking spaces. Meters with a red head are reserved for disability parking only. All visitors who are not patients at the Clinical Center must park in visitor parking areas and pay the appropriate fees.
General Questions
- Do Contractors receive parking on the NIH Campus?
  - Contractors that are assigned to the Main Campus, and are equivalent to a full time employee are eligible to obtain a parking permit, provided their Administrative Officer has approved them for parking benefits in the NIH Enterprise Directory (NED).
- Where can I park my Scooter?
  - Vehicles displaying a scooter, moped or off-highway vehicle permit, and that occupy a single rack space, are permitted to be parked in the bicycle racks throughout campus. Vehicles displaying motorcycle license plates are not permitted to park at bicycle racks and other bicycle parking areas.
- Do Bicycles, Scooters, or Motorcycles need permits? Where can I park?
  - No. Parking for motorcycles are throughout the campus usually in the corners of parking lots. Bicycle and Scooter parking are typically around the outside of the buildings but can be found in parking garages too. Although we do not require parking hangers for motorcycles and scooters we do ask you observe the same regulations as permits holders and do not abuse the parking privileges.
- I have a Government vehicle, where can I park?
  - You may only park in spaces marked for "Government Vehicles Only." You may also look on Office of Logistic website to view questions about your government vehicle.
- I cannot start my car! Can I leave my car overnight and call a tow truck?
  - Please call the NIH Police on their non-emergency line at (301)496-5685 and let them know what is wrong with the vehicle, make and model of the car and also where the vehicle is parked. When you call AAA or your insurance company to have a tow truck retrieve your vehicle make sure you specify you will need a low bed truck since our parking garages are under 7 feet.
- I forgot to move my parking hanger into the car I drove today, will I be ok?
  - No. You will need stop by the NIH Parking Office and obtain a temporary parking permit for the day.
- I have to work overnight, is my car safe in the garage?
  - Yes. You may leave your car in a parking space for 24 hours but the vehicle must be moved after that. Failure to move your vehicle, may result in a citation being issued from the NIH Police.
- How much does a parking hanger cost?
  - Parking is provided to eligible employees at no cost. Obtaining a parking hanger is easy - employees can log into our CAPS system and choose to "Enroll in Parking." Although our parking for employees on campus is free, employees who are in leased building may have to pay for parking. Please check with your Administrative Officer or Building Manager for more information about parking at your leased facility.
- I was just in CAPS and was asked a lot of questions about my vehicle, why?
  - NIH is mandated by Executive Order 13514 to reduce the Federal Government's greenhouse gas consumption (including employee commuting) by 2020. We are gathering data to show our reduction and in order to accomplish this, we need your home address and information about the vehicles you drive to work. This information will also help us with the Electric Vehicle Pilot program.
- I have just used your CAPS system to renew my parking permit. Why was there not an option for me to pick the permit up in the parking office?
  - As with everything we are striving to make employees experience better. If you would like to suggest this feature, or if you have any other suggestions, please email the NIH Parking Office and let us know how we can improve.
- I am a Construction Contractor performing work on the Main Campus, where can I park?
  - NIH authorizes our Parking Services Contractor to sell monthly parking permits in various lots around the NIH Campus. Please see our Construction Contractor page for more information.
- I work off-campus, I am attending a meeting/training on the NIH Campus where do I park?
  - NIH employees attending meetings, trainings or seminars who work off-campus are strongly encouraged to use the NIH Shuttle service to commute to campus.
    If employees need to drive to the campus, there are several visitor parking areas available.
    Visitor Parking Lots are located at the following areas: Lot 4A across from Building 31A, Gateway parking garage (MLP-11) and at metered parking areas around campus. For exact locations of these lots, please refer to the Campus Maps.
- Unable to login to CAPS, what do I do?
  - If you continue to experience issues with login, please contact NIH Helpdesk 301-496-4357.
- Where are the handicap parking spots?
  - Handicap parking spaces are located closest to the buildings and elevators in parking garages.
    Employees must display NIH "Gold" Disability permit to park in handicap employee parking.
- I notice a lot of illegally parked cars or vehicles without hangers in the Garages, who do I inform?
  - You will need to call the NIH Police on their non-emergency line at (301) 496-5685 and inform them of the location of the violation, as well as with the vehicle license plate, make, model and color of the car.
- Who is my Administrative Officer?
  - From time to time a person is turned away from the parking office because information is not completed on your NED profile or something is wrong in your NED account. Your supervisor would be the best person to ask but you may also log onto the NIH Enterprise Directory, where your AO and supervisor are listed.
- Where do I obtain an ID?
  - The Parking office does not handle Identification Cards or matters regarding PIV, Facility Access or Background checks. For more information on ID badges, please visit the Department of Police's ID Badges page.
Parking Member Questions
- I have just bought a new car, sold my old car, or need to update my license plate. How do I let you know?
  - The best way to modify vehicles associated with your parking hanger is to log onto CAPS. After logging in, please choose the "Modify" button, where you can edit your vehicle and other information.
    
    But if you Username and Password does not work (such as Contractors or FDA employees) please feel free to email the NIH Parking Office.
- I am at the CAPS home page. What is my username and password?
  - Your username and password is the one you use to log into your computer system in the morning. If you always use my PIV card to log into the computer, and you can't remember your username and password, please goto IForgotmypassword and follow the steps listed on the website. If you are a contractor or tenant and do not have access to NIH usernames and passwords you will need to visit the parking office.
- I use my mom/husband/child’s state issued handicap placard, can I apply for a Gold Disability Parking Permit?
  - No, state issued handicap certificate must be under employee's name in order to receive a Gold Disability Parking Permit. There will be no exceptions.
- Can I park for free at a meter with my Gold Disability Parking Permit or state issued handicap placard?
  - No, there is no free parking at meters or visitor parking lots.
- I have a state issued handicap placard and I work off-campus, but occasionally go to campus for meetings. Do I need a Gold Disability Parking Permit to park in the handicap spaces?
  - Yes, off-campus employees who park on the NIH Bethesda campus are required to display a Gold NIH Disability Parking Permit if parked in handicap parking spaces reserved for employees.
- Office of Personnel Management has announced a delay. Do I need a temporary parking pass to park on campus for the day?
  - No. Any day the Office of Personnel Management has announced anything other than "Open," restrictions on general parking spaces are suspended for the day.
- Have the reserved times for Carpool spaces changed?
  - Yes. All Carpool spaces are now reserved for Carpool Permit holders until 11am.
- I need a temporary disability "Gold" permit, how do I apply?
  - Employee who require a handicap parking permit for temporary reasons (i.e., broken leg, recovery from surgery, etc.), must present either a valid DMV issued temporary handicap registration, or an approved NIH Temporary Parking Request Form signed by Occupational Medical Services (OMS), located in Building 10, 6th floor.
    This is accomplished by an employee requesting a temporary disability parking permit through OMS. If approved, OMS will provide NIH Form 26-9 directly to the ETSO. Once processed, the employee will follow-up with ETSO to obtain the permit. The permit will not exceed the stated expiration date on the temporary authorization.
- My home address is incorrect in CAPS, what can I do?
  - The account information in CAPS is downloaded directly from NED system. You can either contact your AO for assistance to update, or you perfrom a self-service NED update by following these instructions: Update your information . Addtionally, the CAPS system allows you to enter home address to be updated locally through your requested transaction.
- How do I renew my Bethesda Campus contractor parking permit during COVID?
  - Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NIH Parking Office is closed, and walk-in service has been suspended, all services are performed virtually.
    If unable to renew permit online and do not have access to the CAPS system, please fill out the "NIH Campus Contractor Parking Application" form and email form to nihparkingoffice@nih.gov OR fax 301-480-0854.
    ONLY completed and signed forms will be processed.
    Once request has been approved and processed, the permit will be mailed to your home address listed on this form. It will take 10-14 days to reach your residence.
- I am starting at the NIH and my orientation is on Monday, Where do I park?
  - New employees starting at the NIH will need to park in the MLP-11 (Parking Garage) outside of the Gateway Center. Once you find your orientation meeting place ask for a validation form to waive the cost of parking in the garage on your orientation day. While at orientation you will receive more information about parking and other commuting benefits.

Contact Information

Employee Transportation Services Office
Telephone:(301) 496-5050
Fax: (301) 480-0854